When I got home this evening, Diane handed me an envelope from LifeLink, the organization that handled Sam’s organ donation. I was both sad and amazingly grateful to read the enclosed letter. :

     On behalf of LifeLink of Florida, we would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere condolences in the loss of your son , Samuel. It is our wish that you and your family may find some comfort in the knowledge that your generous gift, the “Gift of Life”, has enabled many people to benefit from such a sad circumstance.
   As were your wishes, Samuel was an organ donor. We were able to recover his heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas for transplant
   The recipient of Samuel’s heart is a 54 year-old female from Florida. She has tow children and had been in a committed relationship for ten years She works part time in a billing department and enjoys her work. She needed a heart transplant after having congestive heart failure related to a heart attack that occurred in 2001. She has been discharged to home and is doing well after transplant.
   The recipient of Samuel’s liver is a 22 year old female from Florida, She is a college student, who enjoys her studies. She required a liver transplant due to a chronic liver condition that she has suffered from. She has since discharged to home and is currently doing well after her transplant.
   The recipient of Samuel’s right kidney and pancreas is a 29 year-old female from Florida. She is a mother of one daughter, and is currently disabled from diabetes. She has suffered from Diabetes, since the age of 5, and is extremely grateful to have received her transplant. so that she may return to her life and activities someday. She is currently recovering at home from her transplant and is doing great.
  The recipient of Samuel’s left kidney is a 55 year old male from Florida. He has been married for eighteen years, with a daughter and a son. He is a retired manager for a school bus garage. He needed a kidney transplant due to a hereditary condition that affected his kidneys. He is currently recovering from his transplant.
   The Lion’s Eye Institute for Transplant and Research Institute, Inc. was able to recover Samuel’s corneas. Due to test results, the corneas could not be used for transplant, but instead will be used for research. The research that is performed can potentially benefit thousands of individuals through the development of new medications and treatments for eye disorders.

…

With our greatest thanks

LifeLink of Forida

  I had many other topics I was thinking of writing about tonight.. but I think I need to sit here and think about this letter some more. We never needed to know who received Sam’s organs. Getting this letter, though, really helps us see how Sam’s last generous act gave these four families a Thanksgiving and Christmas that they might not otherwise have had.      In honor of Sam please talk to your family about organ donation. It’s a difficult topic, but it can make a world of difference. This is life after death…  I’m so proud of you Sam…

  -jc