Our son Dylan was in a car accident in July of 2007. Amongst other injuries, Dylan suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced brain dead approx 40 hours later at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Lutheran General Hospital will forever hold a bittersweet place in my heart and soul.
At Lutheran General, we were introduced to Gift of Hope and Melissa Johnson Williams (she worked for GOH at the time).
Melissa was very compassionate and made herself available to us at anytime we needed her during the worst time of our lives. Melissa walked with my wife Lisa and I as we escorted Dylan to the operating room for his donation. Melissa was there with us at the elevator as I kept telling Dylan everything would be alright as the door closed. It was the most intense moment of my life and that anyone could ever imagine. There are no words.
The GOH nurses Cherilynne Pugliese and Michelle Mabry were also both very compassionate and took very good care of Dylan.
Aside from family members, we are indebted to GOH for being there for us. GOH will forever be part of our lives.
Dylan saved 3 lives through organ donation. We find solace in knowing Dylan saved others.
Dylan's heart went to a 13 year old girl in South Carolina, his kidneys to a 65 year old man in Kansas, and his liver to a 15 year old boy who now lives in the United Arab Emirates.
Publicly sharing Dylan's story, volunteering for GOH, and participating as members of Gift of Hope’s Donor Family Care Network has helped in our healing process. Our relationship with GOH has given us the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and also helps keep Dylan's memory alive and close to our hearts.
