CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR ORGAN DONOR FAMILIES
Organ and tissue donors, recipients, and their families gathered at the TransAlta Arts Barn this morning for a candlelit service honouring those who have saved lives in death by donating viable hearts, lungs and tissues.
About 90 people lit candles and shared stories about their loved ones, who had either donated or benefited from organ donation, each attendee donning an emerald green sash signifying the sign of hope for organ donation.
Brooke Kolodychuk¹s son Sean was 23 when he slid off a banister at an LRT station in Edmonton and smashed his head onto the train platform, suffering massive brain injuries.
He was taken off life support shortly after the incident and his organs and tissue donated to several patients.
"When he died... there was a physical pain in my heart that died and stays dead forever," Kolodychuk said, nine years after her son's death.
"But we look forward to hearing from recipients of his organs (through anonymous letters), knowing some good came of this tragedy and that people can continue their journey in life."
This was the third annual vigil held by the GoodHearts organization, which helps raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, and provides financial and emotional support to donors and recipient families.
Silvio Dobri, one of the founders of GoodHearts, urged people to talk frankly about death and consider becoming organ donors. There were 30 organ donors that saved 245 lives in 2008, he said.
But that year, there were still 621 people who were on the University of Alberta Hospital's organ transplant list.
"Nobody likes to talk about death," said Dobri. "But your gift could save someone¹s life."
clara.ho@sunmedia.ca
[ Posted on Sunday October 18 - 4:37 pm ]
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