Fifteen years ago, a young man’s life was tragically cut short, leaving his family grappling with an unthinkable decision. It’s a choice we all pray we never have to face, yet they did: Would they allow their beloved son’s organs to be used to save the lives of others through transplant surgery? In an extraordinary act of selflessness, they said yes. And because of their immense generosity, lives were saved.
I was one of them.
At that time, my liver was failing. Another person’s kidneys had given out, while yet another’s heart was beating its very last hours. We were all teetering on the brink, our lives hanging by a thread. Then came “the call”—the one that electrifies you with a surge of hope and relief, telling you a potential donor has been found. The initial excitement is overwhelming, but it’s quickly tempered by a realization: Another family, somewhere, is experiencing unimaginable shock and devastation. Their tragedy was to become our miracle.
Over the past fifteen years, transplant surgery has advanced by leaps and bounds, but it remains, in essence, a miracle. And for me, these last fifteen years with my wife, children, and grandchildren, have been an absolute miracle. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel an immense sense of gratitude for my donor and his family. Their decision, made in the midst of their deepest grief, allowed me to live, to witness my family grow, and to cherish countless moments I would otherwise have missed.
Generosity manifests in countless ways, but the gift given by my donor’s family is something truly beyond special. It’s a testament to the enduring power of compassion, a lifeline extended when all seemed lost, and a reminder that even in the face of profound sorrow, love can create an enduring legacy.
So grateful. So beautifully said, Webb. I hope this finds all your loved ones thriving.
Just today my photo album “wiki” showed me a photo of EfM graduation in 2007 with Beth Frank and Peder and all of you – memories forming another enduring legacy.