April is Organ Donation Awareness Month and Rick and Noreen Woodford know firsthand how profound giving the gift of life can be – they lost their son Mattie seven years ago and honoured his registered decision to become an organ donor.
The anniversary of Mattie’s passing and organ donation also falls in April and every year the Woodfords plan something small and intimate as a family to honour the incredible person he was.
“The first summer in 2018, we planted a scarlet maple tree in our yard. Scarlet for Mattie’s ginger hair, and we still call it ‘Mattie’s tree’. Moose have broken branches a few times but it continues to thrive and produce brilliant foliage in the fall,” Noreen shares. “We also go out for a special dinner every year, enjoying some of Mattie’s favourite foods like steak and cheesecake. We listen to music, share stories and look at family photos.”
Sharing Mattie’s stories is one way they keep his memory alive.
“Mattie loved to fish. He would spend hours on the water in hopes of catching anything. We had a small boat which I tied to shore with a few hundred feet of rope so Mattie could be out on the lake by himself. Sometimes he would get ambitious and untie the rope to row a little further and we’d have to borrow a neighbour’s boat to go and rescue Mattie, who disagreed that he needed any ‘rescuing’. No lessons learned here,” chuckles Rick.
Championing organ donation as BC Transplant volunteers
Both Rick and Noreen have also been a core part of BC Transplant’s volunteer team, sharing their organ donation experience whenever they can.
Rick adds, “We have met so many amazing people, especially transplant recipients who are so happy to meet us, as we are to meet them. Their stories and journeys are truly inspiring. We met a young boy who received a new heart and a great grandmother who’s had her heart for over 20 years. We’ve gone to hospitals to meet the dedicated health care workers, and we’ve also shared our story with many news reporters, who are often in tears during our interviews.”
They share that they are honoured to be a part of the BC Transplant team and have even improved their technical skills through volunteering by giving virtual presentations and webinars.
One of their most memorable volunteer opportunities was speaking at BC Transplant’s Donor Medal Ceremony last year. They shared Mattie’s story with a room full of donor family members whose loved ones had recently passed and became organ donors.
“This speech was challenging to prepare, knowing these families had just faced a tragic loss. I remember attending Mattie’s donor medal ceremony and it was so painful. To help these donor families, I focused on the truly remarkable heroes we were honouring that day. His story always helps to make a personal connection. For me, it keeps his memory alive,” Noreen recalls.
Rick remembers meeting a young heart transplant recipient, Addison, many years ago while volunteering. She was just a little girl. “I saw Addison again at the ceremony and she is now a teenager, full of life and big energy. She was still the same as I remember, always on the move but now more vocal. Seeing her grow through the years is enough reason to volunteer. If we can save one life, we know it was worthwhile.”
What organ donation means to the Woodfords
Rick and Noreen share, “We have met such incredible people at BC Transplant, they are so passionate about the work they do. Their commitment to making the organ donation experience special for everyone is so valued and honorable. They are helping families to the best of their abilities.”
The meaning of organ donation has changed for the Woodfords since that tragic time in 2018.
“Now it reaffirms how important it is to have the conversation about organ donation and to register that decision. So many families and friends have been impacted by Mattie’s gifts of life. It’s just so amazing, that one decision impacts so many lives.”
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Organ donation is a big decision. Learn more about how you can potentially save a life at 7facts.ca and when you’re ready, register your decision in BC’s Organ Donor Registry at registeryourdecision.ca.
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