Nothing can take away the pain of the loss of a loved one, especially the unexpected loss of a child or parent. However, in times of grief there can be some comfort in knowing your loved one helped someone else through organ donation.
On Wednesday, the parents of the late Brendan O’Brien, Bob O’Brien and Molly Moore, will be sponsoring a Donate Life Day to honor the life of their son and build awareness about organ donation. April is Donate Life Month.
The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dairy Queen in Newton and includes free small ice cream cones, Donate Life bracelets and organ donor registration information.
Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of 14-year-old Brendan O’Brien. He was walking his girlfriend home after a church event at Berg Middle School when he was struck by a vehicle on the road.
He was transported by Life Flight from Skiff Medical Center to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, but the family knew the accident was too serious. Bob was asked if Brendan wanted to be a donor, and he said his response was a automatic “yes.”
His family and friends describe Brendan as a boy with a big heart. He was giving, tried to help everyone and was an advocate. He would stand up against bullying.
“There is comfort knowing he lives on and helped others,” Bob said. “He helped others in his own life and even now in death.”
“Families of donors find solace in knowing their loved one was able to help. During what is most likely the most tragic losses in their lives, they can grieve a little less, knowing that another family is getting a phone call that will save their loved one’s life. Donor families often go on to meet the recipients and in many cases form life long bonds with them,” Iowa Donor Network Community Development Supervisor Tony Hakes said.
“Donating organs is important because there are 120,000 people waiting for a life-saving transplant. People on the waiting list are very sick and if they do not get a transplant, the prognosis is pretty grim,” Hakes said.
Bob O’Brien received a brief and detailed list of donor recipients without including any names, due to privacy laws. The list comes from the Iowa Donor Network and is listed below.
• Brendan’s right kidney was given to a 37-year-old married man who served in the Navy for nine years. This man enjoys working on cars. Since November 2010, he had been undergoing dialysis three times a week and had been on the transplant waiting list since November 2011. The kidney is functioning and he is recovering. He has returned to work as a farm technician.
• The recipient of Brendan’s left kidney is a 59-year-old married man with four children. He works with mentally ill adults and enjoys fishing, bicycling, walking, gardening, reading, tennis and spending time with his grandchildren. His recovery went well.
• Brendan’s pancreas was transplanted to a 37-year-old man who works as a skilled laborer. He too served in the military. This man is an Army veteran who served for three years. He is legally blind. He enjoys the outdoors and walks with his dog.
• A 3-year-old boy was the recipient of Brendan’s liver. He had been on the waiting list since October 2012 and he now has a functioning liver.
• Brendan’s heart went to an 8-year-old girl who was born with congenital heart failure. She is a very smart, happy child who adores Justin Beiber, loves to dance and her favorite subject in school is math. She had been on the transplant list since August 2012. Doctors are pleased with her recovery.
• Two individuals with seriously impaired vision received cornea transplants.
“There is a shortage of organs available for transplant, so it is important for everyone to register as a donor by marking “yes” on their driver’s license or signing up online. Anyone can register as a donor, regardless of age or medical history,” Hakes said.
Staff writer Kate Malott may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 422, or at kmalott@newtondailynews.com.