I'm responding to "Speaking Up for Organ Donors" (January 2009).* When my son was declared brain dead after a car crash many years ago, our family knew that we could no longer do anything for him. Instead, we chose to do something for someone else. Because of this gift, a man has lived with David's heart for 18 years and seen all four of his children reach adulthood. Two people received the gift of sight and as many as 50 received other tissue.

After meeting many organ recipients and seeing the fullness of many lives, I'm convinced that donating my son's organs was the right thing to do. It's helped our family immensely in our grief.

I'm sorry that the benefits to the donor family weren't addressed. Families who know that their loved one continues to give life to others can find great solace in that fact.

-BARBARA STARR, RN

Blue Springs, Mo.

^*Individual subscribers can also access these articles free online at http://www.nursing2009.com. [Context Link]