Our son, Sullivan, is a hero. Sullivan spent his whole life at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC where he was born. He was born very prematurely and faced many difficulties along the way. However, despite those difficulties, he was such a light of love and bravery. He had such a big smile and a fiery personality. He was strong, stronger than anyone should ever have to become. Everyone who met him fell in love with him quickly. We lived everyday with him there in the hospital and we are so thankful for each every day we spent with him. He was with us for just shy of 11 months and right at a time where we thought we were getting close to taking him home and being discharged from the hospital we lost him suddenly. His doctors, therapists, nurses, and all of his care teams grieved his loss with us, along with our family and friends. He remains so incredibly loved and a light and inspiration to so many.
When we faced the unthinkable—the loss of our beautiful Sullivan—we were plunged into a darkness I cannot fully describe. But amidst that pain, there was a moment of clarity and purpose. The only part that made sense and the easiest choice we had to make at that time – we knew we had the chance to honor Sullivan’s life in the most meaningful way possible: by giving others the chance to live.
Knowing that Sullivan could save or improve the lives of others gave us a glimmer of hope in our grief. It truly encapsulated Sullivan’s life and the legacy he left behind. That legacy has never been defined by his passing, but by the lives he touched, and by the lives he continues to reach even today.
Although the pain of losing Sullivan will always be there, we take comfort in knowing that Sullivan’s life and his gift of life has made a difference.
Through organ donation, our child’s life was multiplied—not just through the recipients, but through their families, friends, and communities.
We are so thankful to everyone who makes this life-saving work possible: the donors, their families, the medical professionals, and organizations like We Are Sharing Hope. Together, they help transform loss into hope.
In the midst of our grief, we have found comfort in knowing that Sullivan’s legacy is one of life and, for that, we are forever grateful.
