Christmas thought for a special family

As families and friends gather for the various Christmas festivities tomorrow there will be many joyous times and a few sad times as we remember those who have passed away.

I like to think they are looking down from a far better place and wanting us to dwell on the good times with them.

My heart goes out each year to a family whose name I don't know but I really wish I could meet them.

In May, 1992, my kidneys had failed and I received a kidney transplant, the kidney coming from someone who had died the previous night. All I know to this date is that the kidney came from a 34-year-old male, a very caring person who had signed an organ donor card.

Those of us who receive organs in that manner may write a letter that the donor services will send to his/her family.

I wrote the letter, telling the family I intended to live the rest of my life in such a manner it would be a tribute to him.

I've never heard from my unknown donor's family.

A couple of times I've had people ask me how it feels to have a part taken from a dead person inside me. I don't think of it that way, but rather that I've had a very caring buddy right there with me.

Gosh! He must wonder about some of the things we've been through together.

There will be an empty place at a table somewhere tomorrow. I hope that family will remember and dwell on the good times they had on Christmas when he was with them.