Register as a Donor
Listening to God's whispers
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the national Donate Life America conference in Denver. It came at a really good time for me. I needed to be reminded of just how special my job is -- it's not everyday you can go to work saying that you are responsible for saving and enhancing lives, but also helping people through their grieving process.
The last day of the DLA conference, we were introduced to a donor mother , Rochelle, who lost not one, not two, but three of her children in a house fire. They were all very young -- the youngest just barely a year. While I'm not a mother, I could not comprehend what she was telling us. Three children? I could not imagine the intense pain and suffering that family went through. Three young, promising, innocent lives ... lost. I have five precious nieces and nephews -- I can't imagine losing one of them, let alone three. Heart wrenching.
Rochelle's youngest baby went onto be an organ donor. She was able to donate her heart, several other organs and her eyes. The way Rochelle told her story was beautiful -- it was poetic. She explained to us how God spoke to her -- how she heard His voice telling her that "everything was going to be OK" despite the fact that the world she had once known -- safe, secure and happy -- had just been turned upside down in an instance. She listened to God, who had bigger plans for her child -- plans for her to give the greatest gift one could ever give on this earth: the gift of life. Throughout her speech, she referred to God's handprints and His gentle whispers ... she painted a mental picture for me that I will never forget.
I'm always in awe listening to donor families tell their stories. Sometimes I cry with them and sometimes I just listen -- mesmerized by their strength and courage. I listened intently to Rochelle as she shared the tragic accounts of what happened to her three precious angels when they went to be with God. I will never forget how incredibly strong she was ... could I ever be that strong when faced with similar circumstances?
Like many of our Vital Volunteers at LifeGift, Rochelle has become an advocate for donation. She is on the Board of Directors for Donate Life America. She is an amazing donor champion and tells her story so eloquently. The opportunities we provide for donor families to get involved is a healing mechanism for them. It is a way for them to help process their grief and see a ray of sunshine of their darkest moments.
Because she was not afraid to listen to the gentle whispers of God, her child did not die in vain. She left a legacy that can be shared for years to come. Do youlisten when God is speaking to you?
Submitted by Laura Frnka
