Be a donor.


Every single moment in the day someone needs something it seems like. From a sip of water to a snack. A phone number for bulk trash collection and a new pediatrician's urgent care line. These daily needs are nothing when you sit back and read a Facebook post from a childhood friend.

Just four weeks ago this wonderful woman lost her daddy. This family lost so much but was able to give. The coastal community of Camden, Maine lost a wonderful citizen. But, he lives on...

The Facebook post tonight was this "Please consider becoming an organ donor!"

Pretty simple decision for me. Check the box at the DMV. Say it a few times to my wonderful husband. And pray to God that the donation time is not in the near future.

It doesn't hit you until you know someone that has a donated liver. That woman continues today to post pictures of her wonderful toddler that she was NEVER supposed to be able to have. Or a donated ACL tendon in a reconstructed knee. Running and being pain free can be enjoyed finally as the long retired college athlete can train for 10k road races because of a tiny donated piece of a healthy knee from a donating cadaver.

Just decide to do something memorable and wonderful when your time comes. Donate your organs...

Because you can! Make a difference.

Mr. Gross has. He lives in so many! Thank you for being part of my life. What a wonderful man, citizen, husband, daddy, grandpa and hero.

Tonight in Maine, the news and my childhood friend, Michele, spoke of this wonderful dad...man...hero...

"Whenever he renewed his license, he would say- well, I'm still an organ donor, just do you know," says Metzler.

Metzler says knowing that did made the decision easier.

"He was able to donate both lungs, his heart, both kidneys, his pancreas, and his small bowel," she says. "His corneas, his bone marrow, his skin."

The surgery to procure the organs was done late in the evening.

"When we woke up the next morning, the team had called and said that his heart was beating in somebody else," says Metzler, her eyes welling up. "So cool."

In all, Gross most likely helped about 150 people.

"Which is amazing," says Metzler. "That's the part that we look at and we think, OK right till the end he was helping, still is."
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April is National Donate Life Month.

For more information on organ donation, log onto www.neob.org.

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