Organ recipient receives lungs from NFL player
By SUSAN WORLEY/Star-Tribune Staff Writer

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died Dec. 17, 2009, and his mother's decision to donate his organs saved the lives of several transplant recipients.

One was Tom Elliott, 64, who lives on Lester Road east of Chatham.

Organ donation and transplant is sad and happy. One life is lost while other lives are rejuvenated.

Many times the sad family never sees the life-giving result of organ donation.

But Chris Henry's mother, Carolyn Henry Glaspy of Charlotte, N.C., met Elliott and three other donor recipients Nov. 6 to tape a special Thanksgiving segment for "The NFL Today" on CBS. It aired Thanksgiving Day.

"Henry's mother's decision turned his tragic passing into a blessing of a new life for others," said host James Brown in introducing the television segment.

"When he was born my mother said he was going to do something good for somebody," said Glaspy on the program. "He made good on every promise he made to me. I knew he was going to shine."

Henry's mother decided to donate her son's organs after he died from injuries incurred in an accident.