In honor of my donor

April is National Organ Donor Month and I urge everyone to sign up to be an organ and tissue donor by merely signing up to be a donor on the back of your drivers license or by various other means.

I received a kidney transplant on May 21, 1992 and was honored to be one of those who spoke briefly today (Thursday) at an event sponsored by the Rotary Club at our local Chamber of Commerce.

Some of us present were recipients, at least one a living donor and parents who donated the organs of children who had tragically lost their lives in accidents.

While this event was taking place this morning, I was once again reminded of something that has crossed my mind easily hundreds of times.

Those loved ones whose organs were given to help others live...also live on. Believe me.

I've never considered my donor as being deceased, only as a very caring person, a buddy, who has been with me every step of the way.

The only thing I know to this day about my donor is that that he was 34 years old.

I've always had a feeling that if we had somehow known one another prior to May 21, 1992, we would have been buddies then...just as we are now.