A Matter of Life and Death

Last night we had dinner guests, Fred's cousin K. and his two teenage boys, who also live in Rhinelander. K.'s wife died in early January of a brain aneurysm at age 41. I hadn't met the family before, but I had thought for some time what life would have been like for Fred and the girls had something happened to me that young. I made a ton of food since I've never really cooked for teenage boys--but they really didn't eat any more than the girls do! K. talked about his wife throughout the meal, eventually recounting the last few days of her life. A month before she died, she'd told him that if anything ever happened to her, she wanted to be an organ donor. When the doctors told him she had no brain activity, he conveyed her wishes and told them to take whatever organs they could use. He cried as he recited specific details of the sex and location of each recipient now living with her heart, liver, pancreas, and kidneys. After a few months, he will be able to get in touch with the recipients by letter through the transplant coordinator, and in-person meetings are a possiblity after a year. He seemed eager to meet the people who now have a chance at healthy lives through his wife's generous gift.
Fred, the girls, and I all have organ donor stickers on our drivers' licenses. But talking to your family and making your wishes known are essential so that if the unthinkable happens, your organs can help someone in need. I can think of no better way to keep a loved one's memory alive and give their death a positive meaning.
After you convey your intentions, take the time to do something you've been putting off (NOT housework!) ...get in touch with an old friend....read a book...say I love you. And have a happy Monday!!