Celebration of Life
Isabel Dominguez (back, second from left) honored her big brother’s legacy with her family at the Celebration of Life.
On Sept. 17, 2017, donor families from across Arizona attended the Donation Celebration of Life. This outdoor, family-friendly event created a space to share stories and celebrate loved ones who selflessly gave life to others.
Isabel Dominguez attended in honor of her older brother George Louis Bernal III, who passed away in a car accident at the hands of a drunk driver in 1999. It has been 18 years since 22-year-old Bernal became a donor and gave the gift of life and healing to at least two others. Dominguez and her family keep his memory alive every day.
As Dominguez grew up she realized how much it would mean to meet the man her brother’s heart saved.
“I struggled to put my words together because I wanted it to be perfect, but eventually I wrote the letter,” Dominguez says. “I wanted validation that my brother did something amazing and gave someone another 16 years of life.”
Hearts Reunited
Despite her fears, Dominguez received a call a month later from Gene Johnston, the man who is alive today thanks to her brother. Their families finally met in 2016 and are still in constant communication.
The touching reunion allowed Dominguez and her family to ask Johnston about his life now that he was given a second chance. He told them that his heart was still her brother’s heart, that he was just borrowing it. Dominguez also bonded with Johnston’s wife and talks to her every day.
“Now my goal is to keep his memory alive. We’ve had a lot of closure this year and we want to maintain my brother’s memory,” she says.
The family’s first event with Donor Network of Arizona (DNA) was a luncheon last year. Since then they have met countless other families impacted by donation. Everyone came together at the Donation Celebration of Life to honor their loved ones and take comfort in the company of others who know a similar journey.
“You meet all these people and you know it took a tragic event for them to be there, but you’re a family.”
Words from a Donor Family
Michelle Montijo (r) remembers Celeste Machiche (pictured) with her family. Her sister always loved wearing red Chucks and spreading her happiness freely.
“Celeste believed in the good of people, in generosity, in motivating others and in listening with a gentle and non-judgmental spirit. She freely shared her infectious smile, positive attitude and gave the best of herself always.”
On May 23, 2012, Celeste Machiche sustained a traumatic brain injury. Just four weeks prior, at 20, she had registered as an organ, cornea and tissue donor. After death, she gave a second chance at life to four other people.
It was just 20 years earlier when Machiche’s grandfather received a kidney from a young man who had also passed away in a vehicle crash. Her family believes that Machiche took that act of generosity to heart when she registered as a donor.
Her only sibling, Michelle Montijo, shared the impact her sister created through her generosity with health care professionals on May 19.
“I am proud to say Celeste’s preparation and mature choice has helped in our journey of grief. Celeste’s decision minimized our guilt and fear, and we didn’t have to question if donation was the right choice.
In spite of our indescribable heartache, we were able to grasp onto hope, something we so desperately needed at a time when we felt like all hope was lost. One of the greatest fears of a grieving family is that their loved one will be forgotten, and that their name will no longer be said. In knowing she gave life to others, Celeste’s name and love lives on.
As you return to your workplace may you be reminded that your commitment to donation affects those around you, and every action you and your team take matters. By ensuring donation protocol is followed, that your patients and families are treated with dignity and respect, and ensuring a patient’s authorization to be a donor is communicated to Donor Network of Arizona, you too will give grieving families the gift of peace. Your actions, just like my sister’s, are profoundly important, allowing the opportunity to spread love and generosity through donation. On behalf of myself, my family and our Celeste, we thank you for your dedication to this work. May you be inspired by Celeste and the many other donors to continue to make a difference in people’s lives by your continued support of organ, cornea and tissue donation.”
To register in honor of Celeste, please visit her page on LiveOnAZ.org.