In June of 2003 I received a phone call from my brother.  He was frantic, and said "Something has happened to Uncle Mike..."  He really didn't know any details other than he was on route to the hospital.  He told me to stay at home with my 14 month old daughter until we knew more.

About ten minutes later my brother calls to tell me my uncle has very unexpectedly passed away.  He was outside working on the air conditioner.   Somehow he was electrocuted, and managed to crawl up to the deck to call out my Aunt's name.  She came out tried to perform CPR on him as she spoke to the dispatcher on 911. My 16 year old cousin Molly and her best friend arrived to see her father taken away, not knowing what had happened.  They quickly headed to the hospital.

Once my aunt, cousin and her friend arrived at the hospital, they were told that my uncle was dead. Soon thereafter, a transplant coordinator began to talk to my aunt about organ & tissue donation.  She explained that because my uncle's heart had stopped, they could not harvest the organs, but that his tissue could be used to "help people with sports injuries."

My aunt immediately agreed,  as sports were my uncle's passion.  He was a big guy - 6'4", former college basketball player, and was now an assistant football coach at the local high school.  He was a Steeler's fan, in fact when I picture him, I always picture him in his Steeler's Sweatshirt.

My cousin Chris, had just graduated from High School, and headed to The College of Wooster to play football that fall.  It was bittersweet for him, to be playing the sport that his father had coached him in without him in the stands, but he also felt connected to his father when he played.   His first year he played special teams, and was a starter his sophomore year.  He played well, and was part of the first College of Wooster football team to go to the Division III football playoffs.

As my aunt sat in the stands his junior year, she overheard a conversation- a mom talking about her son, needing to have surgery on his knee.  This would be the third time he had the surgery, and he no longer had any tissue to spare,  so the Dr's told them they would need to use tissue from a cadaver.  They were uncomfortable with this, but didn't think there were other options. 

My aunt spoke to the mother about my uncle's tissue, and offered to find out if it was available.  After contacting Life line of Ohio, and Dr's clearing it, they were able to help the young man -  and they were able to do what is believed to be the first designated tissue transplant. 

So as Chris played his final season at the College of Wooster, there was a little bit of his dad on the field with him, which was great comfort to him, as he dealt with the loss of his father. 

This past week, a book called "The Gift that Heals"  was highlighted in USA Today.  This book documents how lives were changed by organ and tissue donation.  www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-01-21-organ-donation-nicholas_N.htm  My Uncle & Aunt's story is in the book.  Chapter 13, which is also oddly enough my cousin's football jersey number. 

Sadly enough, the young woman who was with my cousin Molly when my uncle died, only 2 years later was killed in a car accident.  Because of my uncle's death, she had made the decision to be an organ donor, and my aunt was able to help her family through the process.

Organ donation has touched our family through the tragedies we have faced, but we have been able to give back to others, even the sports we love.  If you haven't made the decision to be an organ donor, think about it.