By Richard F. Denno
The above emotional quote is mentioned at many Masonic Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Program presentations. The story behind it is both powerful and moving.
One morning in 2009, my beautiful bride, Midge and I were having a delicious breakfast at Lottie’s Country Kitchen in Glastonbury. The Finocciaro family, Marsha and Thomas and their children, Amy and Mark owned the restaurant. Marsha noticed my Donate Life lapel pin and a conversation started. Their son, Gregory, who was part of a construction road crew working on the side of the highway, was struck and killed by a driver who suffered from seizures. On September 30, 2005, Greg’s heart, along with four other organs were recovered and transplanted in five needy patients. Kimberly Plaster, from New Hampshire, was the recipient of Gregory’s heart.
How do you thank someone who has saved or vastly improved your quality of life? Many families, either recipient or donor, want to reach out to the other family. This is accomplished by the interested family writing an anonymous letter to the other family. “It took me a little more than a year to complete a letter to the family,” said Bill Seery, a liver transplant recipient. Due to the emotional nature of the subject, many do wait for a year or longer before corresponding with the family. “Every time I started, the emotions were so intense I would end up crying.” While some families do connect and form lifelong relationships, many letters go unanswered. “I never did receive a response from the donor’s family. It was difficult for me to write and it had to be difficult for them making that decision,” noted Seery.
The Finocciaro family and Kimberly Plaster did decide to meet a year later. Taking Marsha’s hand, Kimberly put it to her chest. “Feel This? It’s your son’s heart beating in my body. If it were not for your kindness, I wouldn’t be here today.” At organ donor presentations, both speaker and the audience get very emotional. When the talk is over, there is not a ‘dry-eye in the house.’ The families have kept in touch over these past 15 years; their life affirming experience bonding them together. Lottie’s is now operated by the Finocciaro children, Mark and Amy Beach and her husband, Mike.
Louis Schluntz, Anchor Lodge #112’s Tiler, is the newest CT Freemason to receive a transplant. Over 25 years ago, Lou suffered the first of three heart attacks. As his heart became weaker over the subsequent years, which was hastened by a bout of pneumonia in late November 2016, he eventually had a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) implanted in early 2019, for a possible bridge to transplant if he so desired or he could stay on the LVAD. On July 22, 2020, Lou received his new heart.
The other side of this story involves the donor. “What little Lou was told about him, is he died of a drug overdose and was in his late 30’s to early 40’s, and his organs were in good condition,” said Heidi, Lou’s wife. Lou is forever in his debt for a chance to continue living and watch his three grandsons grow up into young men. He especially thanks the doctors, nurses and staff of Hartford Hospital; as well as the New England Donor Services (Donate Life CT.)
“Because of my transplant donor family, I performed the wedding of my daughter and now care for her daughters,” said heart recipient Chuck ‘2.0’ Landau. He waited almost five years for his new (2.0) heart. Chuck returned to work for an additional 14 years, retiring in 2017. Landau has been active very in Freemasonry before and after his transplant.
Through the kindness of a total stranger, Midge and I were able to share 9 1/3 more years of ‘Precious Moments’ together. We traveled the world, shared many times together with loved ones, and through the Freemasons and Donate Life met many wonderful people. In Midge’s case, she was able to ‘pay it forward.’ She received her kidney transplant on December 3, 2008 and donated her two corneas upon her death in March of 2018.
Transplants are NOT cures. They can, however, provide a longer and improved quality of life. These are those added Precious Moments that are truly what life is all about. It’s Chuck 2.0 marrying his daughter or Lou Schluntz watching his grandkids grow up. It’s Bill and Lynn Seerey visiting friends across the country and attending Masonic meetings.
In a previous column, I fantasized what would happen if I won that 1.5 BILLION-dollar Mega Millions prize. After taking it as a lump sum payment and paying the taxes, I estimated I would end up with a measly $400 Million. I have asked over 200 people how much of that prize money they would be willing to give up if it would pay for a desperately needed heart for a loved one. In EVERY case the answer is always the same – ALL OF IT!
This entire 800+ word column can be distilled down to a couple of sentences.
- Organ donation extends and improves life and provides the time for Precious Moments
- You have the power to Donate Life
Remember – Don’t Take Your Organs to Heaven – Heaven knows We Need Them Here!
Register as a donor at www.registerme.org