Best Friends and the Lessons Learned

The Huffington Post | Rev. Sue Wintz
When I wrote my last blog post on "Providing Care to Bereaved Parents," I didn't expect it to hit home again so soon. But it has, and there is a story to tell.

When our daughter Sarah was about 14, she decided that she wanted to be an organ, tissue, and research donor. She wrote it all out on a card that she kept in her wallet: "I am an organ and tissue donor. I do not want to be buried. I want my body donated to science."

At about the same time, her best friend Ashley was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and while her thyroid was surgically removed, the cancer had spread to her lungs. She received high doses of radioactive treatment, which, despite treating some of her cancer, caused scar tissue to build up in her lungs.

Sarah and Ashley were the typical junior and senior high school BFFs. They loved to shop together despite the fact that Sarah was 5 foot 1 inch tall while Ashley was 5 foot 11 inches. They argued over which was the best boy band; they shared secrets, had fights, made up, and had the sort of connection that would last a lifetime.

Zip ahead to their senior year in high school: The excitement of being nearly done, senior pictures, the anticipation and then excitement in receiving acceptance letters to college. In the midst of this, Ashley found out that she would have to be placed on the list for a double lung transplant. Sarah, always the supporter, promised Ashley that she would be there for her.
Continue reading
______________________________________________________
"You have the power to SAVE lives."
To register as a donor in California:
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org
Outside California:
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.