Yes I know I'm a day late. I have a great excuse believe me. I was celebrating the wonders of organ donation and how one person can change a life.
It was on May 3, 2005, that my Donor Dad, Ron Paxton had to make the most heart-wrenching decision of his life. He chose to remove his lovely and only daughter Susie from life support and donate her organs.
May 3rd was also her birthday.....
I received one of Susie's kidneys on May 5th. 05-05-05 to be exact. While I celebrate one of the best days of my life, my Donor Dad is quietly grieving over the loss of his loving daughter. Through letters and phone calls, we have discovered Susie & me had many parallels in our lives.
We were six months apart in age.
We both had serious heart problems as infants-Susies' was found early -mine was not. Regrettably during surgery the heart lung machine malfunctioned and she remained "Daddy's Little Girl" her entire life.
Susie's Mother had lung issues that would have required a lung transplant had she chosen to.-I've had 2 lung transplants.
Susie was an athlete and ran in the Special Olympics- I competed in Track & Field at the U.S. Transplant Games.
It is said, When God closes a door -He opens a window.
Donor Dad lost his little girl May 3rd
I lost my Daddy on June 3rd and his birthday would have been July 3rd
I still miss my daddy every second of the day, but through the miracle of organ transplantation I am Blessed with one great Donor Dad.
Susie will forever be honored with the pendant I designed above. The "sisters" cameo is designed in the pocketbook style of wrapping, and the Swarovski crystals are in our birthstones. The left side is one emerald for Susie, while the right side holds one rose as well as one emerald crystal signifying what she gave to me.
I worry over my Donor Dad each year on the 3rd of May and say a few extra prayers for him and Susie.
I celebrate her life and the life the two of them gave me on the 5th of May.
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!
