Christopher & Michael

Christopher& Michael Leadingham

A Tribute From:
Jackie Melvin, Donor Mom

Why?

Why? Why did God take my two babies? That is what I asked myself on the night of July 21st, 2003. As I was on my way to the hospital I asked God to help me have the strength to carry on. I had to make the decision of donation.

Christopher had signed the back of his license just a month earlier. He had made the decision to donate but, because he was only 16, I still had the final approval. It was very hard answering the questions for donation at the hospital that night. I really did not want to be doing that at that time. But I did because that is what he wanted. I now know that I made the right decision. A few months after the accident I received a letter from the eye bank. They let me know that thanks to Christopher's donations, a girl in Hazelcrest, IL could now see due to a cornea transplant. They were unable to use Michael's eyes. But at least I know something good happened from this great tragedy. If someone out there can live on or see again due to my boys I guess in some way my boys still live on. I would consider it a great joy to be able to look into my son's eyes again.

Mommy