Organ Donation and Thanks

[canesdukegirl]

I was cooking dinner for Thanksgiving on Thursday and saw an excerpt that was aired on ESPN. Chris Henry, a wide receiver for the Bengals had passed away after suffering injuries in an MVA. Because his mother decided to donate his organs, several people received a new lease on life. I had to put my mashed potato scooper down and had myself a good cry. Before you think I am a total wimp, I want to share my last Thanksgiving experience with you.

I had to work in the OR last Thanksgiving. Although I was bummed that I would not be having dinner with my husband, I went in and knew that we would only be doing emergency cases so I expected a relatively light working day. How wrong I was.

We were alerted that the ER had a patient that was DOA. I wish I could tell you more about the tragedy surrounding this event, but to do so would be walking on the wrong side of HIPAA. The family consented to organ donation and I set up the OR to do the harvest. I spent 15 grueling hours doing meticulous organ recovery. When we were done, I sent the staff out of the room. I sat beside the OR bed and looked at this poor young person. I picked up their lifeless hand and said a prayer for their soul, hoping that they would find peace. I shed several tears during this time.

After I felt more composed, I walked out of the room. I went to the OR front desk and saw the most beautiful thing. A soldier and his family were in pre-op. They were so excited because this brave man would be getting the life saving liver that I just helped recover. I couldn't help but get misty again. One life has ended and another was beginning.

I went home EXHAUSTED. My dear husband had dinner re-heated for me, but I could not eat. I was outside having some hot chocolate and heard the helicopter buzz over my house that carried my patient's other organs to another location. I just smiled. I spent that Thanksgiving doing what I love and in the process learned a very valuable lesson: to GIVE is precious. To be thankful is humbling. I witnessed both that day, and I will forever be honored to be a part of that.

[danegerous, BSN, RN]

I also saw the Chris Henry piece, it literally made me cry...in the middle of my football prep.

I was fortunate enough to take part in a Gift of Hope organ harvest from a really lovely 24 year old woman. She had lived a rough, sad life since her mom passed when she was only 11. Since then she got into a little trouble and played around with the wrong drugs. I imagined her on Thursday thinking she was just going to have a little fun over the weekend, but by Saturday morning she was brain dead from a heroin overdose.

She had sense enough to think of others and registered as a donor. During the process of finding recipients for her donor organs/tissues, I was given the opportunity to learn/practice several new therapies such as lymph node harvesting, A-line insertion, and proper suture technique. So, before she even gave her organs she had already taught me skills that will potentially aide in saving other lives.

It took a while to find a recipient for the heart since the families are made aware of the recreational drug activity. Finally, Sunday morning I traveled with her to the ER and helped harvest her liver, pancreas, both kidneys, heart and other tissues. Her lungs weren't viable because of some time in jail, other tissues and organs had their own reasons.

Either way, I imagined as we walked into the OR that somewhere in PA a grown man was being wheeled into his very own OR and being prepped for his new heart. Somewhere in IN and WI two others were being prepped for their new kidneys. I had been made aware of the recipients beforehand and it really made the process that much more meaningful.

It was magical. I felt like I was in a slow motion scene from John Q or ER. That young woman was a hero to me. Despite leaving this world in such an unfortunate way, she did more good than most will ever do. That brings everything into perspective for me.

Thank you guys and gals for your stories.

[ldoughe3]

I have been a LPN for 4 1/2 years now and am 51 years old. 9 months into practicing, I got a dirty needle stick and dx with Hep C a year later. I always believed in organ donation but now it may be a reality for me. What a beautiful gift and perfect way to really "live" the holiday of thanks.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I have been a LPN for 4 1/2 years now and am 51 years old. 9 months into practicing, I got a dirty needle stick and dx with Hep C a year later. I always believed in organ donation but now it may be a reality for me. What a beautiful gift and perfect way to really "live" the holiday of thanks.

I hope that you are doing well, despite the challenges you are facing now. Hep C is not only a frightening diagnosis, but it carries with it an unjust stigma by those who don't know how you contracted it. I hope you have not and will never face ignorant discrimination. I will keep you in my thoughts.

[ldoughe3]

I am amazed at the discrimination I face not from the public but from the medical community. Thank you for your understanding and support.

It's funny how as nurses, we rarely show each other the compassion we show our patients.