“I get to see my grandchildren grow …”
In August 2005, Ray Brooks was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. He had never known anyone who needed a transplant before.
For Brooks, that diagnosis changed everything. He knew he was seriously ill, but he didn’t yet know how donation would change the course of his life.
After waiting eight years, Brooks received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2013 from a generous donor.
That gift gave Brooks more than a second chance. It gave him time.
Time to become a caregiver for another person waiting for a liver transplant. Time to volunteer with Donor Network of Arizona and to “pay it forward.” And, perhaps most importantly, time to watch his young grandchildren grow up.
Do Something Grand
National Grandparents Day, celebrated Sunday, Sept. 13, is a time to recognize the grandparents and loved ones who make a lasting impact on our lives.
Generations United’s #DoSomethingGrand campaign encourages people to celebrate intergenerational connections throughout September. Whether it’s sharing family stories, looking through old photo albums, cooking a favorite family recipe, taking a walk together or simply picking up the phone to say, “I love you,” small moments can become memories that last for generations.
For Brooks, those moments with his grandchildren are possible because someone he never met chose to give the gift of life.
Organ and tissue donation can make more moments like these possible — more birthdays, more family dinners, more stories shared and more opportunities to watch the next generation grow.
This September, consider doing something grand. Spend time with a grandparent or grandchild. Share a family memory. Tell someone you love them.
Our something grand? To register as an organ and tissue donor and talk with your family about your decision. A donor’s decision can give families something priceless: more time together.
Click here to #DoSomethingGrand and register as an organ and tissue donor today.