Little Collin Saves Five Lives
Never would I have dreamed that one day I would identify myself as a Donor Family member.
Almost four years ago, our 5-year-old son, Collin was struck by a car and suffered severe head trauma, resulting in brain death. Suddenly our world was falling apart; our lives were forever changed. Our son was going to die, and we had no control over it. We took what little control we had in the situation and chose donation, allowing something positive to come out of such tragedy. We chose life - for the five recipients of Collin's organs - his heart, liver, both kidneys, and intestine.
We took what little control we had in the situation and chose donation, allowing something positive to come out of such tragedy.
Knowing that five other lives were saved or enhanced has been a huge part of the healing process for our grief. Support from family and friends was immeasurable and incomparable. But the one single thing that has helped my heart to heal more than anything else was knowing what Collin's gifts have done.
We have had communication with four out of the five donor recipients. We recently met his intestine recipient, a little girl named Alycia, who is nothing short of heroic. She had a very long, challenging recovery and against all odds she is doing really well. Thinking of her and the others brings a smile.
I still miss Collin every waking day. My heart still aches for him and I still cry, but behind it there is hope. Gift of Life and organ donation brings hope, not just to donor recipients but to donor families as well. We didn't set out to become a donor family, but I am glad there is a network of other families like us.
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