This was her shot. An opening to the only question that plagued her mind right now.
“Um” —Addison hesitated— “Do you know anything about the donor?”
“The basics. Male, thirty-two.”
Addison stilled, scanning the room. She hadn’t even considered that the donor wasn’t a woman. She knew it was possible, but for some reason she assumed it would be a female.
“What’s his name?”
Andrea flattened her lips. “I don’t have that information. But even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to provide it to you. Privacy and confidentiality laws prohibit it.”
“Right.” Addison shifted on the bed and grasped the edge of the sheet. “Of course.”
“His next of kin will be given the option as to whether or not the donor’s information can be released to you. But there’s usually a grace period.”
Addison knew about it but hadn’t given it much thought. Because it wasn’t real months ago. Now it was.
She cleared her throat. “So, they can choose not to disclose his identity?”
“Yes. It’s left up to their discretion.”
Addison licked her lips, mulling over their position. If the roles were reversed? Would she want to meet the person who got her loved one’s heart? It was a complicated answer.Yes. And no.
Andrea clasped Addison’s hand, giving it a tight squeeze. “I’m upping the ante. Dollar for your thoughts?”
Addison chuckled and settled deeper into the bed. This seemed like an intimate conversation she should be having with her family or best friend. Not a stranger. But the last thing she wanted was to dampen her family’s happiness. It had been a long road for all of them, and they were finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. What kind of person would she be to darken their day with her own doubt and guilt?
As if reading her thoughts, Andrea whispered, “No one outside of this room will ever know about this conversation.” She squeezed her hand again. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
That was all it took. A kind, caring woman with motherly and best friend vibes became her instant confidante.
“I’m thinking about him. His family, if he had one. I’m twenty-seven, only five years younger than him, and it feels too young to die.”
Andrea’s face softened. “Because it is.”
Addison awkwardly nodded, trying to hold onto the last bit of control over her emotions. It was impossible. It was a strong wave devouring her.
“I get to live” —her voice shook as the tears streamed down her cheeks— “because he died. How is that fair?”
She was asking a question that she already knew the answer to.It’s not fair.Andrea didn’t respond. She was reading Addison’s thoughts and emotions.
“He gave me his heart,” she whispered. “And I don’t even know him.”
He was a stranger. Someone she’d never meet by chance, pass on the street, or serve a beer to at the bar. He gave her a second chance.And I’ll never get to thank him.
Andrea put her clipboard down on the table and sat on the edge of the bed. “You want me to tell you about him?”
Addison knitted her brows, slowly angling her head. “You said you didn’t have any information.”
“Not personal, no. But I can tell you the type of person he was, Addison.”
How? It sounded impossible. Still, she was intrigued.
Addison pushed up on her elbows and straightened on the bed. “Okay.”
“Being an organ donor is done with purpose. It’s a choice. It’s a generous, selfless act. One that was intended for the recipient” —She pointed and winked— “you, in this case, to get a second chance. It’s saying, ‘if I can’t live, I want somebody else to. I want someone who can’t see toseeeverything I’ve seen. I want that person who struggles to breathe walking up the stairs to take my lungs and run a marathon. I want someone to do all the things I never got to do. And I want my heart to beat for someone else.’ He gave you a gift, and the best thing you can do to thank him is live your life to the fullest. Because I believe that washisintention.” She paused. “You didn’t know him, and he didn’t know you. But I can say with certainty by donating his heart, he wantedyouto live. It’s probably the greatest gift anyone will ever give you. So take it, appreciate it, and fulfill its intention.” She smiled. “Be grateful, honor the gift you were given, but most importantly live your life, Addison.”
Live my life.
