Transplant Recipients
Erin's Story
You see this topic has a special place in my heart. In June of 2001, I gave birth to my third child. We were overjoyed at another baby. Her name is Erin Elizabeth. The first night in the nursery at the hospital she began vomiting. We took her home figuring this was normal baby stuff. After five weeks the doctor became concerned enough to admit her to the hospital. Initial lab results came back that she was in kidney failure. The doctors locally were not equipped to help such a tiny patient so they summoned an ambulance from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I was in shock, what did this mean? There was time for an emergency baptism and then we were rushed off to CHOP. Sitting in the back of that ambulance looking down at my precious child whom I had just given life to only a few short weeks before, I knew life would never be the same again. What were they talking about? What does this mean? How come nobody could tell me what was going on? At first to my absolute horror, we were told she was going to die. It was only a matter of time. I prayed, like I have never prayed in my life, “Please, God no, I can't live without her.” After a couple of days and tests you would never imagine they could perform on tiny babies the doctors came in glum face. “We know what is wrong. We are a afraid she will need a kidney and liver transplant.” My prayers were answered they were giving us hope, which a few days before we had none. But how could they transplant babies? I didn't know it was possible. Is this just the same as a death sentence but more torture for a baby? Can she handle it? As she stared up at me innocently, looking for nurture only a mother could give, I knew we would fight for her life with every last fiber of our beings and then some.
Erin had Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1. A rare, autosomal recessive disorder. A disorder where the liver is missing an enzyme and causes kidney and other organ failure.
Erin was placed on the waiting list for a liver when she was two months old. She was not placed on the list for a kidney because her kidneys were slowly improving. If she got a liver in time she would not need a kidney too. She joined the list of over 82,000 other Americans waiting for life saving organ transplants. Every 13 minutes another name is added to the list. 18 people die every day waiting. Signing the organ donor box on the back of your driver's license is not enough. It is left up to the family after a person passes. That is why it is so important to discuss your wishes now. So they don't have to make heart wrenching decisions in their time of grief and shock. If you let them know beforehand it will be easier for them. The life you save may be a baby's like Erin's or a mother of four or a beloved grandfather.
Erin received her gift of life in April 2002 after eight months on the waiting list, at the age of ten months old. She received a liver from a 2 year old child. I think of her donor and her donor's family everyday with great gratitude. Had it not been for their altruistic decision Erin would not be here today. They saved my child's life by saying yes. For that I am forever thankful. Today Erin is a beautiful, wonderful , terrific, three year old who brings such joy to our lives. Organ donation saved her life!
Please don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.
The statistics of organ donation change daily for more up to date information go to www.unos.org, the United Network for Organ Sharing
If you would like to learn more about Erin you can visit her website at:
www.erinelizabeth.freeservers.com