Sometimes tragedy bears a silver lining – no matter how thin it may be.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but knowing their passing gave others the gift of life can bring some solace to those left behind to grieve.
It’s as simple as remembering to fill out a form with the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry, and encouraging family and friends to do the same. The registry began in 2014, an expansion of the practice of signing the back of an Alberta Health Care card.
That’s what my 25-year-old brother, Alex, had done, unbeknownst to the rest of our family.
In August 2011, Alex fell from an escalator. After 10 days in ICU at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, he succumbed to his injuries. My parents were informed before he passed that Alex had signed his health care card and wished to donate his organs and tissues.
Unfortunately, because he suffered from extensive brain damage, his major organs – heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and bowel – had been compromised. But the hospital was sure it would be able to harvest some of his tissues, and my parents did not hesitate to sign their acknowledgement of the procedure.
For my mom, it was a moment of pride in the midst of unimagined tragedy.
“I was just so proud,” she told me. “To think that he, at 25 years old, had thought of signing his card so he could give himself to others. I was so proud, I’m still so proud.
“We didn’t hesitate at all to sign. It was obviously what he would have wanted. It was just so him.”
Alex died on Aug. 22, 2011. Two weeks later, my parents received a letter from Alberta Health Services thanking them for the “precious gift” they had made available in his tissues.
The letter, signed by donation co-ordinator Christine Kainz, details what the Southern Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Program was able to harvest from my brother.
“We were successful in recovering your son’s eyes, bone, tendons and heart valves. As a result, people’s lives will change dramatically. Two individuals are very grateful to you for the gift of sight. Many others will have the chance at life enhancing transplants,” the letter reads.
It brought some peace to my family, to know that Alex’s selfless act of signing his health-care card could potentially help more than a dozen people living with potentially life-threatening conditions.
“I was kind of disappointed at first, hearing that his major organs wouldn’t be viable,” my mom said. “But then we received that letter, and we saw how many people he had helped. Those so-called ‘little’ things, the corneas, the bone, the tendons, it all makes a difference for someone.”
One year later, my second brother, Tyler, died from a heart attack after five days in ICU at Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary. My mom said the first thing she asked, once we knew he would not survive the damage caused by his enlarged heart, was whether any of his organs or tissues could also be harvested.
Unfortunately, because Tyler would undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of his heart attack and find out whether the rest of the family was at risk, his organs and tissues were not viable for donation.
It was disappointing for my family, because Tyler had ensured his card was signed and wanted to give the same gift as his brother.
Since 2011, we have all ensured our health care cards are signed. We’ve signed up for the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry at MyHealth.Alberta.ca.
According to Alberta Health Services, since MyHealth launched in 2014 the registry has seen more than 351,000 Albertans indicate their intent to donate organs and tissues.
The site, maintained by Healthwise, states anyone can be a donor. There are no age limits to donate organs, but to give tissues the donor must be younger than 81 years old. In addition, the site mentions all major religions (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu) permit organ donation, and the surgeries performed to harvest organs and tissues can be covered up with clothing and prosthetics to allow for open-casket funerals at the family’s request.
It takes just seconds to potentially change someone else’s life forever.
Knowing your loved one has provided a priceless gift to someone who is suffering offers peace of mind in a time when it’s difficult to find the bright side.
It has certainly brought some to my family.
For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to register, visit www.myhealth.alberta.ca.
