Donation Essentials Blog
Donor sister letter to the editor: Say “yes”
We thank Melanie, of Fort Collins, for sharing her heartfelt advocacy for the cause of organ, eye and tissue donation with her hometown newspaper over the holidays. Melanie is the sister of an organ donor; check out her message:
Melanie, the sister of an organ donor, from Fort Collins, CO
Between the gift-buying frenzy and holiday festivities, it can be hard to remember to slow down and be grateful for what you have this season. As the sister of a deceased eye and tissue donor, the holidays are a time when I like to remember my heroic brother’s gifts of life, and to be grateful for the second chance he gave to so many others.
My brother Dirk made the decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor when he was 18-years-old. Tragically, just over a decade later, in 2013, Dirk’s life was cut short after an accidental fall, and his commitment to being a donor was fulfilled. After Dirk’s death, he became a tissue and eye donor. Just one tissue donor can save or heal the lives of up to 50 people.
