No one knows the day nor the hour of their death. It is this uncertainty and frailty that gives life meaning. Everyone has a story and a purpose in life and we search to find its meaning. For some, however, their life is cut short. There are more than 113,000 patients in the U.S. that are waiting for a lifesaving organ (Organ Donation). These patients are on the National Transplant Waiting List. Some are waiting for a heart, a liver, a kidney, or a lung to name a few. They hope that one day soon they may receive an organ that gives them a second chance at life, but unfortunately, more than 20 persons die daily while waiting (Organ Donation). My wife was one of those that died. Minerva was a wife, a mother, a sister, and a daughter, that lived a short life. She graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word and was a licensed registered nurse. She volunteered her time as a nurse when she could, without the intension of pay or recognition. She was a beautiful, loving, compassionate, caring, and humble woman. In the last years of her life, she developed a condition called autoimmune hepatitis, a chronic disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the liver and causes inflammation and liver damage. Doctors aren’t sure of what causes autoimmune hepatitis yet. We visited many different doctors in the hope of getting her condition into remission, but her condition kept getting worse. Towards the end of her short life, she needed a liver transplant and was placed on the National Transplant Waiting List.

For 26 days, we waited in a transplant hospital for a liver donor. We prayed and hoped that she would receive an organ in time, but a liver donor never came. Her death left my daughter and I forever changed! It sparked a fire inside of us to help others who are waiting for a lifesaving organ. We felt that her life had to mean something. Because of this, we established the non-profit organization called, “Offerings of Life.” It is our mission and goal to help promote the value and importance of being a registered organ donor. Only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation (Organ Donation). There is a great shortage of organ donors. Through television public service announcements (PSA’s), social media, digital print, and other means, we hope to inspire those who have not considered being registered organ donors to do so and potentially save lives one day! This could bring hope to those who are on the waiting list, who don’t know if they will see another tomorrow!  We only get one chance at life and when it’s over, we can leave the gifts of life to those who need it most.                                         

Thank you for the privilege of your time.
Roland & Valerie

Works Cited

“Organ Donation Statistics.” Organdonor.gov, Health

Resources & Services Administration, www.organdonor.gov/statistics-stories/statistics.html#glance.