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I have always been close to my grandparents, especially my grandfather—my papa. He came to every sporting event, dance recital, art show, and celebrated every academic achievement I had. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around him: setting up the telescope on his deck to see “the man on the moon,” playing basketball on the mini hoop in his workshop, and always finding a push pop or ice cream sandwich waiting for me in the freezer. He was a constant presence in my life. When my dad had to miss my daddy-daughter dance because of work, my papa stepped in without hesitation. I couldn’t imagine a world without him—until he was diagnosed with liver cancer and told that his only chance of survival was a transplant.
After multiple false matches and rushed drives to the hospital in hopes of finding a donor, we finally received the call we had been waiting for. On December 16, 2016, my grandfather received the ultimate gift of life when he underwent a full liver transplant. This surgery didn’t just save his life; it gave me my best friend back.
I was only ten at the time, but even then, I understood how extraordinary that moment was. His transplant gave me more time filled with milestones and memories I once feared I’d never share with him. He watched me graduate from high school, move away to college, and still welcomes me home during breaks. We continue our tradition of cooking family recipes together, and I can still stop by his house just to talk. Because of his transplant, I know he’ll be there to see me get married and, hopefully, meet my future children.
I will never be able to thank the person who gave me back my grandfather, but their selfless decision to become an organ donor forever changed my life. Their generosity has inspired me to pursue a healthcare career and to become a physician assistant specializing in transplants.
Gifts of Life and the act of organ and tissue donation truly change lives. They give individuals and families like mine second chances, renewed hope, and more time to make memories that might have otherwise been lost.
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