8 years ago last July I was 6 ½ years old. I wasn’t able to watch the fireworks that July fourth. I though that it was the end of the world. Little did I know a couple weeks from then it could have been. July 5th I woke up with jaundice in my eyes, and my skin was yellow. I had been yellow for a couple of weeks but because I was so dark it was hard to tell. My mom took me to the Emergency room that morning. They took some tests and found out that something was wrong. I was admitted to St. Paul’s Children’s Hospital in St. Paul’s Minnesota where I was living at the time. After taking some more tests they found out I needed a liver transplant. My parents had to make their biggest and most difficult decision. Which hospital should they send me to? The U of M or the Mayo Clinic. Thankfully they chose the Mayo clinic in Rochester. After receiving a room I had more and more tests done. For the transplant waiting list there is a scale. That first week I was a 4, least life-threatening. A week later, I was a 1, most life-threatening. July 30th 1996 I had a match. I was being prepared to go into surgery. I raced down the hall in my bed with my parents by my side. Of course crying. I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I didn’t want to die. My dad told me this story that before I was matched with a liver I was watching casper the friendly ghost one day in the room and I turned to my dad and said, “Dad wouldn’t it be cool if I died and become a ghost? Then I could be with you and mommy whenever.” My dad was frightened. But After 10 hours of surgery, and 10 days in a comma, I was on my way to being as normal as any 6 year old could be. I have been doing pretty well ever since. I am so thankful for one mans decision to become a donor. He decided to become one even though he would never meet the person who’s life he would save. I didn’t know him, but I have a part of him inside of me. I don’t know his family, but I think about them all the time. I don’t know what he is doing right now, but I know what his liver is doing. I t is helping me spread organ donation awareness. Hopefully everyone who is able to donate won’t be selfish and give their organs to someone who needs them. I am going to end with a question. Why take you Organs to heaven? Heaven knows that we need them here. Hopefully everyone will be able to give one final gift. The Gift of Life.