FORKS TWP., Pa. — In her grief, Amy Souders took action.
It was 10 years ago that she discovered her 18-year-old son Cody unresponsive in his bed from an overdose.
“He was in the hospital for five days with no brain activity,” Souders said. Cody died on Oct. 31, 2013.
- An Easton-area family has a special bond with the living recipient of their 18-year-old's organ donation
- April is National Donate Life Month
- One organ donor can save up to 8 lives
The college freshman was a registered organ donor and his family began the process of organ harvesting through the Gift of Life Donor Program.
“We found out that he was going to be an organ donor and found out that most likely he would be supplying organs, tissues, bones for over 50 people,” said Souders.
"One organ donor can save up to eight lives and a tissue donor can heal and transform the lives of more than 100 others."Kendall Bunch, media relations coordinator with the Gift of Life Donor Program
Cody’s major organs, tissue and corneas all went to others.
Within a year of her son's death, Amy began writing to the donation recipients. That’s when she connected through letters with Tom Burke of Wildwood, NJ — the man who received Cody’s liver.
“Amy calls me her silver lining and I call them my second family,” said Burke, who suffered from liver cancer prior to the transplant.
“Cody gave me a second chance at life and I got to see my three grandchildren born and my son get married and it's been an awesome journey ever since.”
Souders and Burke are sharing their story in honor of National Donate Life Month this April.
Gift of Life connects organ and tissue donors to recipients in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware.
"The impact of one donor is tremendous. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and a tissue donor can heal and transform the lives of more than 100 others,” said Kendall Bunch, media relations coordinator with theGift of Life Donor Program.
“One person can donate their kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart and intestines. Tissue donation includes bone donations to repair fractures and prevent amputations, skin donations to heal burn patients, and heart valve donations to repair life-threatening defects.
“Donors can also donate their corneas, which can give the gift of sight to two recipients.”
“Amy calls me her silver lining and I call them my second family."Thomas Burke, liver transplant recipient
Bunch said the program encourages donor families and recipients to communicate through Gift of Life's family services team to protect privacy.
“Initial communication is through letters and cards for at least the first year,” Bunch explained. “After a time of some consistent correspondence, we will gladly facilitate direct communication if both parties are interested.
"It is possible, but uncommon, for donor families and recipients to meet in person.”
Ten years later, Amy Souders said she has found some peace in connecting with and growing close to Burke and his family.
“Obviously it's not like having my son back, but a piece of him is still living on and that is an extremely important thing,” she said. “If any family can extend the life of any family member — even if it's only a couple of days — it's worth it.”
Burke meets up with the Souders family at least once a year for an event honoring donors, recipients, and their families. Both families will meet again this weekend for the 26th annual Donor Dash on Sunday in Philadelphia.
More than 5,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in our region, according to Gift of Life.
Those looking to become an organ donor can do so at donors1.org.
