Celebrate Life

It was 2:40 am on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 when we received the call that there might be organs for Markelle. The hours following, although I remember them like it was yesterday, seem like a lifetime ago.

First, we had to call Amy and have her bring Markelle home from the sleepover she was having at her house, then make calls to everyone to let them know we were heading to Pittsburgh for Markelle’s transplant surgery. When I called the private jet company we had reserved for the transplant, they said that they didn't have a plane available to fly us to Pittsburgh but that they would have one available later that same day. Obviously waiting was not an option, so I explained to the gal that we would need a plane right now and I would give her a few minutes to figure out the tail number of the plane that would be taking us along with an estimated time of arrival. This could have been a disaster and looking back I wonder why I didn’t freak out!

As we were waiting for the plane, I remember fighting back the tears. We had been waiting for 2 years and 5 months for this day to arrive. Now, our life was about to undergo a huge change. After we said our goodbyes and loaded onto the plane, Markelle was crying because she just wanted to finish her sleepover, promising to go to Pittsburgh afterwards… : )

That morning was blessed with the most amazing sunrise I had ever seen; it was breathtakingly beautiful! It was then that I had this overwhelming sense that all was right in my world; my daughter was on her way to receive the organs that would ultimately save her life.

We landed in Pittsburgh exactly 6 hours after receiving our call and were met by an ambulance that would take Markelle and I to the hospital to get the process started for her to go into surgery. As soon as we got to the hospital Markelle had her blood drawn and was weighed while I filled out all of the necessary paperwork. She also received a chest x-ray to make sure that her lungs were healthy enough to endure the many hours under anesthesia. On our way back from x-ray, Markelle’s nurse met us at the door saying that they were ready for her in surgery. Wow, that was fast!

So off to surgery we went. Shortly thereafter, we got settled in the patient waiting area. Markelle started to cry, saying she had changed her mind and wanted to go home. She was a little girl and very scared. I explained to her that we had been waiting a very long time for this day so that she would be able to get rid of her line and not need TPN anymore… we couldn’t change our mind. She could have cared less about anything that I had just said... She just wanted to go home because she had changed her mind!

After talking to the doctors and signing all of the necessary release forms it was now time for Markelle to go into surgery. I had to just hand her over… hoping that she would come back to me alive. Markelle was crying and I could barely hold back my tears until she was gone. I cried a lot but I also had peace that she would be okay.

Next came the waiting, waiting and more waiting. Finally 13 ½ hours after sending Markelle into surgery she was done. We could go up to the ICU and they would let us see her for a few minutes. At 3:30 am, my eyes beheld my precious little girl. She had just endured the longest surgery of her short life and received the most precious of gifts, the gift of life. She made it!

Ten years later I am filled with joy and sorrow. I am truly thankful for the family that selflessly gave the gift of life to Markelle. Because of them I had 3 years with her that I would not have had otherwise. With a thankful heart, today I am praying for Markelle’s donor family and their precious child.