I wish I could tell my Dad a Happy Father’s Day, but he lives in heaven now and is in a much better place.
(Photo taken by me when I was about 9 or 10 years old. He was teaching me about photography.)
I got a lot of traits from my Dad. He was talkative, stubborn, never met a stranger, fun, a Mac nerd, loved photography and ran his own small businesses. I sure wish he was here because he would have been commenting on my blog everyday, been our biggest I Heart Faces fan, entering each week’s photo challenges and Fix-it Friday. Heck, he would have been emailing and commenting to EVERYONE in our social networks that we would have probably had to ban him!
Most of all I wish he was here to see his grandkids. I know they would have loved to have had Grandpa Ted around.
When I was 12, my Dad was on a list waiting for a new heart or else he would die. This was a long and hard wait, because organ donation was pretty much unheard of back then. He was only 45 and it was hard to believe my normally larger than life Dad was so frail and sick.
I remember the exciting evening he got the call that they had a heart and an ambulance was on the way to pick us up… the heart would be at the hospital when we got there!! We made phone calls and then had enough time to get ourselves together by the time the ambulance arrived. I rode in the front seat of the ambulance, not knowing what was going to happen. This could be the night by dad lived or died. It was exciting because I was 12 and going really fast in the ambulance! But it was also such a scary time.
Once at the hospital, we weren’t sure where to go… imagine you had just been visiting with family expecting to die and now you might live!! We were all a little frazzled, but my Dad was very excited and found directions on where to go, practically yelling at anyone in his path… “I’m here for a new heart!!”. Little did we know, we had arrived before the heart, so we had some down time, just enough to get scared all over again!
Dad was taken to a small room and we all huddled around him to give kisses and hugs, not knowing if we would see him again. Then he was off to be prepped while we prayed and waited for the heart. Waiting for a heart just seemed so weird! Who’s heart was it? What had happened? Who was the family who donated such a precious gift? Would it all go well?
Then I heard the words “It’s here!” I stepped out of the waiting room to see the surgeon doing a very fast walk down the hallway with a small cooler in his hand. WOW! It was time! After this, my 12 year old brain is a blur. Everything went great and Dad was okay! We got to see him the next day and I think he actually came home in record time after less than a week. I think he was the 36th person to have a heart transplant at Barnes Jewish Hospital, where now they have performed over 500 heart transplants. Just a week or two after returning home, he was doing wheelies on his motorcycle! He was given 5 years to live. He lived an extra 10… seeing me graduate from high school and college, getting to meet my future husband, enjoying his step-grandchildren and going on many trips with his family.
I don’t know who donated his heart, all I know is that he was a 35 year old competitive cyclist who was hit by a car while training for a race. I’m so thankful that his family donated his organs. Who knows how many other lives they saved as well?
Each day, about 77 people receive organ transplants, but 19 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs.
Each organ and tissue donor saves or improves the lives of as many as 50 people. Giving the “Gift of Life” may lighten the grief of the donor’s own family. Many donor families say that knowing other lives have been saved helps them cope with their tragic loss.
Click here to learn more about how to become an organ donor in your state. All you do is fill out a quick online form and they will mail you a card. Or download these Printable Donor Cards and put one in your wallet.
If you are in Texas, you can click here to register.
I know my Dad would have been proud that I told you about organ donation:-) Thanks so much to my kid’s dad for taking them out for the day while I got a chance to honor my dad by writing this post.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful Dads out there!!
P.S. If you are passionate about spreading the news of organ donation, please visit Taylor’s Gift. Taylor was a local girl who died in a tragic skiing accident at age 13. Taylor’s gift of organ donation blessed five lives through transplantation of her heart, liver, both kidneys, pancreas, and cornea. Taylor’s Gift Foundation strives to increase organ donation through the enlightenment and education of our youth.
I Heart Faces
Just Something I Made
Pizzazzerie
Tatertots & Jello
Wow, what an amazing story!I just came across your website today and LOVE it!!! I was familiar with I heart faces, but didn’t make the connection, I love to admire photography and am not very good and just realized it isn’t “my gift”.
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I just came across this website tonight. I have been an all-organ donor since I was twelve and went into secondary school (I’m in Ireland, not sure if it’s your middle school?).I pinned my organ donor card inside the flap of my schoolbag incase something happened to me on the way home from school. Never had a purse or a wallet back then, lol. My father signed on the back, my Mum not too happy at it. Now I am married with children of my own, I am still an all-organ donor. My husband has signed the back of my card and I carry one for all my kids since they were born. Hoping I won’t ever have to make that decision but if all hope is lost, it’s lost. Somebody else deserves a chance at life. SO glad you had another 10 years with your Dad. He sounded like a gem.
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Wow, what an amazing story! I would have had a nervous breakdown if I had gone through that at 12 yo. I am a HUGE organ donor advocate and I don’t even have a personal story, I just think it’s the ultimate act of selfishness to bury something in the ground while someone else dies needed it! Here in AZ they have specialized license plates that say, “Be an organ donor.”
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RT @livinglocurto: April is Donate Life Month. Would love you to read about my Dad's Heart Transplant story. My story. http://bit.ly/fnH2jM
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I’m glad to see so many comments on this story.
What a time Grandpa Ted would be having right now, especially knowing about my summer plans…
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Amy Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
@Klinton Silvey,
He would be so proud. He loved you so much!
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Amy, I am so glad you reposted this. That’s what happens when I go to the cottage in the summer – I miss wonderful posts like this. I am 99% sure I am registered as a donor but am going to click that link above and make sure. thank you!!
What a beautiful story and testament to the importance of this choice.
xo
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Amy Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
@Emily@remodelingthislife,
Thanks Emily:-)
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thx4 this!mydaughter had a transplant. She's 4@bakeat350tweets:post from @livinglocurto about her dad and organ donation http://t.co/tVRRyOq
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Hi Amy-
I just came across your website today and LOVE it!!! I was familiar with I heart faces, but didn’t make the connection, I love to admire photography and am not very good and just realized it isn’t “my gift”. I was touched to see your Donate Life button. I am very passionate about this cause. Very dear friends of ours are the Squires. They lost their son 6 1/2 year old son Spencer to an undeteced brain tumor and he was able to save many lives with his organs and tissue. They have done many charitiable things in his memory and sponsored the Storch family this year and their particiption with the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. I saw your blip about them as well and felt an instant kinship:-)
I love your blog and am your newest fan!!! I can’t wait to use the Valentine’s this year for my boys. Hope you had a great time at Blissdom!!!
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Thanks for your touching tribute and information on HOW others can join in as a donor. I watched my brother, Jon, struggle for 44 years to breath as a result of having Cystic Fibrosis. It came down to just hours before he was to be on a ventilator while we waited for a pair of lungs to come in for him. At the last moment, lungs were available! Like you, I remember the excitement of seeing the helicopter touch down, and see the crew get out of that aircraft like it was on fire. they swiftly brought in the cooler holding my brothers life in their hands. Literally. It was a long operation…and is not as common as heart transplants (yet), but today he is alive, doing fantastic. He can breath on his own for the first time in many years. He speaks without coughing continually, and is sleeping through the night. He’s had little rejection and is stronger daily. He is even training for a triathalon now! Not even 5 months since the transplant. He is the sight of a living miracle. We praise God for His grace allowing him to live more life with his wife and 3 adopted daughters. We are so very thankful for the donor for which Jon’s life wouldn’t be possible. All we know is that the donor was a 22 year old male from Orlando. Half of Jon’s age. This boy was wise enough to be a donor and has now given my brother new life. EVERYONE should sign up. Go do it today..print out the card. Thanks again for the tribute.
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A little late to the Father’s Day post, but touched just the same. My dad was a blood donor all throughout his life and would have been an organ donor as well if his cancer hadn’t done its damage to everything. I finally found the courage to go in and donate blood on my dad’s birthday a couple years after he passed away (I have the same rare blood type that he did).
Love the photo strips!
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What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing his story and his pictures! I love it!
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This is a beautiful story. How cool that he taught you about photography! I am an organ donor, but I never was before 1995. That was the year that MY step-dad’s life was saved when he received a heart transplant also. He passed away at the age of 51, but he lived those 10 years with his new heart more fully than the other 40 years before the transplant. I’m a big believer in organ donation, as I have seen firsthand what it means. Thanks for telling the world about it and sharing your dad’s story.
Corinna
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wow…i am sitting here with tears. what an amazing story. thanks for sharing it and encouraging others. i am already and organ donor, but this puts a face with the reason i chose to do it.
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BEAUTIFUL! That is an amazing story…your dad sounds like he was an AMAZING, loving man.
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What a beautiful tribute to your dad, brought tears to my eyes!
I was not aware you could register as an organ donor online – I have the checkbox marked on my driver’s license, but I’ve registered at the website too. Also shared it through Facebook.
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Amy,
Loved your tribute to your dad and seeing those pictures of him.
You’re right, he was a special man and I know that I am one who was blessed to know him and have him (and the rest of your extended family) bless my life. Those pictures of him were awesome!
Hoping you all are doing well.
Erica
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What a wonderful touching story to share..it brought me to tears!! I am an organ donor & proud to be!!! I am sorry for your loss..& God Bless you & the family who lost their loved one in the accident!
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Thanks for sharing this story, Amy!
Your daughter looks so much like you, especially in the top right picture.
About 12 years ago, I was on a long term consulting job at Barnes Jewish Hospital. It’s really a phenomenal place.
Your dad would be so proud of all you have accomplished. I admire everything about you and I know others to do! KV
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RT @livinglocurto: Happy Father's Day! I've written a father's day tribute to my dad and his heart transplant story today: http://goo.gl/fb/0uIUb
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RT @livinglocurto: Happy Father's Day! I've written a father's day tribute to my dad and his heart transplant story: http://goo.gl/fb/0uIUb
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What a beautiful post.
My sister just got her new heart a few weeks ago. It is such a precious gift a family is willing to give to strangers.
Needless to say I am a donor as well as most of my family.
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How touching this is. I am missing my dad as well. I have known a donor who had given his heart, kidneys and eyes and a recipient with a new heart. It is an amazing gift to give life to others.
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