Ultimate Gift

Every once in awhile you receive news that knocks everything off kilter, the kind of news that forces reevaluating one's life and priorities. Late Wednesday night, we received such news and, as is so often the case, the news wasn't good. 

Scott's young niece, only 38 years old with three boys of her own, suffered a massive stroke.  While we were initially optimistic about her recovery, within hours news began to trickle out of ICU that indicated that this story was going to have a tragic ending. Monica suffered at least three more strokes, rendering her without brain activity. In a blink of an eye, she was gone.

Despite their grief, the family made the heroic decision to donate Monica's organs. She was wheeled into the OR on Saturday morning, and her organs were "harvested" for transplant into eight patients desperate for her life saving sacrifice. (On a side note, I think that they need to rename the procedure. Harvesting sounds cold and does not reflect the gravity of the gift being given.)

Monica died so quickly and without warning that it is difficult to fully comprehend the gravity of the loss.  It doesn't feel real that somebody so full of life, three years younger than I, can be gone so quickly.  It isn't fair that her boys have to plan a funeral for their mother.

Scott's family, especially Monica's sons, parents and sister, are deep in grief. Yet I can't help but think of the eight other families who are overcome with joy and optimism about the possibility of living. My stepbrother was the recipient of a lung transplant more than a decade ago. I remember the myopic excitement and fear that we felt on the day of his surgery. I was cognizant that his new chance at life was the result of a tragedy, but I never before appreciated the depth of the sacrifices made to be an organ donor.