TC at donorcycle posted a reference to this story… I think TC rocks – I love her site and her insight. About this story from ESPN, she suggested buying Kleenex. And that, if you didn’t believe that love conquers death, you will now…
Ray of Hope is an ESPN story by Wayne Drehs. It’s about the North Carolina mascot, Jason Ray, who was struck by a car last year and became an organ donor…
Charlotte Ray knew she was overmatched. As caring and considerate as her son was, he was just as hardheaded. So when Jason walked into the kitchen that afternoon and flipped his driver's license onto the table, grinning ear to ear after the decision he had just made, she knew she was in trouble.
"What does this little heart mean?" she remembers asking, pointing to the tiny red icon on his license.
"It means I'm going to be an organ donor," Jason said.
"Let's be serious," Charlotte shot back. "Your father and I believe that you come here with all these little parts, you ought to leave here with all these parts. I'm not so sure about this."
Charlotte was putting up a fight, but deep down she knew it was a waste of time. Her son wouldn't budge. He never did. At 19, he had the maturity of someone twice his age. Though he worshiped his parents, he didn't accept being told what to think. By anyone.
It's the reason he burned through Sunday school teachers like Dale Earnhardt burned through tires, the reason he was once suspended in junior high after questioning the authority of a teacher. Jason Ray accepted zero absolutes about the world in which he lived -- he wanted to probe, research and discover the meanings of life for himself. And no one -- Mom and Dad included -- could change that.
"Mom, you're crazy," he told his disapproving mother. "If something happens to me and I have a heart that could help save someone's life, then what good does it do to bury that heart in the ground? That doesn't make any sense at all."
The story continues with Jason’s tragic death, and his family’s struggle to make the decision to donate… His Mom and Dad, Charlotte and Emmit, still weren’t really keen on the idea when they were approached for organ donation. Yet, they elected to honor Jason’s wishes… The story tells of Jason’s recipients – and of Charlotte and Emmit meeting them.
Because of Jason's decision, five children have their fathers back. Four mothers have their sons back. As many as 75 others benefited from tissue donation -- such as a new cornea or a new ACL. But just as importantly, two parents from North Carolina have started to find peace with the tragedy that shook their world six months ago. After the experiences they shared on their return visit to New Jersey, Emmitt and Charlotte were inspired to undergo counseling. They've also decided to become organ donors.
Jason's gifts just keep coming. The boy loved living so much that he's still doing it in death.
"Forget the fact that Jason was my son," Emmitt says. "Every time I turn around, I learn more and more about the effect he had on this world. And as time goes by, I realize how lucky I was to have even known such a man."
I’ve posted the beginning and ending paragraphs… It’s a long read, but there is so much love, compassion and emotion in between the paragraphs that I posted. And, it’s well written – a very worthwhile read. I know that I’ve got a more vested interest than many when reading stories like this – but TC’s recommendation about buying Kleenex is a prudent one… Please, check it out…
