Few families get the chance to do what our family did last weekend. We all packed up and drove (not in a mini van by the way) five hours over the mountains to Walla Walla, WA. Why did we subject ourselves to being cramped in a "crossover" (not a minivan), holding on for dear life as my dad tried to drive (I think it's time for another eye exam!), and surviving the stench of an eight year old little boy? We endured all of this for the chance to meet the family of the my sister's organ donor.
It all started a couple of months ago I guess, they sent Heather an invitation to come meet them and the rest of the organ receipients and we decided we all wanted to go. We got there Friday and we all had dinner together and then we went to their youngest son's Homecoming football game and finished up the weekend with brunch at their house on Saturday. It was an amazing trip. I've never met a nicer family. It felt like we had all known each other our whole lives and it was just a bunch of old friends getting together.
Their son's name was Tyler and he died of a brain anurism when he was 25. That was almost two and a half years ago. Heather received his pancreas and one of his kidneys. He came from a great and loving family. His parents were so nice. They kept thanking us the whole time and it seemed so strange that these people who lost their son (and he was their second son to die) would be thanking us for coming to visit them when it was their son who gave my sister and five other people another chance to live. It's so hard to put down in words how emotional and meaningful it was so meet them and to know that their Ty was a good person, a good son, a good brother and a good father.
It was an incredibly emotional weekend and I've sat down a few times trying to make it sound worthy of what it really was, but everything I wrote just didn't sound right. I decided this time it didn't matter. Our family is so grateful to Ty and his gift and that's really all that matters.
Some of the highlights from the weekend were watching our Tyler and Timothy play with their Ty's son Joe, watching our Tyler wear their Ty's old football jersey and help the ball boys at the football game, cramming Heather, Tyler, me, Brittany, and Timothy all in one hotel room, listening to all the organ receipients tell their stories at brunch that morning, and hanging out in the RV during the footbal game (they borrowed it from their neighbors and parked it in the end zone so that if it started raining - which it did - people could go sit in there so that they wouldn't get sick). It was a wonderful reminder of how short life can be and to make sure that the legacy you leave behind is one your family and children can be proud of. And, it was an excellent reminder to become an organ donor. We all know that we're not taking anything we have with us when we die, so why not save a life or two (or six!) if you can.
There have been some funny moments over the past week too. Brandon left last Monday for a class in Alabama for two weeks - he comes home tomorrow, yeah!! So, it's just been me and the little guy on our own. And, of course, Timothy got a bad cold which I've now inherited so he's been a little fussy and not sleeping well, but it's all over now, so it's ok!
We did have a milestone event last Saturday night, Timothy got his first hair cut! We had been to a friend's house Thursday night and the men there kept calling him "Mullet Boy" and trying to get him to say "mullet" so I decided I would take care of that and I cut his hair. It's not perfect and it's not really short, but it refutes the mullet argument so that's all that matters! He officially turned 18 months old last Friday, the 19th and he's just such a big boy now! I'll have more to update on him after tomorrow, we're going in for his 18 month check up! Enjoy the pictures and if you have a chance, say a little prayer for the Baffney family in Walla Walla, thanking God for their son Tyler.
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2 comments:
Thank you, Lindsay. That was just beautiful. Words just don't do the circumstance justice though, do they? anyway, it was wonderful experience and hopefully we have found some lifelong friends. anyone wishing to become a donor can just simply say "yes" to that question when they get their drivers licenses renewed. Then they will put a little red heart on your license, so any paramedic will know (your own family!). not a pleasant thought, but we all know we're not taking these bodies wo heaven with us! Love you!
Wow...that was so neat to read...and very powerful. I think that is so special that you were able to meet the family...and I can only imagine how overwhelming and emotional it was. Thanks for sharing. I hope yall are doing great, and that you are enjoying the PNW fall - I miss the falls there. Our "fall" is still in the upper 80's. I'd love to have 60's for a change! Anyway, and BTW, I laughed so hard about the mullet comment. Aaron was making fun of Jake's hair, too, saying he had a mullet, so I cut it somewhere around 14 months or so. So, I completely understand. :) Anyway, yall take care! Look forward to more pictures of your sweet boy soon! Tell your folks hello!
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