My name is Anita Ouellette

I am writing to share with you my experience with organ donation. Approximately ten years ago my husband Paul was in a tragic automobile accident on the E. C. Rowe Expressway with my daughter Amy on the way to take her to school. There were several cars involved but my husband was the only real injury. He and my daughter were taken to Hospital by ambulance. Paul had sustained severe trauma to the head and lived for about 30 hours on life support after having received surgery to relieve blood clots on the brain. My family and I were told that his injuries were profound and they were unsure as to whether he would live or not. He was only 47 years old and in extremely good health prior to the accident .Over night we were coming to terms with the facts that were being presented to us so when we were approached by the hospital staff about organ donation we were not completely shocked. However it did bring us to the realization that there was no longer any hope for his survival. When asked by the staff if we would consider donating Paul's organs it seemed an easy decision. Paul had always beeen a very helpful person to all that knew him. If someone needed him he was always there for them, whether it be family, friends or even co-workers. It was because of this being in his nature that the decision to donate his organs came easy for all of us. It was a unanimous YES from all of us. Somehow it gave us all some comfort to know that through this enormous loss to us that at least someone would benefit and live in spite of the loss of Paul's life. It is never easy to lose a loved one for sure but there was definitely some consolation in knowing that this would please Paul and help us. I would most definitely encourage anyone given the opportunity to share the living organs with another human being, to do so without hesitation because it can only help to make some sense of a tragic situation. My hope in sharing this with you is to make others more aware of the fact that we need to make that decision for ourselves now when we are able to. It is a vital decision that should not be put off. How easily we forget. Please sign your donor card today. Thanks