Help in a Time of Need

Organ/Tissue Donation and Registry

by Vanetta Wick and Venus Buckner
from the 2001 Annual Report for the Governor's Organ Donation Advisory Committee

Vanetta--
I received the worst news of my life on September 19, 2001. That day a physician told me my husband of 33 years, who suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm, had been declared brain dead at 10:45 a.m. He was only 55 years old and in the prime of his life. Nathan was a quiet, unassuming man of great faith, whose kind, gentle spirit and generosity impacted everyone who knew him.

This story actually began 48 hours earlier. Nathan was a pharmacist who worked evenings and was usually asleep when I went to work. On September 17, I woke him up to speak with him and kissed him goodbye before I left. I found him lying unconscious next to the bed when I returned home from work that evening. He never regained consciousness.

Venus--
I received a consultation on September 19, 2001, from the hospital regarding a 55-year-old man who met the criteria for brain death, and I went onsite to determine whether or not he could be an organ donor. I concluded from my evaluation that this patient, named Nathan, was indeed a potential for organ and tissue donation. The next major task was to make preparations to notify Nathan's family. First I had to find out if Nathan himself had ever expressed an interest in organ donation. In our state of Missouri, the question is asked if the person is interested in organ donation and would like their name added in the donor registry. If the answer is yes, the answer is recorded, kept confidential, and maintained by the Missouri Department of Health. I contacted the Department of Health, they found his name in the donor registry and faxed me a copy. Receiving this information did not mean I had consent.

But it did mean I had valuable information that would help Nathan's family decide what to do. After Nathan's medical condition had been confirmed with further testing, the physician and I made plans to deliver the news to his wife and the rest of his family. We also agreed that before we even mentioned anything about organ and tissue donation, we needed to be sure Nathan's wife understood what brain death is (an irreversible condition equivalent to death) and that the family had enough time to absorb the news.

Vanetta--
That September morning, I was told what the inevitable outcome for Nathan would be. At that time the question of his wishes about organ donation was raised. I was somewhat sure that he would want to be an organ donor though I could not recall that we had ever really discussed it. I checked the back of his driver's license; it was not signed. At this devastating time of unspeakable despair I found myself dealing with a decision only Nathan should make. I knew that whatever I decided, doubt would haunt me forever. What if I said yes and it was not what he wanted? What if I said no and it was what he wanted?

It was then that an organ donor coordinator told me that Nathan had been asked about organ donation when he renewed his driver's license just five months earlier. She had a copy of the recorded response with her to show me. Nathan had, indeed, wanted to be an organ donor. His final gesture would be to continue doing what he had always done, generously giving all he could to help others. I cannot tell you what a relief and a blessing it was to know for certain what he wanted and be able to carry out his wishes. I am so grateful that I will not have to live the rest of my life wondering if I did the right thing for this wonderful man I adored. I am so thankful there was a mechanism in place to tell me his wishes when he was no longer able to tell me himself.

Venus--
When I informed Vanetta of the opportunity for Nathan to help others through organ and tissue donation, I could see the struggle in her face. She looked searchingly around the room to the rest of the family members for guidance, and she informed me that Nathan had not signed his driver's license. She further added that he would have been the type of person who would donate but she was not sure what to do. I showed Vanetta the copy of the donor registry and explained the two questions that were answered in it. Nathan had not only expressed his interest in organ donation but also contributed $1.00 for educating the public about organ donation in the state of Missouri. I will never forget the immediate relief I saw on Vanetta's face. She then smiled and said, "That sounds just like something Nathan would do." I did explain to Vanetta that I needed to provide her with more information in order for her to make an informed decision, reassuring her through the interview that I will be supportive of her final decision.

At the end of that day, four individuals from the Midwest benefited from lifesaving organ transplants: two individuals received lung transplants; one gentleman received a liver transplant; one other individual is now free of dialysis through a kidney transplant. Nathan is also able to contribute to the medical research to treat diabetes as a pancreas donor.

In addition to these recipients, more than 50 individuals benefited from Nathan's tissue donation. That day, through the commitment of his loving wife and family to carry out his wishes, Nathan John Wick continued his legacy of giving.