A friend of mine is a widow of seven years and works as a grief counselor for a donor/transplant organization. Her job is to comfort and guide people in their grief as they deal with the complicated topic of tissue and organ donation. As with much of this grief journey, I had no real concept of what this subject would actually FEEL like when the time came to make decisions. As it turns out, my decision was ultimately made for me. Mr. Virgo had spent a good deal of time in Europe in the 70’s and early 80’s and therefore could not have organs or tissue harvested because of the possibility he had been exposed to ‘mad cow disease’. I wish part of him could have been used. The only thing they would have taken would have been his corneas because of his age. He would have wanted to help another and I was so disappointed.

My friend had a beautiful experience recently when she gathered a donor family and the five recipients of the donated organs. The family wanted to hear their son’s heart as it beat in the chest of another. What courage! What love! What a selfless act of kindness…on both their parts.

We never know how many lives we may touch when we are generous…with our hearts. With our kindness. With our words. I know you have all touched my life. Perhaps our paths will cross someday and you and I will meet. And we will listen to each other’s hearts.