If You Could Save a Life...

I believe that most of us have felt the ache wondering if a loved one's demise might have been prevented. Sometimes that comes right after the loss, or it might come years down the road when learning of a new treatment. Unfortunately the conclusion is the same...we'll never know.

It's Memorial Day weekend and time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who have gone before us. It's also a good time to think about what is preventable. That does not include the "inevitable," but we still might be able to delay it.

We often hear stories about those who have been helped by a generous donation from a living or deceased organ donor. But what we miss, is putting a face to all those who have perished waiting and hoping in vain that a transplant would save them.

My friend Rosina Houle lost her sister Jessie, who was on a transplant list after her donated kidney from 17 years earlier, failed. Jessie left behind a devoted husband and young daughter. Out of this tragic loss came the creation of an organization to promote living donors − Save a Life, Inc. (SAL). You can learn more about this important mission and how it all began at: Save A Life. 

I also have friends from church who, a decade ago, lost their only son to aplastic anemia (a rare blood disorder) while he waited for a bone marrow donor. He was only 19 years old. 

For the families of Jessie and A.J., the question will always be: What if?

I encourage everyone who can to become a donor, living or upon death. Doing so means indicating this on your driver's license, carrying a donor card, or placing yourself on a donor list, and making certain your family knows your wishes. Regrettably, most if not all, states and medical facilities allow family to override a deceased individual's wishes to donate an organ. In those cases when it has happened, one has to wonder how many people might have otherwise been saved.

So, to honor and remember our loved ones and those who have served us, I hope everyone reading this blog will take action to prevent what is preventable. I have.

Half a Century Reunion

I have not yet heard, but I suspect my fellow alums and I will celebrate our 50th high school reunion sometime this summer. My first thought is, "Egad, we can't be that old!" Almost worse is realizing I've been out of college for 46 years. Where did the time go? I may be 60-something, but I'm still just a kid inside.

At our last reunion 10 years ago, I told my fellow classmates I wanted to be a published author. Been there, done that − I'm still writing and now editing with some nice credits. I also wanted to see my sons settled both professionally and in their personal lives. That too has been accomplished with Chris finding Erin and becoming a quality engineer, and Ryan finding Katie as he transitions over the next couple of years from an emergency department RN to become a Nurse Practioner. This is all especially important to me because I promised my dear, late husband that I would do all I could to encourage our sons to complete their educations and find their way to a good life.

During this last decade, I have also anxiously awaited and hoped to become a grandparent. That's no surprise to anyone who knows me, and this year Chris and Erin blessed me with the cutest little grandson I could ever have imagined. He joins my adorable grand-dog Dan, and cute new grand-puppy Bernard. More things to check off my bucket list.

There are many other little positive endeavors along with some bigger ones for which I await the outcome, but I realize none of this would have been possible without divine inspiration and faith. After losing my soulmate, best friend, and husband before the last high school reunion, I could never have guessed these things might come to pass.

Even with accomplishments since the last get-together, and so many years having come and gone since high school, I'd like to think I've become a better human being. I'd also say most of that is because of my beliefs, and with help from above to make lemonade out of lemons.

While I'm sure we will exchange updates as to what we've been up to for the last 50 years (assuming the reunion actually happens), it's really who we've become that's most important. In another 50 years, most of our names will be forgotten. But real legacies aren't made from the things a person  accomplished from a bucket list, but rather by the person who did something to make a positive difference in whatever they did. It's that legacy my classmates have been working on that I'm eager to know.