One-year Anniversary

What is the definition of giving? Parents give to their children, and then once children are older they give back to their parents. Our story is a little different. While growing up, mom made my sister and me cakes, pies, cookies, wisdom, advice, learning lessons, and of course “the look” when she didn’t like something we did.

Once we were older we changed roles; mom became our friend and we returned the favor of giving back by cooking for her and providing unsolicited advice about dates and men.

One day on March 20, 2009, we became the parent and mom became the child. It was time to make important decisions about what was best give to mom. Her daughters had to make the decision of giving mom her freedom from her physical restricted body.

On March 24, 2009 we gave mom her freedom. That very same day we had make quick decisions on giving more only this time it was the body she left behind on this earth. Mom never really discussed giving or donating anything physically, she figured nobody would want anything. She just always said that we would get all her stuff. She would tease us and say, “someday all this stuff will be yours”. Gee thanks mom. Just a few minutes after we said out final goodbyes, the nurse asked about organ donations. It took me seconds to says what could anybody want or need. A few weeks later I received a letter in the mail that her corneas were valuable to others. Nearly one year later I received another letter with a card attached saying that 18+ individuals were pleasured and gifted with the corneas. I realized mom had taught us girls well. You never know who is the receiver of gifts; one person was able to help over 18 people to see. How many people can say that?