Posted by Janet on 3/26/2003, 9:44 pm, in reply to "Who has my brothers donations?" Hugs, Janet
Michelle,
First I want to thank you for the gift of life that your family gave to so many. I too donated my youngest son's organs when he died.
John told you how to contact the OPO, and I would recommend if you can, to send the recipient's a letter. I have written to Joe's recipients, and have heard back from one of them. It is a difficult thing to write, whether it is the donor family or the recipietnts doing the writing. Each OPO is different in how they handle letters back and forth.
Five years after Joe's death, my oldest son, Tom, needed surgery on his knee, his ACL in his knee had torn several years before and did not heal. He was in constant pain, and at the age of 25 could not walk any distance without his knee giving out on him, and him falling. It was embarrassing to him when this would happen, not to mention the constant pain he had. He was given three choices, first to put up with the pain and wear a brace on his knee so it did not collapse. Second, they could take part of the legiment out of his one knee and fix the other with it. Last, he could receive a donor ligament. He chose the donor tissue. He said he didn't have to think about it....he knew that was his best choice. He will be 30 soon, and he can do anything he wants to do, and not have to worry about his knee giving out on him. He has two good knees, and no problems with them at all.
I do not know how to thank the donor family that donated the ACL, it has made such a difference in his life. So if I can, I would like to say THANKS to you and your family for being able to give others like my son a better quality of life.
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