It has taken me a while process the events of this morning. Today was Lifebanc’s, Gift of Life Walk & Run, which is an event to raise money for my local Organ Procurement Organization.
It was an incredible, beautiful and very emotional day for me. Each one of these walks (today was my 6th one) leave me in awe and today was no different. The stories I heard, the people I was in contact with and all the lives that intersect left me drained.
Remembering my donor, other people’s donors and the loss of a very special teammate, all while thinking about another friend fighting a difficult battle. Very emotional, and totally draining.
I know my friend’s stories and they amaze me as if I had never heard them before. I’ve heard the caregiver/spouse viewpoints as well, and hope that others don’t have to fight the battles they have been through … but I know others WILL have to fight those battles, as it’s inevitable. I talked with donor families and heard their tragic stories ….. thank God for sunglasses because my eyes were filled with tears many times today.
Today was about my donor …. our donors …. our families, our friends all while giving never ending gratitude and thanks to God, for EVERYTHING … the good and what we might think as bad.