topic Re: April is Donate Life month in Community Chat

April is Donate Life month

smoochy — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:54:00 GMT

Thank you again to my son Patrick, who at 29, saved and improved many lives in November 2013 with his organ, eye and tissue donations

Re: April is Donate Life month

cheriere — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:27:28 GMT

@smoochy

Im so sorry about your son. 💝. Because of his courageous act, I'm sure he's helped so many people.

I signed up to do this several years ago. Should something happen to me, I hope others may be able to benefit.

Re: April is Donate Life month

msgb — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:58:38 GMT

My sister is alive thru the generosity of bone marrow donation. She was in stage 4 of Non-Hodgkins and though she has 6 siblings --none of us matched the way needed. There is a kind woman who donated and my family has had my sister still with us thru that donation.

My husband would also donate platelets as would a brother and another brother would donate blood too my sister. She had a five percent chance of living.

Re: April is Donate Life month

elated — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:37:12 GMT

I am so sorry about your loss. Your son's donations probably helped many struggling to live. Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking story. Wishing you well.

Re: April is Donate Life month

catter70 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:18:05 GMT

I, too, am sorry for your loss. Your sons generosity has made new life for others.I'm in Pa. and my drivers license indicates that I am an organ donor.

Re: April is Donate Life month

Still Raining — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:33:19 GMT

Bless both you and your son. His gifts are treasured by those who received. You can be sure they thank him every day.

Re: April is Donate Life month

smoochy — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:45:00 GMT

we (his family) had no idea he was a donor. That seemed out of character, thinking outside of his own world. Imagine our surprise when, minutes after he was pronounced dead in the trauma unit, the Gift of Life-Michigan reps showed up. They had already been alerted and Pat had been registered for a year. We were in shock and grief over his death but proud of his selfless act.

Re: April is Donate Life month

tends2dogs — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:53:21 GMT

@msgb wrote:
My sister is alive thru the generosity of bone marrow donation. She was in stage 4 of Non-Hodgkins and though she has 6 siblings --none of us matched the way needed. There is a kind woman who donated and my family has had my sister still with us thru that donation.
My husband would also donate platelets as would a brother and another brother would donate blood.

My husband is alive because his sister donated bone marrow to him in 2009. She was his only sibling and was a perfect match. It gave him a 100% cure from MDS, a bone marrow cancer.

Prior to his transplant, he received over 160 units of red blood cells due to the generosity of people who chose to donate blood.

We will be forever grateful.

Re: April is Donate Life month

tends2dogs — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:56:55 GMT

@smoochy wrote:
we (his family) had no idea he was a donor. That seemed out of character, thinking outside of his own world. Imagine our surprise when, minutes after he was pronounced dead in the trauma unit, the Gift of Life-Michigan reps showed up. They had already been alerted and Pat had been registered for a year. We were in shock and grief over his death but proud of his selfless act.

Let me add my condolences for your loss. Donating blood, bone marrow, and organs truly is the gift of life. I am sure the recipients are forever thankful.

Re: April is Donate Life month

BlueFinch — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 18:02:50 GMT

While horrible to lose Patrick, what a wonderful young man to keep the secret that he was on the organ donor list. His final wish was fulfilled, which should make his family very proud. He is living on through several others. He was one of the donation heroes.

Re: April is Donate Life month

Spacrazy — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:38:38 GMT

@smoochy God bless you and yours for your ultimate sacrifice.

Re: April is Donate Life month

Another new name Sue — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:24:26 GMT

Each of the recipients from your beloved son is deeply grateful.

Thank you for bringing Donate Life to our attention here. In particular, many are in need of kidneys, and it's a shame it is so difficult for those people to get this lifesaving gift.

Re: April is Donate Life month

MamaWick — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:24:54 GMT

Thank you to Patrick for his selfless act...and thank YOU and the rest of his family for honoring his wishes. Even at age 70, PapaWick and I are donors for anything usable from our senior bodies (and there are quite a few things that can indeed be used).

Re: April is Donate Life month

2sisters — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 21:51:13 GMT

I am so sorry for your loss.What a beautiful gift he gave to others.

I can't imagine your pain but thank you for sharing. I too ama donor.

Re: April is Donate Life month

smoochy — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:00:02 GMT

@MamaWick wrote:
Thank you to Patrick for his selfless act...and thank YOU and the rest of his family for honoring his wishes. Even at age 70, PapaWick and I are donors for anything usable from our senior bodies (and there are quite a few things that can indeed be used).

you make an excellent point- there is no age limit on donors! We all have pieces and parts that could be used. Even if visceral organs are not viable, corneas, bone and tissue like tendons etc might be just what someone needs

Re: April is Donate Life month

DSD2 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:53:04 GMT

God bless Patrick for such a selfless act.

Saying a prayer for him and for you; such a touching and meaningful story.

Re: April is Donate Life month

Puggywuggy — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 03:00:23 GMT

@smoochy your son was indeed a hero whose ultimate selfless act made it possible for many others to live. I am also a registered organ donor. Thank you for sharing your son's story and thank each of you for being organ donors...bless you!

Re: April is Donate Life month

Greeneyedlady21 — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:07:02 GMT

@smoochy I am so sorry that you lost your son at such a young age. You must be so proud of how he helped others by doing this.

Thank you for bringing awareness with this post.

Re: April is Donate Life month

Love to Run — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 12:27:18 GMT

Thank you for sharing!