In 1992 my two year old son Alex drowned in a family swimming pool. He was pulled from the water and transported to the local hospital where doctors valiantly tried to save his life. Yet he was soon declared to be brain dead although his little body looked to be so perfect.
The decision to donate his organs was not made in the emergency room, but made a long time before that fateful day. My wishes had long been to donate my organs or my children’s organs if heaven forbid something should happen to any of the 3 of them. Having made this decision long ago, I was the one to approach the doctors about organ donation. A 50-something grandmother, who had made peace with her impending death, received both of his kidneys. She had many years added to her life to go to church, tend her garden and spend time with her grandchildren. Two young children (a boy and a girl) each received one of his corneas. One was able to start mainstream school due to Alex’s gift. The other organs were either too damaged by the drowning or the resuscitation attempts to be donated.
Each day of my life I have been comforted by the fact that so much good came from something so tragic. Forget-me-nots are the perfect flowers to be dedicated not only to Alex and other donor heroes, but also to the recipients who fortunately were given another chance at a healthy life!
