This is from a friend, who like many believe in helping others, so think about becoming an organ donor.
Hi
I just wanted to let you know that this week is Organ Donor Awareness Week. As you know, this cause is very close to my heart since Pierre was fortunate enough to receive a kidney from an anonymous donor last August. Although Pierre only had his new kidney for 2 months, it provided him hope for the future. The kidney his mother donated to him previously in 2001 allowed him (and I) to enjoy five wonderful years of travelling and living life to the full and for that I am ever so grateful to his mum.
It was not a difficult decision to consent to donating Pierre’s organs when he passed away as he had talked previously about his desire to donate his organs and he was a registered organ donor so I knew it was what he would have wanted. I consented to all his organs to be donated except his heart for the reason that he had such a big and kind heart that I wanted him to keep it and as he had a cardiac arrest, there may have been some damage.
Unfortunately, we were not able to donate his new kidney, his eyes (due to recent transplant) nor his liver and pancreas (due to damage during CPR) but his pancreas was donated to medical research and his healthy lungs were donated to a male recipient in South Australia. I received a thank you card from the recipient over Xmas and due to Pierre’s kind gift, he was looking forward to living life and spending many more years with his children and grand children. Reading the card was emotional, but for me, I felt content in knowing that there is a part of Pierre that still lives in somebody else and that someone has a new lease on life.
Organ donation is a personal decision and if you have been thinking of donating your organs and have not registered or have not considered organ donation, I encourage you to talk openly with your loved ones about it and if you wish to donate, you should register with Medicare.
I thought if I tell you my personal story that perhaps you can spread the word to your family, friends or colleagues. If I encourage one person to register, that could mean up to 10 lives saved.
LifeGift who organised the organ donation have been in contact with me regularly and have been helping me deal with the grief so the families of organ donors are looked after.
Pierre was passionate about organ donation so I am doing my bit to continue his legacy.
Regards
Melinda
I just wanted to let you know that this week is Organ Donor Awareness Week. As you know, this cause is very close to my heart since Pierre was fortunate enough to receive a kidney from an anonymous donor last August. Although Pierre only had his new kidney for 2 months, it provided him hope for the future. The kidney his mother donated to him previously in 2001 allowed him (and I) to enjoy five wonderful years of travelling and living life to the full and for that I am ever so grateful to his mum.
It was not a difficult decision to consent to donating Pierre’s organs when he passed away as he had talked previously about his desire to donate his organs and he was a registered organ donor so I knew it was what he would have wanted. I consented to all his organs to be donated except his heart for the reason that he had such a big and kind heart that I wanted him to keep it and as he had a cardiac arrest, there may have been some damage.
Unfortunately, we were not able to donate his new kidney, his eyes (due to recent transplant) nor his liver and pancreas (due to damage during CPR) but his pancreas was donated to medical research and his healthy lungs were donated to a male recipient in South Australia. I received a thank you card from the recipient over Xmas and due to Pierre’s kind gift, he was looking forward to living life and spending many more years with his children and grand children. Reading the card was emotional, but for me, I felt content in knowing that there is a part of Pierre that still lives in somebody else and that someone has a new lease on life.
Organ donation is a personal decision and if you have been thinking of donating your organs and have not registered or have not considered organ donation, I encourage you to talk openly with your loved ones about it and if you wish to donate, you should register with Medicare.
I thought if I tell you my personal story that perhaps you can spread the word to your family, friends or colleagues. If I encourage one person to register, that could mean up to 10 lives saved.
LifeGift who organised the organ donation have been in contact with me regularly and have been helping me deal with the grief so the families of organ donors are looked after.
Pierre was passionate about organ donation so I am doing my bit to continue his legacy.
Regards
Melinda
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