Warning : Do not read this without tissue paper or a handkerchief in your hand!
Throughout the last half of 2015 I have been thinking of how to put down in writing this incident which surely had to be chronicled. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Now, Christmas has arrived and has set the stage for me to tell the story.
I followed this from July 7 when I read it on Ricky Monfort's Facebook wall. On that day, Ricky posted that a tragedy had struck their family in the United States. His Tito Freddie and Tita Maryanne's family, including their grandchildren, were off to visit their Uncle Errol, one hour away from Seattle, Washington.
On the way, the rented van they were riding on was rear-ended and the crash seriously injured their 8-year-old grandson Owen. Despite several hours of trying to revive him, Owen did not make it.
As the 8-year-old Owen expired, his parents made the decision of donating his organs. Owen's heart and liver came in time for two needing recipients. It could be no less than a miracle for those who were to receive them.
In life, Owen was a boy with a big, big heart. Last year, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, a St. Jude's Hospital commercial came on and his mother, Tami, made a comment that she needed to donate. Owen turned to his mom and asked, "How much are you going to donate, Mommy?". His mom said $20. Owen said, "I will donate $20 too"!
What a generous boy! Thus, it comes as no surprise that even in his passing, Owen gave of himself that others may live.
Owen's mom wrote this a few days after Owen's passing:
"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."
At 9:24pm on July 5th, our precious sweet beautiful boy Owen earned his wings and became an angel up in Heaven. Last night, we hugged and kissed him for the last time...until we meet again. To honor his kind, giving and generous soul, Harold and I made the difficult decision to donate his organs. Our amazing little hero saved 2 lives last night with his heart and liver. To save another family from feeling the pain and sadness that we feel is what we needed to start our healing journey.
We are overwhelmed and full of gratitude with the outpouring of love and support from our community. We appreciate all of your phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and messages. We are amazed at the generosity and selflessness of each and every one of you.
We are so proud of our son for everything that he has accomplished in his 8 years of life. We are so blessed and honored to have been chosen to be his parents. Our Gracie Goose, who came out of this tragic accident unscathed, has become such a brave little girl and our "saving grace."
Owen,
Mommy, Daddy and Gracie love you so very much. We will miss you like nobody could imagine. Rest in peace my sweet baby boy. Until we meet again...
This story was originally posted in December 23, 2015. Today, a little over five years after the original post and in the light of the current worldwide pandemic, Owen still speaks to us. May the example of Owen prod us to be generous in these challenging times!
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