Register as a Donor
Our Christmas Miracle
Cyndi Amaya, Vital Volunteer
Friday, December 10, 2010
My brother, Dave, became an organ donor in August 2007. Dave was a very loving, caring, giving kind of guy. He was divorced with no kids of his own, but loved his niece and nephews as if they were his own children! He was always there to lend a helping hand. He was a happy person who wanted everyone around him to be happy, too.
Our first Christmas without him was really hard. We missed him so much! We decided that we couldn't be at home doing the things we did every year because it would be too emotional, so we rented a condo on the beach in Corpus Christi.
Getting out and doing something different was a good thing. We knew he wouldn't want us to sit around and cry, so we took the kids outside for some fun! We had them riding scooters on the beach wall, searching for seashells, playing catch and having a camp fire. We actually had a good time!
In Dave's honor we took his ashes out to the furthest part of a jetty, said some prayers and each of us took turns spreading his ashes into the ocean. Dave loved the ocean, so it was very touching. It must have gotten too sentimental because all of sudden a rogue wave lifted up and splashed me from head to toe! I know that wave was Dave saying, "Hey, this is getting way to serious! Lighten up, will ya?" He could always make you laugh even if you didn't want to!
When we woke up at the beach condo Christmas morning and looked outside, we saw what we call “Our Christmas Miracle.” Someone had drawn a message to us in the sand. I say “to us” because this was drawn right in front of our condo, which was on the end and not in the middle of the complex. It was huge, but perfectly drawn! The lettering was a good 6 or 7 feet long and every single letter was the exact same height and shape with every other letter.
Have you ever tried to draw large letters in the sand and gotten it exact? How is that possible? All the lettering was even and straight across! It looked like someone took a giant stamp and stamped the sand. There was also a huge cross drawn in the sand that was at least 20 feet long! It was also perfectly drawn. I find it impossible that anyone could have drawn that without leaving footprints, knee impressions or anything else to show they were there. That leaves me with only one explanation: Dave sent us that message to show us that he is still with us.
He reminded us that we need to believe in that cross and to always love each other, keep joy in our lives and to strive for peace in our hearts. Thanks, Dave. We will.
