Collin County Living Well Magazine March/April 2016 | Page 13

Anatomical Gifts and the
Impact on Funeral Tributes

W

e have all heard the
saying, “It’s better
to give than to receive.” Giving with
a generous heart often warms the soul of the grantor far
beyond the recipient. I cannot begin to
imagine how difficult the thought process is for family members who have
lost a loved one, and within minutes,
are asked to make a quick decision
on organ/tissue donation. “Giving the
gift of life” sounds like an easy decision until it involves one of your own. I
have not been in the situation of deciding on donation, but my brother was
the recipient of a transplanted lung
and I can speak firsthand of the joy
felt by a family whose loved one gets
that second chance at life. Although
we were so happy his long wait was
over, our hearts ached for the family
who had lost someone close to them.
Their sadness was just beginning and
it is important to realize they need a
great deal of care and attention.
In no way would I try to encourage
someone to be a donor, nor would I
discourage someone who is considering it. It is very important to realize,
however, what is being agreed upon
and how those decisions will impact
other wishes you may have. Typically,
donating corneas and certain tissue
will