My letter to the donors family.

Ang, I have gone over the same questions and struggles about praying for organs for Luke. I never prayed someone would die so he could live. I did pray that if someone is going to die then may their death in some way help someone elst. I myself am a donor. My struggle became if Luke then someone else was not going to get organs that could save their life. Because he was given 3 organs: one heart and 2 lungs (considered 2 not one organ). 3 people were without. How does one put your head around that. I just prayed God direct those making the decision to be guided by Him. If he wouldn't have gotten them then I would have lived with that. (Like I had a choice). At any rate this is the letter I sent to the family. We never knew anything about who or the circumstances. We do feel that the person was on life support a few days because we look back and see when the ball started rolling. At the time we were clueless. I sat in the room and heard the helicopter bring injuried all the time.....wondering .....is this the day. I really believe I do know when the donor came in,,,,I just really had a heavy heart for this one time....God only knows.

Dear Family,
Please accept our apology for not writing sooner. It has taken a while to absorb all of the past several months. 
Please let me share my heart. Last year about April we began looking into  a heart, double lung transplant for our son, Luke. He was born with a heart defect and had two surgeries. He had one surgery at one week of age and the other at 18 months. At 18 months he was given zero chance to survive. Not only did he live, but he led a completely normal life in every way. He played basketball, softball, and roller bladed like every other child his age. He took medicine each day in the morning and had an annual cardiac visit. In November we noticed he was getting winded easily and had him checked. He had irreversible lung damage.  He began to get worse. Transplants became the only option. We had an evaluation appointment for the transplant at Stanford, however Luke became too ill to even be evaluated. He was hospitalized for two weeks and sent home with hospice to die within days. We have 10 children. Luke is the 7th. All the children and their family's came home to drive him home from the hospital and be with him as he passed from this life into glory. He, by God's Grace, got better and stronger daily. He was able to eat, walk and participate in activities. He didn't even need oxygen. He became well enough, in fact, to be accepted for the evaluation at Stanford and eventually be accepted and on the transplant list. Luke and I and his brother Seth, age 9 moved to Stanford to wait for a transplant while my husband, Jim, stayed with two of the other children.
We had been praying daily for your family and the donor. (That must sound so impersonal) We prayed that times spent together were cherished and your failth was being strengthened for the grief which was drawing nigh. My heart ached during these times. I'd cry some days. I couldn't stop what was to occur for you. Luke was ready to meet the Lord. He also wanted to live if there was a chance. He prayed with us for you. Then at the hospital it was awful. We waited and waited and Luke began to die before us again. The helicopters came in so many times a day. I always wondered if this was it. Each time I cringed. My heart broke. I didn't want anyone to die. Inside I knew some do and I couldnt stop that. Luke became worse with each passing day. The day before the transplant we prayed many times "Mercy Lord". Mercy to the donor's family and Mercy for Luke. When it came I was numb. While he was in surgery my heart was more burdened for your loss than Luke's gain. When surgery was over my heart soared. I was happy for Luke. As days went on, I often thought of your loss and prayed. I still do.
We got caught up with Luke's struggle. Infection began it's battle. Luke fought with all he had and lost the battle after one month and two days.
How could I ever write you....The donor organs may have seemed wasted to you. They were Not! He lived more days than he would have and touched many people in that month. His story was on the internet and thousands of people read of his progress each day and prayed for him and you.
I know first hand your loss as the sting of death has hit our hearts also. To lose someone you love hurts beyond compare. My prayer for you is peace in the pain and to find your hope in Jesus Christ if you are not already a believer.

Most Sincerely,