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In my personal injury law practice here in Atlanta, I have had the honor of representing individuals who are in need of a transplant. The recipients of these vital organs know that while they rejoice in the gift, another family had to suffer a tragic loss for the organ even to be available.
Such a tragic loss occurred to the Dillard Family of Gwinnett County yesterday. Jhrarell Dillard, a fifteen year old junior in high school, died yesterday after eating a cookie that unknowingly contained nuts. Jhrarell had a known severe allergy to peanuts. Jhrarell immediately went into antiphalactic shock and died from eating the cookie. His parents, at a time that must have been excrutiateingly painful for them, chose to donate his organs. Jhrarell has apparently already saved seven other lives through donation of his organs. Truly amazing. I know those seven lucky families are rejoicing today in their gifts of life, but we must continue to hold the Dillard Family in our prayers as they mourn the loss of their son.
I have written before about the importance of being a donor. Please, I urge all Georgians to sign their driver’s licenses to agree to donate any useful organs in the event of your unexpected death. This is a decision that really has to be made well before a truamatic event occurs. If you wait to decide, it may be too late. There are many resources in Georgia from which to learn more. LifeLink is one such donation organation. Georgia Transplant Foundation is another. The Donate Life Georgia Organ, Tissue and Eye Donor Registry was created in 2008 to allow Georgians an easy and user-friendly means of joining the state’s donor registry. Georgians can join the registry through the Web site, when renewing their driver license online, or when obtaining/renewing their license at a local driver license office.
You have the power to donate Life! Imagine that! The life you save may be your own.