Armed with only Heart and Spirit, TTW in Austin, Puts The Human Back In Humanity
The Mystery of the Heart
We all have defining moments in life: Mine came one hot summer day on top of a searing golf course in Austin. As I drove to Austin I had no idea of what I would encounter. My magazine is dedicated to the better good of all but the “good” that I would encounter would far surpass my deepest expectations. I knew I was going to interview families of organ recipients and donors- some had lived some had died- but all had some of the most amazing stories I have ever reported. When society thinks about organ transplants, we usually think generically.
It probably would be prudent to check the back of our licenses, insurance cards, etc. But do we ever go any further? Have we investigated the possibilities of saving a life and how we could facilitate that life changing process? Do we actually have any idea what goes into this process? I highly doubt it. Why? Not because we do not care, but because we do not know what- or how to do it. All I can tell you- from what I experienced on that hot day in Austin- is you can personally experience something so spiritually binding and profound it will change your life-and the lives of others forever. There is a magical seamless thread connecting donor and recipient that just cannot be explained. That seamless thread connects both souls directly to their own intimate experience with God. The entire process transcends everyday comprehension. As I interviewed numerous families and individuals, I became eternally grateful for the glimpse these precious people gave me into their hearts. Hearts that were once crushed with grief, despair, and tragedy were somehow healed with hope through death and then life: It is a roller coaster ride for sure. One little boy, Logan- comes to mind. I had been interviewing his parents about the horror of potentially losing their son at only one year of age. Logan had been perfectly healthy until he suffered a heart attack and eventually a stroke. Imagine his parents rushing him into ER and being told he would not live! What! He was a perfect little boy just hours ago! What could have happened! OMG- Please God-don’t let us lose our son! I can feel the pain of those words echoing through the dark cold halls of ER. They are every parent’s worst nightmare. Some parents come through this hell and survive somehow.
In Logan’s case he thankfully lived- but the unseen scars of pain and sorrow are worn silently on the shoulders of both he and his parents. As his Mom described the horror of learning her son needed a heart transplant, I watched Logan’s reactions. He re-lived all the descriptions of the shock and horror- of all the gory details-of the breathing tube being inserted to keep him alive- the stroke- and then of course- the numerous times he died.. yes died.
Knowing Logan was only one at the time, I asked him why- or how did he
live. He replied: “Because I decided to-I wanted to.” I quietly mentioned he was
only one -so how could he “decide?” Logan sat back as his eyes filled with huge
tears: He gently looked at me and whispered: “Jesus- it was Jesus. I saw Him you know. I went to Heaven and came back…He is beautiful.” I sat stunned as tears ran down my cheeks. I walked over to the other side of the table and held the sweet boy….he is so precious and sincere. As he leaned into me I felt so blessed to have shared his heart with mine- to have heard his description of Heaven and Jesus. As we sat together quietly, I felt the mystery of the heart-the power of love- a mysterious love that could only come from God. That kind of love comes at any moment of the day or night when you least expect it and it takes your spirit by surprise.
But we have to be ready and willing to receive it. In God’s timing, the mystery of life and death can be discovered in a split second. I could have been sitting in the heat complaining instead of listening and feeling. In this world of texting, computers, I-Pods and cell phones we need to be reminded that miracles live in-between the seconds- in-between a heart beat or a single breath.
Life is sacred and should be revered. Please…please sign up for the organ donor
program. Saving a life is a gift to both you and the recipient. Just imagine: If little Logan hadn’t received a heart I could not have shared this amazing story with you. But the stories don’t stop here. Please sit back and breathe in a few more amazing stories of inspiration and hope. If you want to make a difference –BE the difference. Your tragedy can be someone else’s celebration of life. Help turn death into life- be an organ donor today! Remember my friends: life is not about surviving the storm- it is about dancing in the rain.
May God bless us all.
