The Rev. Phil Pinckard on organ donation — a miracle out of a tragedy

Everlasting Hope

I‘ll always remember the 20th of the month. On May 20, 2002, at 2:13 pm, my pager vibrated. When I called the high school principal’s office, my wife, Jodie, answered. She told me that our son, Mark, had been involved in an accident and was being transported by ambulance to the medical center where I work. I hurried down to the emergency room to meet her. We stood near the driveway as the city ambulance pulled up. Students, teachers, friends, co-workers and ministerial friends were gathering to support and pray for us. The 3/4 ton GMC Suburban that our son Mark was driving had been struck by an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig hauling a load of lumber. The driver was unable to avoid hitting Mark's vehicle.

We waited anxiously for news of Mark’s condition. Initially, his injuries included a broken left arm and collarbone, a fractured jaw and a bruised left lung. Routine diagnostic tests were clear, but as he was being settled into the ICU for observation, something changed. His pupils became uneven and unresponsive. During a second 'stat' CT, Mark’s heart stopped once and had to be shocked back into proper rhythm. This second CT showed that an artery had ruptured between the skull and the brain, filling the area with blood that quickly flooded the brain stem. Mark was gone.

When Jodie and I received this news from his neurosurgeon, we agreed without hesitation to donate Mark's vital organs, bone, soft tissue and corneas, anything that could be used to help someone else. About two hours after giving consent, we learned that Mark’s French II class had discussed organ/tissue donation about two weeks before graduation. Opinions were mixed; even Mark’s teacher didn’t know whether she could donate her organs. Mark spoke up saying: "If anything were to happen to me, I'd want them to take anything and everything they could use, because where I'm going, I won't need them." God confirmed to us through Mark's own voice that we were honoring his final wishes.

One Wednesday, about two months after Mark’s death, my family met a miracle. A blonde, blue-eyed, active four-year old named Caitlin, who, on May 21, received Mark’s right kidney. When her parents walked into the room, we exchanged hugs. We talked, shared pictures of our families and got acquainted. What a blessing to know that someone’s life has been changed forever through organ donation. I have firm assurance, more now than ever, in the words of the Apostle’s Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” Resurrection of the body is a future hope for Mark; a present reality for this little girl, who was recently the flower girl for our daughter’s wedding.

Throughout this journey, I’ve felt the deepest sense of sorrow mingled with firm assurance, inexpressible gratitude and everlasting hope. I know the Lord has given me this scripture: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; You are mine! When you pass through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior …” [Isaiah 43:1-3, NAS] Knowing that someone had received life and sight through Mark has comforted and sustained us in our sorrow.

In Robert Fulghum’s book, It Was On Fire When I Lay Down on It, I read this creed:
      I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge—
      That myth is more potent than history.
      I believe that dreams are more powerful than facts—
      That hope always triumphs over experience—
      That laughter is the only cure for grief.
      And I believe that love is stronger than death.

In the depths of my spirit, God has confirmed everlasting hope. I say with Paul that “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing – nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” [Romans 8:39-39, The Message]

A new book has been published about Mark and Caitlin. It is entitled, Now Caitlin Can: a donated organ helps a child by Ramona Wood. It was written from the viewpoint of Caitlin’s brother, Freddie, who was six when Caitlin received Mark's kidney. You can order it from www.justbookz.com.

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