The part about the honor walk is really great. My father was killed in a terrorist attack 18 years ago and we were able to donate his organs (he was shot in the head so was brain dead but his body was mostly fine). It was in Israel and there wasn't anything ceremonious about it at the time. I signed the consent form, we were given some time to say goodbye, and that was it, we just went home and left him. It was around noon, and IIRC by evening his liver, lung and kidneys were already being transplanted.<p>I have to say that it was comforting to know he saved lives. We got to meet two of the families of the people he saved. One was a Palestinian family, who came to visit us and were really wonderful given the circumstances. The other one we met was a 12 year old boy who got a kidney, and as far as I know is still alive and kicking with part of my dad in him. That's incredible.<p>None of this makes up for how awful losing my dad was, but knowing it also did some good in this world is a tiny comfort.
> I grew those organs in my body, for my son. And now they’re working inside the bodies of total strangers, supporting the lives of people I will probably never meet. Or possibly never hear from.<p>Damn.
I wasn't expecting the emotional response I just got from that. Thank you for your story, sorry for your loss.<p>My father was the recipient of a lung transplant. It saved his life and enabled him to meet all of his grandchildren. We are forever grateful to the donor that allowed Dad to live.
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing. Love seeing stuff like this on HN. You can also be a living donor and donate part of your liver, lung, etc.<p><a href="https://instagram.com/kevinsjourneytolivertransplant" rel="nofollow">https://instagram.com/kevinsjourneytolivertransplant</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kmprue/" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/kmprue/</a><p><a href="https://www.ynhh.org/services/transplantation/become-an-organ-donor" rel="nofollow">https://www.ynhh.org/services/transplantation/become-an-orga...</a>
I signed up to become a donor a few months ago!<p>I don't know if my organs will be used when I die, but I sure hope so. There's some sort of zen feeling knowing that my death may result in someone's life being saved or made easier. The decision was quite easy to make. That initial talk with my family was a bit of an awkward subject to bring up, but that's about the only unpleasant side to it.
My daughter received a donor’s heart at 6 months old, after hers had been shredded beyond repair by a virus. I’ve tried to write a thank you note to the donor family several times, but each time I’ve thrown it away. The words feel so hollow and small compared to the gift we were given.<p>It feels selfish to not write just because I can’t get out of my own way emotionally — but what can you possibly say?
Remarks from his memorial service by his mother:<p><a href="https://themakermom.com/2020/02/isaac-moldofsky-mom-eulogy.html" rel="nofollow">https://themakermom.com/2020/02/isaac-moldofsky-mom-eulogy.h...</a>
I love articles like this. I wish there was an hn for articles. Not tech. Not some random lisp interpreter, but things like "The hunt for the death valley germans", the story about the nuclear power device in the mountains in nepal, this post.<p>Anyone know any good resources?
This is a good reminder to me to double-check my own organ donor status. And also to review the information I asked for a received regarding what is involved in leaving my body to science. (In a morbid kind of way, I'm hoping my remains end up at the forensic taphonomy research facility[1] in NSW.)<p>[1] <a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-science/after-facility/about-us" rel="nofollow">https://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-science/after-facility/...</a>
Proud to be a registered organ donor after reading this. If you want to do something right now, you can donate blood every 8 weeks. I just got a text message notification that my most recent donation (last Thursday) was just sent to a hospital, between reading the article and making this comment.
"and managing hospital bills that would soon follow. The donor network takes over medical costs once a patient officially enters the program, but there was still the matter of the pricey care that preceded it."<p>It never occurred to me that the American healthcare system is so ruthless that even if someone dies your family has to pay for your care. How absolutely cruel and awful.
I opted out. For the sole reason that I don't think this planet lacks humans enough to justify prolonging some lifes more than their own bodies allowed them to.<p>Also this article was too mellow for my taste.