So Exciting...

When Kevin's mom past away, we decided that she would want her organs donated. Organ donation has always been something that we would support, and in a time of grieving for our family, it is a time to celebrate life for another family! We have never been through the experience of organ donation and were suprised at how it was handled. Surprised in a good way that is!

After the donation was completed, we received a letter in the mail from the University of Wisconsin (they conducted the entire donor process and keep you up to-date with things) telling the family where the organs went. After that I figured it was done and over with. I was very wrong. About 6 months later, we had recieved two letters from two different receipients. One received a heart and lungs and the other received a kidney and pancrease. WOW!! That was so exciting! It was kind of left up to me to write back to these recepients....but what do you write. I spent many months starting and stopping and then starting again. Finally, I just sat down and decided I was going to do it! The words did not come easily at first. As I started to write more and more, it became easier. I was able to put in the letter everything about Joanne and what she believed in! It was an awesome testimony of her and her Saviour. It was finally done.

We sent the letters to the Univeristy of Wisconsin along with a release letter. We wanted to eventually meet these families! Well, when we got back from our Christmas break in PA, we had received a letter stating that the one recepient, had also signed a release! We were so excited to keep in touch with them!!!

Today, I received the first e-mail from the family! It is so awesome that out of something so tragic of losing a loved one, you can help a complete stranger live a longer life! The last year and a half has had its hard times, but this one e-mail has been such a blessing to me today!!!

I know this may not seem to exciting to all of you, but I just wanted to share it anyways!!!