My husband Louis died suddenly October 16, 1999. At the hospital, doctors asked our family if we would consider organ and tissue donation. We never hesitated, telling them we would donate any tissues or organs that may benefit others.
Our family had always discussed the topic of organ and tissue donation. But if the doctors had not approached us that day we would have completely forgotten, since we were all in a state of shock. We were all grateful to those doctors for having taken it upon them to ask about donation.
Louis enjoyed helping other people during his life and now, following his death, he has been given the opportunity to continue through organ and tissue donation. Our family may never meet any of his recipients, but every day we thank God he was able to help others because in this way we all feel his death was not just the end of his life.
We have gone every year to the Organ Donor Recognition Ceremony held at St. Patrick's Cathedral where it gives us the opportunity to see many recipients who have been offered a second chance at life through organ and tissue donation. It's a wonderful experience seeing all those who have benefited through organ and tissue donation.
In July 2001, my daughter and I were fortunate enough to be sponsored by the New York Organ Donor Network to go to Washington, D.C. for the National Organ Donor Recognition Ceremony. She was pregnant at the time with out first twin grandchildren. Although Louis will never see or hold his own grandchildren, we've seen donor recipients who through the gift of life have been given the opportunity to see and hold their own. It helps us in our grief knowing somewhere others are benefiting from Louis's gift of life.
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