A Gift of Hope

I was looking at my sister's blog the other day and felt that I needed to echo her sentiments. She posted about a family in her area who had lost a daughter in an accident and had decided to donate her organs. (www.texaspetersons.blogspot.com) This family's story reminded me so much of what our family went through over 10 years ago when my own sister passed away. As a family, we made the decision to donate my sister's organs. In so doing, we have personally seen the life-saving effects of that decision, and have since become strong advocates of organ donation. That one decision we made so many years ago, has had many far reaching affects, not only for those who received my sister's organs, but also for my little family as well. Through Mike's job he has had the opportunity to become very involved in the process of, and education for, organ donation to both hospital staff and patients. He is the co-chair of a committee which involves establishing the process of organ donation within the Centura Health System of Colorado hospitals. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to be one of the presenters at a state-wide medical conference for hospital professionals where he discussed a standardized method to identify and treat a patient with brain injuries, in order to maximize the opportunity of organ or tissue donation after brain death. He has a deep passion for organ donation and is using his influence and personal experience to touch so many and ignite that same passion within them as well. I am so proud of the work he is doing, and know that it is truly important. He saves lives every day at the hospital, but through his work with organ donation he continues to affect individuals and families who are beyond his reach.
I am a true believer in organ donation. It is the gift of life and a gift of hope for so many who's lives literally depend on this one simple choice. How often do we say "life is precious"? Until you have lost someone you deeply love, you don't realize just how precious this life can be. The gift of life is not something to be taken for granted, and is definitely something we can all share. You never know, someday, someone just might have to share this incredible gift with you, or someone you love.

Kate Merlene Bills 1979-1999
Her death gave hope and life to 4 others:

A kidney and her liver to a young girl about her same age
Her pancreas to a male farmer
A kidney to a 30 year old woman
And a heart valve to a young child