Well here we go again Aug 29th, if we could remove a date from the calender that would be just fine by me. Knowing that is not possible I shall just embrace this date every year and celebrate Melissa’s life with just about anyone that will listen.
It starts early in the month, it is as if my mind hits the replay button. Not that this doesn’t happen all through the year but the memories are more intense during the month of August. This year my mind has been dwelling on one aspect of Melissa’s character that I find hard to put into words but I think her Aunt Ginny said it best:
“” Melissa was beautiful,adorable, kind, and strong willed. She absolutely loved animals and people and picked up strays of both kind. There was no dog or person so damaged that Melissa couldn’t love them. In fact, the more hurt they had experienced the more she needed to love them. She was very social and loyal to a fault. Always coming to someone’s defense, I cant remember her ever giving up on anyone.”
On August 29,2003 at 12:12am the events that were set forth in motion and would play out in the next 8 days would change life for more people than any of us will ever really know. When we arrived at the hospital we were able to see and speak with Melissa which in its self was a blessing, We were then taken to a room were we spoke with the police in regards to the accident I remember the officer being very kind and compassionate once we had finished with him the Doctor came in to go over Melissa injuries and plan of action.
They were taking her to surgery to repair a perforated Colan and in a day or two she would be transferred to New Orleans to tend to her fractured vertebra and shattered pelvis, but that was not to be the next 8 days she took 96 units of blood, punctured lung, internal bleeding 4 more emergency surgeries, 2 cardiac arrest, dialysis and placed on life support machine.
Out of this honorific accident the Grace of God raised us up. Melissa for-filled her destiny and her last testimony of generosity was the gift of life through organ donation. Because of all that took place and some of the drugs that were given she was only able to donate her liver.
It was about a week or so after we had buried Melissa we received this letter from LOPA :
Dear Brumfield Family,
Melissa’s liver was transplanted into a 57 year old man from Oklahoma: he is married, is retired from the construction industry, has two children, and has been on the transplant list for five months. He is doing well.
LOPA
Three years later they called me to give an update He was still doing great and reminded me I was welcome to write to him. Sadly this is something I have not done, it would be much easier to receive a letter from him. (I have not)
He has been on my heart as of lately and maybe it is time to pen that letter.
If you are not an organ donor I ask that you search your soul and give it great thought. I also know a adorable young lady that’s life would not be possible with out the heart she receive. I encourage you the next time you renew your Drivers license just check the box “YES” it is that simple. I also did a little research on what Religion thought about organ donation, out of 29 Religions only one did not support organ donation.
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment