So Hope Will Live

[Daniel Mark Extrom]

So Hope Will Live

A Poem of Gratitude from an Organ Recipient to a Donor and the Donor's Family

Preface and Disclaimer:  I have not been an organ recipient or a donor, although I am registered to be a donor in the event that any of my aging organs are worthy of helping someone else to live after I am gone.  April is Organ Donation Month.

I wrote this poem several years ago to encourage organ donation.  I will give the backstory in a subsequent post. I have three  such pieces about organ donation, and I will put the other two up in the next few days. For now, I will tell you that this poem was read at a celebration of organ donation, held at a hospital in Arizona, several days ago. Three hundred people were attending and heard it, and the woman who read it had found it on my website and asked permission to read it at the celebration.  She is a liver recipient, and she survives now because someone else donated.  I would encourage everyone to be an organ donor. It will cost you nothing, and can help someone. You can register here: http://www.donatelife.net.   Your life can keep on giving . . .

So Hope Will Live

We are strangers now a family,
forever joined – not by choice –
but joined by need and joined by pain:
different lives, but common voice –
a cry for love, a cry for life,
so hope will live, eternally,
born of saddest irony.
Life will never be the same –
not for you and not for me.
One you love – who shares your name –
now is gone, but I remain:
a second chance, a new domain –
a gift of life, that lives in me,
strangers now a family.

A part of you now lives in me,
and we are joined like family –
not in blood and not in name,
different, yes, and yet the same –
joined in cause and common voice –
knowing that there is a choice
to donate life to someone else
so they may live their life again.
May each life be for all
a light ahead in driving rain.

Your gift has given life to me –
a gift of love, born of pain;
joined by science, joined by fate –
a bond that bridges life and death –
a bond of love, a bond of pain –
a sad and strange irony –
a gift of life now given me,
and strangers now a family,
burdens borne with different names.

Know that I am grateful
for the life you gave to me.
May my life give you light
wherever you may be.
And may my life bring comfort
from the pain that hurts you so:
we are strangers now a family,
wherever we may go.
And may the life that lives in me
shine the light so all can see
that life goes on, ironically,
when we choose to donate life,
so hope will live, eternally.

Copyright Daniel Mark Extrom 2009-2014

[Brigid Briton]

Hi Dan,

A very moving poem. I'm glad that so many organ recipients and donor families have been able to hear it, see it, and be comforted by its message. And, it would certainly make anyone who's not thought about being an organ donor, at least start thinking about it.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Brigid

[Cory Raymond]

Hi Dan,

I agree with Brigid. I'm sure this poem will go a long way in helping those left behind come to terms with their loss. Meaningful work.

Cory

[John Walton]

Well done Daniel. A well written poem for a worthy cause. If just one person signs up after reading your poem then you will have your reward.

[Daniel Mark Extrom]

Thank you, Cory, Brigid and John! 

Sincerely.

Dan

[SweetSilverBird]

You are a nice man, Daniel. You must be, otherwise you would not be inspired to write it.

[Daniel Mark Extrom]

Thank you, Sweet Silver Bird!