Organ Donor Awareness Week

The El Paso County Commissioners read a resolution on Tuesday, Garrett's 2nd anniversary with Darren's heart, to claim this week as Organ Donor Awareness week. We were invited to the public venue and were so honored to represent thousands of families effected by the need for organ donation.



They also recognized Garrett, Darren's family and Megan's family for their selfless sacrifice to reach out and help our Garrett. It was a very emotional event and well recieved by local media. Here are a few links to stories carried.



Garrett was so humbled by all the attention. He made a big deal about a "prayer box" given to him by Darren's family. They "put" a prayer into the necklace before they gave it to him. The prayer is for Darren's heart to continue to beat strongly and never fail Garrett, giving him a full life of joy and love. Garrett won't ever take it off.



Please consider becoming an organ donor if you haven't already. The heart we love with is not the heart we live with. Our souls' are already spoken for by the Perfect Physician. The rest is only here while we are on earth. If there is anything that we can do to help another, we are called to do so. That is why we allow Garrett's story to be told. If any part of our journey can help inspire someone to reach out, to help another or to find comfort in their own tough times, then we're happy to share the story.



God bless you all, and remember that in each of us beats the heart of a warrior. Find it and you will find a peace in Him that cannot be matched by anything on earth.



JD

http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=424211

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/organ-donation-helps-colorado-boy-live-twice/##

http//www.gazette.com/articles/lesson-95020-gets-title-html

Heart Ball 2010 - Two Years of Victory

Over the weekend, we had the honor of representing thousands of families at the American Heart Association Heart Ball in Denver. The 2010 event spotlighted the journey of our little warrior and the blessings received through organ donation and medical intervention.

The black-tie event is an annual gala to raise awareness and money to help pediatric cardiac disease research. A 7 minute video was played that chronicled Garrett's journey through 22 surgeries, 3 hearts and two heart transplants. The film crew interviewed the entire family individually last year, but we didn't get to really see it that night because we were on stage. We could tell by the audience reaction that it was powerful. Sunday night after we returned we had a private showing at the house. Wow......break out the tissues.

We were deeply honored to share this special evening at the Heart Ball with Garrett's donor family as our guests. To have Hal and Rebecca with us meant more than we could describe and put an exclamation point on the depth of emotion shared at the event. I was felt so privileged to introduce them to the doctor who performed Garrett's last transplant. As they shook hands, those of us watching were captivated knowing that two young boys, strangers, fought for their lives two years ago. Soon, the hands of that doctor would touch both boys as he took a life giving heart from one and placed it in another and immediately made the boys, one. The first and last hands to touch Darren as a baby and then before Garrett took a part of him to carry on. It was a powerful moment.

I'll post some photos soon, but suffice to say that it was a memorable event raising a lot of money for heart disease research. If one child, one family, one moment of research is helped or improved by knowing this story.....then we are humbled to share the journey.

God bless to all,

JD