Written by:  Tyler – a fifth grade student

                                     I saw him and could see the tears in his eyes,

                                    My brother Jared, sick and needing a transplant to save his life.

                                    He is suffering, yet such a strong little boy

                                    He has to go through so much,

                                    Still so sweet, even when everything is tough.

                                    He needed just one,

                                    One person, to survive.

                                    That person who needed just one part to provide.

                                    Jared was given that one part, just one

                                    From a person who passed away

                                    To give Jared his freedom.

                                    Now after that event, my brother is free

                                    And knows more things, is as happy as can be.

                                    Of course his is still that little boy that I know,

                                    But he now has the strength to run

                                    Because of love and the power of one.

November 13 – 15 has been designated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as National Donor Sabbath.   Has your church ever addressed the subject of organ donation?  Do you know what your religion believes regarding organ donation?  This is the perfect time to find out!

Years ago, I was faced with the decision of whether or not to put a red sticker that read, “Donor” on my driver license.  I was pretty uneducated about organ donation at the time and based my decision entirely on the fact that, if I am dead, I will no longer need my organs so someone else might as well benefit. I did wonder about my religion’s position on organ donation.  Unfortunately, at the time, I had a hard time finding an answer.

A list of religious statements has been compiled by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), but it is still nice to hear it from your religious leader.  Please encourage your religious leader to take part in National Donor Sabbath, there may even be someone in your congregation with a personal experience they would like to relate.