It’s thanksgiving day.. . .. it’s also the day that Sam gave four of his organs to save 4 people’s lives. If, g-d forbid, it ever happens that you are in a position to be an organ donor, the most important factor in making that gift is that your loved ones know your wishes. There’s no better way than to pass on the love than to tell you family how you feel about organ donation. Please have that conversation with your loved ones now.. do it in honor of Sam and all the millions of folks who have given the ultimate gift.

That what was on my mind today….  Of course it was also thanksgiving.. i have much to be thankful for.. i love my family and friends.. and where I live.. and  i enjoy my work.. I am grateful for what I have and what I’ve had.. . and I say that in the middle of recognizing sams passing..  I hope that everyone reading this has a chance ot reflect on their own blessings..  we are all lucky to be alive and thinking.

I managed to dodge out of helping with the prep for thanksgiving because I volunteered to go fetch Hannah, Matt and Olivier from Montreal.. I got up there in time to have a nice long lunch with my buddy George..

I picked up hannah, matt and oliver around 5L30 and we headed back to vermont.. traffic was bad so it took us 2 and a half hours.. we spent the time going through matts iphone songs trying to spell things with the first name of the artist.. In ‘THANKSGIVING DINNER”.. we listened to  glitch mob Taylor swift, nirvana , Edith Piaf, notorious B>I>G ,  gypsy kings, swollen members, daftpunk, iron maiden, etc.. We got back in tme for an ad0hoc celebration of kevin’s 21st bbirthday.. most of the gifts involved alcohol.. what kind of example are we setting ?

we had more than 20 friends over for thanksgiving.. once again the house was filled with warmth.. felt good.. for the2nd time in so many days.

man.. am i exhausted.. taking vacation is harder than working.. gotta get some sleep

more tomorrow..

nite all, nite sam

-me

Today marks the third day of marking Sam’s death. Today is the day Sam saved four other lives by becoming an organ donor. His heart, liver, kidney and kidney pancreas pair made our saddest day a day of new life for those other folks.

It was an easy decision for us to make on the hardest day of our lives. We new Sam’s generous spirit would be grateful for the chance to  help others. The process was as fascinating as it was sad.. As soon as we made the decision to move  to donation, the staff at the hospital began the difficult task of matching Sam’s strong organs with the folks who needed them. On the afternoon of the 22nd..  four surgical team stood by to receive sam’s organs as e said our last good bye to him.. To this day I can’t go to that moment wihtout breaking down..

like now…

THrough an amazing set of circumstances around our work on the Discovery show The Colony.  we got a chance to meet Bob , the guy who received one of Sam’s kidneys.. we even got to go to his wedding  You can read about us meting Bob here

http://johncohn.org/base/2009/08/09/sunday-night-amazing-story/

and about this wedding here.

http://johncohn.org/base/2010/07/24/friday-night-bob-and-pam/

We also heard from Jessica, She was a transplant nurse on her first day of work when she assisted with Sam’s donation.. she also found us by watching The Colony

http://johncohn.org/base/2009/08/18/monday-night-another-amazing-story/

I still remember the skill and compassion of the transplant staff at the hospital in Tampa.. What a hard and amazing job.. .  .. Our dear friend Alison (also from The Colony)    just yesterday started a new career as a Transplant Coordinator in San Diego .. What guts and skill and heart that takes.. (We love you Alison !)

Then.. of course .. there was our close friend Dylan.. Sam’s good friend.. who stepped in as a friend and mentor to Gabe when Sam died. Dylan died last April.. and he two saved four people with the donation of his strong organs.. Going through that same hard path again with Dylan and his family was almost too much to bear. So familiar and just unimaginably painful.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned more than I ever hoped to know about organ donation. There will never be enough organs for all the people who need them.. the vagaries of supply, the  difficulty of tissue matching. The most important thing I learned was the importance of ‘the conversation’.  Many potential donations do not happen because the family does not know the donors wishes..

So.. that brings me to ‘the ask’,, You can do something for me.. for Sam.. and for Dylan… Right now..    Please turn to your family and let them know how you feel about organ donation. G-d willing it never comes up in your life.. but on the remote chance it does.. they will know..  We completely understand that some folks personal preference or religious beliefs don’t support donation.. that’s fine too.. just let your loved ones know… (If you have a  moment.. you can even register your intentions at donatelife)

Thanks for doing that ..

We love you Sam.. and Dylan  thanks for all you’ve done in the world..

nite all, nite sam

-mc