The Tennessean | Brian Haas
Before her son, Andy, died of complications from cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, Tara Dyer remembers the sound of his heartbeat.
“I can remember being in bed with him, with my head on his chest and just thinking, you have such a strong heart,” she said.
Today, his heart still beats strong, in the chest of Kristin Freeman, the recipient of Andy Dyer’s organ donation when he died in 2011. Freeman was one of about 28,000 people each year who receive an organ transplant. Yet more than 113,000 remain on waiting lists for hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers and other organs. Andy Dyer’s heart, liver and both kidneys have saved four lives.
On Saturday, Freeman and the Dyer family met for the first time at Tennessee Donor Services in Nashville. The two families met there with a tearful embrace, a flood of emotions spilling out.
“It’s so good to meet you,” Tara Dyer said.
Her son was 18 years old in 2011 when he died. He was severely disabled, unable to walk or speak. But she and her family recalled his unyielding love and good sense of humor.
Read more
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
No comments:
Post a Comment