I’ve written in this space before that organ and tissue donation is near and dear to my heart. Over 16 years ago, my brother received a heart transplant. While we don’t know anything about the donor other than he was a 17-year-old young man, we are grateful to his family every single day for making the choice to donate their loved one’s organs.
A few months ago, my family had the chance to be on the other side of organ donation, as the donor family. We lost my dad very suddenly and unexpectedly to a catastrophic cardiac event. As I arrived home in the middle of the night shortly after he passed, my mom was on the phone with Midwest Transplant Services, making arrangements so that he could donate. While we are all still reeling from our loss, we take comfort in knowing that he was able to help by being a donor. He would be proud.
April is organ and tissue donation awareness month. If you’ve not had the opportunity to discuss your wishes with your family, be sure to let them know. One thing I’ve learned is that simply saying “yes” on your driver’s license isn’t all you need to do. Your family will be the ones ultimately making the decision, so it’s essential to let them know you want to be a donor.
Spring is here, and that means it’s time to head outside and play! If you are suffering from spring fever, we have the cure! Check out Kristina Light’s article for great spring day trip ideas. And Tisha Foley has put together a great list of activities to help your family soar into spring.
Happy spring, Kansas City!