Some very important people have come into my life that have made my decision to become an organ donor even stronger than it had been before.
Only hours after Paige was born, an incredible little boy named Hunter Steele McMullen was born, hundreds of miles away from us, but destined to become someone we loved very much.
Hunter was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, as well as some other heart anomalies, and had numerous surgeries in hopes of giving him a healthier heart.
In hopes of healing his heart, Hunter endured a surgery which would give him a normal 4-chamber heart. The surgery was new and controversial, but stood the best chance of success for Hunter. As a result of many complications after that surgery, Hunter was placed on a transplant list, awaiting a new heart.
Hunter was placed on 'status 7' on the heart transplant list, which meant he was inactive, not needing a heart at the time, but keeping him status 7 would enable him to be be put back on at a moment's notice.
Sadly, Hunter passed away at home on November 22, 1999. I miss the Mighty Hunter so much, and hope that those of us who loved him will keep his memory alive by encouraging people to become organ donors.
Please click on his dedication page to read his last update, and eulogy.
We can make a big difference simply by signing our organ donor cards, by talking with our families about our desire to donate our organs in the event of our death.
And, while we are still alive, we can register at the National Bone Marrow Registry, as well as giving blood often. Imagine how wonderful it would feel to save someone else's life.
