Most of us know her better as "the little 9-year-old girl" - an identity that will remain in our psyches for a very long time. But her given name is Christina Taylor Green, and she died at the hands of a deranged gunman in Tucson, Arizona, as she stood alongside Gabrielle Giffords, her area's US congressional representative.
And our collective hearts broke.
There is never a way to completely heal this type of heartbreak. But as many who have lost a child know, there are ways to nibble at the edges of the grief, and that includes finding some meaning in the loss.
Which is what Christina's parents did by donating her organs. Their generous spirit has saved the life, or the quality of life, of at least two other children. Details are confidential, although news reports tell us that Christina's corneas have now given two children eyesight. Imagine that! Children who otherwise would have been blind (or at least nearly so) will now see - for the rest of their lives! More organs may have been donated, too. More people may have received an anatomical gift from "the little 9-year-old girl."
The generosity of Christina's parents' spirit is relived every day - by loved ones all over the world who make the decision to donate the organs of someone in their lives who has passed away. I believe that if you asked them, they would all tell you that it eroded the edges of their grief, too - even though it could never subtract it entirely.
Hundreds of people die in the United States everyday because they didn't get an organ transplant in time to save them. Untold thousands are awaiting transplanted organs and tissues that will save them, or improve their quality of life. Not just blind people, but burn victims, kidney patients, children and adults with leukemia - and many more.
Unfortunately, there are also people who die everyday, leaving grieving families, but no donated organs or tissue. What a waste, I say! A terrible waste that means that not only has someone passed away, but no one else can benefit from the transplantations.
Christina, and her parents, have shown us the positive that can come from a horrible tragedy. I'm writing this post today to call YOU to action. Right now, before you forget, please find your drivers' license - and sign the part that designates your wishes to be an organ donor. In some states, like New York (where I live) they will even designate your decision to be an organ donor right on the front of your license when you renew (yes - that's my drivers license above!)
Then, talk to your family and friends about Christina's gifts - and how you took action because of it. Spread the word. Save lives. Show the world that the ripple effect of a tragic end to someone's life can be a positive legacy for others.
• Learn more about donating your organs and tissues.
• Learn how to share your decision with your loved ones.
• Learn about donating your body to science.
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Learn more ~ or join the conversation!
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What an unselfish gift of love. Christina’s parents are special people who will have the satisfaction of knowing their beloved daughter will live on in someone else. What a blessing to the giver as well as the recipient.
If more people were as generous as Christina-Taylor Green, we wouldn’t have over 50% of Americans waiting for organ transplants dying each year. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year. There are now over 110,000 people on the National Transplant Waiting List.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage – give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren’t willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 14,400 members as of this writing.
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