Community Chat

[smoochy]

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 

[cheriere]

@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.

[msgb]

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.

[elated]

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.

[catter70]

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.

[Still Raining]

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

[smoochy]

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. 

[tends2dogs]

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@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.

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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. 

[tends2dogs]

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@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. 

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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.

[BlueFinch]

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.