At age 5, Patrick Pruitt was already losing his eyesight. As an avid reader, he detected his gradual blindness when he could no longer read the words on the pages of his books.
However, with help from the Gift of Life and the Michigan Eye-Bank and Transplantation Center, the psychology freshman was able to receive a cornea transplant, which restored his sight. He now encourages MSU students and others to talk with their families and make their views about organ donation known.
“People need to realize that you can help so many others, and make such a difference that you can’t even imagine,” he said.
Pruitt and hundreds of others gathered with flowers and tissues at the Kellogg Center for the eighth-annual Betty Buckley Donor Family Ceremony, which honors families and recipients of organ donors.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love,” event organizer Peggy Burkhard said. “We are happy and proud to be able to put this program on. We just want to thank and acknowledge those who have given the precious gift of life.”
Despite the tears shared by many of the 686 donor families being honored, many found joy in receiving a certificate of appreciation from the surgeon general and in sharing their stories.
Troy and Phyllis Smith of Vicksburg lost their 15-year-old son, Jeremy, in a car accident last year. As a hospital employee, Phyllis Smith has seen many hardships.
“The hospital where I used to work had a big kidney dialysis unit,” she said. “I didn’t realize what a hard life those who had to go through that had, and if there was ever any way that I could help someone to get off one of those machines, I would do it.”
When the couple was told that their son had a fatal head injury, they were glad that they had already made the decision to donate his organs.
“Nothing will bring back our son, and there is comfort in knowing that others have benefited from our loss,” Phyllis Smith said.
Lining the walls of the Big Ten rooms were quilts depicting names and images of people who had donated their organs to Gift of Life, a nonprofit organ and tissue organization in Michigan. The quilter was double-lung recipient Jan Knapper..
Among the participants in the Quilt Pinning Ceremony was Reg Green, who helped publicize the benefits of organ donation.
Green, the keynote speaker at the event, is the author of “Nicholas Effect,” a book about how his son gave life to seven people through his organ donations
“Ninety percent of people think that organ donation is a good thing to do,” Green said. “But when the occasion actually comes up, most people won’t do it.”
He said he intends to continue traveling, promoting organ donation, and sharing his story with others for as long as people will listen.
For more information, call the Gift of Life at (800)482-4881.
