Ellis passed in 2016 at the age of 17. Our lives were shattered in a million pieces and we were left with heartache and many unanswered questions. In the darkness of those early days while he was on life support, we made the decision for organ and tissue donation along with cornea donation. Ellis had signed on to be an Organ Donor on his first driver’s license just the year before.
In the waiting room after his organ procurement, the nurse came out and told us how the team had provided a moment of gratitude and silence before they began the process and that Ellis had “beautiful organs” that would make life possible for many people. She proclaimed, “Ellis has outlived himself!”
We are forever grateful to the art of medicine, the network of organ, eye and tissue donation, and the many hardworking people that make this process possible. Our hearts will never be the same, but there is healing in this process on both sides of the giving and receiving.
