Donor mom comforted by son's gifts

Karen Braswell lost her son, Josh, in June 2003 when he was involved in a car crash near the Fowl River in Alabama. Josh was only 23, but he had made a habit of serving others most of his life. In death, he did the same saving five lives because he had made the decision and commitment to being an organ donor.

Josh worked as a nurse and had seen the suffering of the terminally ill. It's what led him to tell his parents that if anything ever happened to him, he wanted to be an organ donor. He had seen the need first hand, and it had impacted him.

Josh passed away only a month after graduating from college. His life was just beginning when it ended. However, his decision to be an organ and tissue donor enabled him to leave a lasting legacy by saving the lives of :

• a 34-year-old man who received his pancreas and right kidney,
• a 65-year-old man who received his left kidney and was in the ending stages of kidney disease,
• a 45-year-old man who received his liver,
• a 29-year-old man who received both of his lungs after living on a respirator most of his life, and
• a 51-year-old man who received his heart

The fact that Josh helped people in need even in his tragic death has helped his parents to heal. In fact, the Braswells have become good friends with Josh's heart recipient. His mother said, "Because of Josh, he was able to see his grandchildren born." In my book, Josh is a hero.

There's over 110,000 Americans currently on the waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant. They each need a Josh. If you have not registered to be an organ and tissue donor yet, I want to encourage you to. You can find more information about how to do so in your state by visiting the Donate Life America website (click here). Please do it today.

Source : al.com article titled Son's Organ Donation Helps Mother Cope with His Death