Special offer

Happy 21st birthday dad!

By
Real Estate Agent with eXp Realty LLC 200311024

Yes, you read that correctly, today is my dad’s 21st birthday! Todd, how is that even possible, you are way older than 21 years old. Well, let me tell you! My dad has two birthdays, one when my grandma gave birth to him back in 1943. The second was when he was given a second chance at life thanks to someone who took five seconds to check the donor box on their driver’s license.

My dad's 21st birthday - Thank you! (Be an organ donor)

You see back in 1989 my dad picked up hepatitis C from a fish hook while working a summer job to support us kids and all our activities. (He was a teacher, so he had the summers off) By 1990 the outlook wasn’t great and we were thinking we were going to actually lose my dad to the disease.

But, then we got the call, there was a young man who was in a motorcycle accident and had lost his life, but with his death, he gave my dad new life. He took those few seconds when getting his license and checked the donor box on the application.

This is my thanks to that young man who has given me 21 more years with my dad and if you are getting a license or renewing your license, please, please check that donor box. You never know, you may make someone else’s Christmas with your gift of life in your death.

Comments (17)

Jeff Jensen
The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

That is a heartwarming story and a clever way to get us to read it.  My wife had been begging me to check the box for years and I finally did it.  Wouldn't you this year at renewal time DMV had uncheck the box.  I set them straight.

Dec 20, 2011 08:56 AM
Terri Poehler
Realtor - Coral Springs, FL
Coral Springs Real Estate Agent

Awesome story. Alot do not take the time to check the box. They should read this.

Dec 20, 2011 09:03 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Great story of life through death and how it positively changed your family's life. Happy 21st Dad Clark!

Dec 20, 2011 09:35 AM
Vern Eaton
Askov, MN
Realtor 651-674-7449

Great story.  I have the box checked.  A family member was given a 2nd chance and now I need to do the same if the circumstances occur.

Dec 20, 2011 09:58 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Wow!  Happy second birthday to your Dad!  And it really hits home how valuable that checked box is when you can put a face to a person who has been the recipient of a donated organ.

Dec 20, 2011 12:03 PM
Joanne Louise Stevens
Keller Williams Realty Los Angeles-Brentwood - Los Angeles, CA
Realtor - Serving Brentwood and Surrounding Cities

I checked the donor box years ago.  I'm glad that your dad had a second chance at life.  Merry Christmas and Have a Happy New Year!

Dec 20, 2011 12:38 PM
Jamie R. Bell
Bell Realty Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices NEP - Glastonbury, CT
Your Central CT Realtor

Great story! Happy Birthday to your father.

Happy Hoidays too!

Dec 20, 2011 01:07 PM
Kristi DeFazio
RE/MAX Advantage - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Rea lEstate 719-459-5468

What an awesome story. I hit suggest because I think it is an important topic- organ donation. What an amazing gift that person gave your father. Happy Holidays to you both!

Dec 20, 2011 01:07 PM
Kathy Schowe
California Lifestyle Realty - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

Great story and how wonderful for you to have your Dad with you for all of these years.  A blessing for sure! Thanks for sharing with us... and we are all donors at the Schowes'... Happy Holidays~  Kathy

Dec 20, 2011 01:24 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Todd, what a wonderful story, especially for this time of year.  And a good reminder to check that little box.

Dec 20, 2011 01:57 PM
Joe Kenny
Realty Executive Midwest - Darien, IL
Better Than Your Average Joe

Great story Todd.  You don't mind if I'm a little bit jealous now?  It's a good life.

Dec 20, 2011 02:05 PM
Susan Goulding
Crown Key Realty, Inc; Tracy & Mountain House Sales and Property Management - Tracy, CA
Northern CA - Tracy & Mountain House Real Estate

What a lucky DAD.  What a lucky YOU!  Check that box.

Dec 20, 2011 03:29 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your family story. I hope everyone that reads this will become an organ donor.

Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas!

 

Longwood Gardens IMG_2173

 

Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.

Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Dec 21, 2011 01:48 AM
Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO
Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT
Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

Great story~ so grateful for all the donors out there! My aunt is currently waiting for a double lung transplant.  She was called in once, but the lungs got compromised... so now we wait.  

 

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas

Dec 21, 2011 09:01 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Todd ~ What a great story and a wonderful donation for your Dad!! Everyone should be signed up as a donor on their driver's license!!  Happy Birthday to your DAD!!

Dec 23, 2011 11:09 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Happy 21st to your Dad! And... to all of you:

Merry Christmas!

Dec 23, 2011 11:23 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Todd,

Amazing story. Congratulations to both of you and many more birthdays to come! :)

Steve

Dec 23, 2011 02:19 PM