Organ donation....Let's put a face with it.....

There is a recent controversy stirring in the news these days about a couple who had agreed to donate their daughter's heart. These poor parents have a 2 month old daughter who has a very rare disease and has been hanging onto life via the help of a ventilator. All the specialist told the parents that there was no hope for their daughter. With that being said the parents were asked if their daughter were to pass away would they consider donating her heart. The parents agreed. This has stirred up much controversy. The father has been very outspoken about organ donation and trying to explain to people the importance of organ donation.

Their daughter was taken off the ventilator and continued to beat the odds and was breathing on her own. Here's more on the story of Kaylee Wallace

This story struck home. In reading the story of little Kaylee I thought it necessary to put a face to organ donation. My niece was a recipient of double lung transplant. If it wasn't for the selfless act of the parents of the child from whom she received the organs she wouldn't of had the couple of good years she had. I'd like to share her story with you.

I don't speak of my niece much, actually I don't think I have ever mentioned her in any of my posts. But this month will be 4 years since my dear sweet niece Rachel Katrina Gojevic passed away. Rachel or Rae Bow as we use to call her because she was always bright just like a rainbow, lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis at a young age of 21.

Rachel was such a fighter. She spent a good portion of her life in Children's hospital. Rachel unfortunately struggled most of her life trying to fight off the ailments of the disease. Cystic Fibrosis is a very cruel disease you struggle for every breath and every breath is a gift. It was evident at a very early age that Rachel was going to required organ transplant if she was going to make it past her teens.

I can remember when she was young it didn't matter where we were if Rachel needed her physio she got it. Laying her on your knee and pounding on her chest and then back....and then giving her the Ventolin treatments......oh my goodness....in the early stages it was 4 times a day she had to endure those treatments...it increased as her condition deteriorated. By the time she was 12 she received a double lung transplant. That gave sweet Rae a good 2 years and provided her with the ability to truly live her life. She didn't waste anytime. She joined danced classes...she loved art so she took art classes....she was finally able to get out there and participate in life.

During that time she had a wonderful boyfriend, and a huge circle of friends and the world was her oyster. Rae Bow became a spokes person for the Cystic Fibrosis chapter in our area. She spoke at many public functions. She was the poster child/person for the Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser at the college where I took my nursing. Every year the college held a fundraiser called Shinorama, the students would dress up in costumes and go around town trying to raise funds and awareness about Cystic Fibrosis. At Easter we would volunteer at Zeller's and print names on Easter Eggs for a donation. As a family we did a lot of fundraising for CF and tried our best to bring awareness about the disease.

Unfortunately the disease took hold once more and Rachel's life was cut far to short. Just prior to her passing for Rachel's' 21 birthday she went on a cruise with her grandma "nanny" as she use to call her. By the time of the cruise Rae Bow was on oxygen 24/7 and wheelchair bound. The cruise ship did everything they could to accommodate her and her needs. They were wonderful with her. Although she had been feeling unwell during the trip she made the best of it. She went to the casino's and enjoyed the entertainment and even though she couldn't eat much I remember her blog posts about the food.

One of Rachel's last blog posts she wrote about her trip and what a wonderful time she had. She also wrote how unwell she was and that she would have to go into the hospital.

Rae bow's kidney's began to fail the end was near......On April 23 2005 that little angel just gently and quietly passed away, surrounded by family. Although her passing was difficult for all of us we recognized that Rae would no longer have to struggle. Her journey had ended....but ours was just beginning....learning to live our lives without her. But had it not been for the parents who offered their child's organs up for donation Rae's passing may have been much sooner, and to them I say thank you. Thank you that through their grief they found the courage to donate and give our Rae an extended life.

As I look out my window this morning and the sun shining, I know that bright spirit of hers is out there and living and when I see an Rainbow of course she immediately comes to mind and I shed a tear and feel as though she is saying I am ok aunty.....