..before they were 30. One would have been my dtr who ended her engagement with a young man who died 2 years later of bone cancer...leaving his new wife a widow Such sadness in the world.. I will keep your friends family close to my heart..

I know a couple who lost 3 of their 4 children in separate tragic accidents. Their remaining child is a motorcycle cop. All we can do for them is listen, support and hug.

I can’t imagine. Sending love to you, your colleague and his family.

Second, as a transplant nurse, I can tell you there is a 30 year old waiting for a heart— the only option for life. A 29 year old waiting for a liver, they have a genetic condition that destroyed their liver. Another 29 year old trauma victim who RECEIVED a liver, and is now on the road to recovery. A 55 year old waiting for a kidney. The average lifespan on hemodialysis is five years. This person has kids and wants to see them through college and adulthood.

I have patients who will die, who are considered untranslatable because the window for survivable surgery closed because of waiting

I don’t think that organ donation mitigates the pain of loss one iota, but saving lives, might, down the road, help

I hope they decide to donate.

Most drivers license applications ask if you are willing to donate organs in the event of accidental death - as a way to get the patient/owner's consent on record. If your state does this, be sure to include consent on your drivers license datafile.

Nurses are awesome!

disease that keeps us from being organ donors. If we could, we would.

When I was put in the sudden position of donating my late husband’s organs (brain aneurism), I was surprised to learn that they also want skin for burn victims and bone for bone grafts.

...pediatricians. I fully anticipate that this will be the decision they reach. I hope so.

At the start. But it sure as hell makes a difference throughout the grieving process. It helps. A lot.

I have never worked with a grieving family who has ever regretted a lost loved one being an organ donor. Quite the contrary.

How tragic. I don't know why some people have more than their fair share of heartbreak in a lifetime. It just doesn't seem fair. I suppose the best thing you can do is to be supportive and caring. I'm very sorry for your friend and their family.

None of us is guaranteed the future. Please, do not neglect getting life insurance to protect your family! Even if you are young and healthy, there is no guarantee that this will continue due to illness or accident, and then you may not be insurable. Term life insurance is extremely cheap for young people, and it can make all the difference in the lives of your loved ones should you no longer be there to protect them.

I encouraged my son and daughter to purchase life insurance, and 2 years ago my son, a young man with three small children and a wife, was diagnosed with incurable cancer. It is tremendous that he does have the resources to protect them at this time. We are still working and hoping for a cure, but this is vital protection that you cannot get after the fact.

And, yes, sign that donor card or indicate it on your driver's license. It could be a more precious gift to bequeath to someone then $1000000.

And so sad about all the stress on him and on his young family and on yours. I wish you all the very best and hope that everything you’re doing for a cure succeeds.

...over the years we have worked together, particularly after his brother’s suicide. When I was 26, my 23 yr old brother died in a scuba diving adventure that did not end well. Although the circumstances were totally different, we share the experience of the sudden and devastating loss of a brother. I have no other siblings.