- More than 110,000 people nationwide are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants
- Nearly 5 thousand in Illinois are waiting
- Every 10 minutes, a new person is added to the national waiting list
- An average of 18 people die each day while waiting
- A 22-year old woman from Virginia received Brittany's heart. The woman waited six months for her gift of hope. The transplant was a success and Brittany's heart started beating again right away. This young woman has been given the priceless gift of life...and spending each day with her little boy.
- A 17-year old boy from Indiana received a kidney...a gift of hope that gives him the promise of a long and happy future.
- A 56-year old man from Illinois received her other kidney and her pancreas. His gift of hope is allowing him to enjoy life with his wife and family.
- A 60-year old man from Wisconsin received Brittany's liver...another gift of hope that is allowing him more time with his wife and family.
While I have never had any experience with organ donation...that is, until my daughter died...I believe I might understand the hesitancy of the recipients to meet me. Maybe they feel guilty because, in order for them to get a second chance at life, someone else had to lose theirs...my daughter. I won't pretend to know how they feel. All I know is how I feel. All I know is the the most priceless gift I could be given is the chance to hear my little girl's heart beat again...because a piece of that heart is mine.
Brittany is a hero. She's my hero...and she is the hero of the 4 people whose lives she saved...or at least she should be. I pray her death wasn't in vain. I pray her gift of hope wasn't in vain. But most of all, I pray that these individuals will someday give me the gift of meeting them. I need that...probably more than they know. Right or wrong, I think I deserve at least that much.
u are a wonderfull mother and Brittany will always and forever be in your heart. Those people should be willing to meet you and thank you for the gift that they have recieved. I know if that was me i would want to meet the parents or someone n tell them thank you for what they had given me. Im not saying this to be mean but is it possible that they havent been given any information on who they got there organs from. Brittany was an inspiration to several people including myself and i wasnt close to her at all but she inspired many peoples lifes and i was one of them n for that i am very thankfull. Your daughter was a wonderfull person and she musta got that from you. You are a wonderfull caring and loving mom and Brittany would be so proud of u as she always was and still is.
ReplyDeleteMy neice received Brittany's heart, and I can never imagine the pain you go through everyday. My Father threw his life away, and sadly there are millions who would give anything for another breath or another hug or kiss... I went became a therapist for the very reason of trying to help people, families, couples, and especially parents know what they have NOW not later.. Sometimes we know that later does not come.. My daughter is 13 now and she and I have that special bond that you wrote like twins, she and I were against the world for the first 2 years of her life. She and her brother are my worlds.. I even am thankful for dirty laundry. :) Ever since I lost my dad, my best friend and almost lost my life to Lupus, I made a choice that nothing would ever come between living, loving, happiness, and my babies... I know that you do not know me. But what you are doing by sharing this pain with everyone is so healing and it is healthy.. But best of all from this you ARE keeping her alive.. I can picture her laughing and joking around with you.. I never laid eyes on her. But you paint a picture that is easy to visualize.. My email address is listed if you ever would like to talk, we do have something in common.. :) My best to you. ~Kimberly Kelly kkelly5@liberty.edu
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