Today was the day we mark Sam’s organ donation. I just made a separate post on that because its too important to mix in with the events of a day.

Though we mark all three days of Sam’s passing. This year we had decided to use that day as a travel day to start our Thanksgiving trip to meet  family in Houston.  We left home at 4AM to meet our 6am flight . By 1PM we were in Houston… where I grew up.. it’s a huge  and gritty city.. but it’s still home. 

We picked up our car and headed through the concrete jungle  to billy and shaun’s 

Though we all get together a couple of times a year, this is the first time that DIane and I have been to see billy and shaun in Houston in several years.. before covid at least.  It was so good seeing all the Texacohns and  their super cute sheep dog Andy !

 

We were so excited to see Billy’s skeletons that he made for Halloween. They are 11 (I think) full-size plastic skeletons that spin around on a speed control motor (which I helped on)… Illuminated by strobe. The whole effect is so amazing as you watch the skeletons brachiate around the wheel. The pictures don’t do it justice. It’s really a work of art

 

It was so great to see the skeletons all assembled after spending so much time working with it remotely.. It’s one of the coolest things I think Billy has ever built !

After skeleton time, we all jumped in our various cars and drove to Galveston . Billy drove his Maclaren which had been decorated as a HotWheels for a HotWheels publicity stunt.. very cute.

My sister and her family and my mom met us there at a place called the Spot. A great place to start our vacation. 

 

So far we have Grandma, Billy, Shaun, Berto, Ben, Bens dog Oliver, Chris, Billy Jr, Billy’s dog Andy , Mary. John. Ellery. Jake. Theo, Diane,  and me, Great start to our vacation !

nite all, noite sam

-me

Today is the day we mark Sam’s organ donation. It was the hardest and easiest decision we ever had to make. When we knew that Sam’s body wouldn’t survive, we new we wanted Sam’s strong organs to help others live. We knew that Sam would wanted it too.

Sam’s organs helped 4 people live.

This day 16 years ago, We learned about the amazing process of organ donation. It showed us how one family’s tragedy could be other family’s miracle.

We also learned that one of the most important enablers of organ donation  was the consent of the family. And one of the most important part of that is knowing what the donor would want.  

Please honor Sam’s memory by talking to your family  about organ donation .. 

Nite all, nite Sam

-me

Today was Sam’s Yahrzeit.. the day we mark that he died. We spent the day with him as the transplant team went. to work finding out how Sam’s strong organs could help others live. Diane and I slept in the hospital room.. what little we slept… and talked to Sam. It was clear to us that he was there.. but not in his body.

16 years later I still cant believe that day. It was an unreal time. 

I have spoken to Sam in that same way every day in the past 16 years .  Today I spoke to him from one of his favorite places, Bolton.  Diane and I took a long hike up  to Butler’s lodge then cut over Heavenly Highway and the  to Wilderness lift and down the mountain. It was freezing cold with high wind.. the weather Sam loved. 

 

As is my custom, I lit a candle for Sam and let it burn all day..  I used one of the Lanterns  that the Haunted Forest folks made for us in Sam’s memory.. I walked around the house looking at pictures of Sam. What a beautiful kid.

 

We love you so much Sam. We always will !

nite all, nite Sam

-me

 

16 years ago tonight we got the call that Sam had been in an accident. His time on this world ended.. and ours changed forever. I was just listening to the last phone message he left for us. 

His last words to us were “love you … bye”.. 

We still love you Sam.. so very much. You are still woven into our lives. We think of you all the time.

 

Today a bunch of us hiked up Bolton in your  memory.. just like we do on your  birthday. it’s the 32nd time we’ve done it. It was freezing today.. The windchill at the fire tower was 8 degrees and the snow was drifting. There were a few places where it was knee deep or more..   You would have thought it was funny.. We toasted you at the ski patrol hut.. then climbed the fire tower.. we couldn’t stay long up there because of the cold.. but you would have liked it !

 

It was a sad day.. and a good day.. 

we miss  you sam.. !

 

nite all, nite sam

-me