On
March 1st of 1999 our two-year-old daughterdied
as a result of horrible medical malpractice.
The
circumstances of her situation, though, presented us
with an opportunity that would ultimately change our lives
forever; we were given the opportunity to donate her
organs and tissues.
My
wife and I immediately chose to donate. Her liver,
pancreas and bowel went to another little girl that had
only a short time left. Her heart was donated and
valves preserved for future recipients.
We
were given the rare yet incredible opportunity to meet the
recipient of her organs and the recipients family.
As
we walked into the hospital room and saw the recipient (another young girl) lying in
her bed smiling up at us we became overwhelmed. We
stood there looking down at the tiny life that our daughter's gifts saved
for a long time without saying anything - the thoughts and
emotions were simply too much for our minds to comprehend.
We
were experiencing a grief stronger than any we'd ever felt
for the loss of our daughter, but yet at the same time a joy of
incredible dimension known only by those who have witnessed
the miracle of a life saved.
Since
that time the recipient and her family along with my family have
done countless spots for television news and print news
and spoken at too many conventions, meetings and symposiums
to mention. The message is always the same: While
your death may be the end for you, for someone else it could be
the beginning of a new life.
We've
created a few pages here at ChrisTruitt.com to cover many
of the questions and issues associated with organ, eye and
tissue donation.
Whether
you choose to be an oragn, eye and tissue donor is your
personal choice - I only ask that you read the facts and
understand the truth before deciding.
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