Molly was 26 – beautiful, vivacious, fun loving, intelligent, kind…(I could continue with the adjectives but I think you get my point).
On June 30th, she “fell” in a grocery store in the LA area – she literally just fell backwards as if someone had shoved her. Her head hit the concrete floor – and within 3 1/2 hours it went from “Molly fell in a store” to a conversation with a neurosurgeon in LA (we live in Missouri) where he said “She has no chance at survival – there is nothing we can do”.
Talk about getting hit with a brick…
But, because it was only her brain that sustained the damage (autopsy results are still inconclusive but are leaning toward “massive stroke”), her other organs were in great shape. We kept her on the ventilator for 2 days, just until the actual declaration of brain-death and then it took 2 more days to get the transplant teams, recipients, etc together…the longest 4 days of our lives.
She had been attending UCLA and had 3 more classes to complete her BA in Psychology. She was in her first of the 3 courses at this time. She loved LA and planned to make it her home after graduation. (UCLA has offered to award her her degree posthumously which we think is very kind of them.)
Anyway, on the night of July 4th, amidst the fireworks in the LA sky, the first of 4 helicopters took off from the medical center - and carried her heart home to UCLA to their transplant team waiting there. Our hearts broke and rejoiced at the same time…
The other copters carried away one lung, both kidneys and her liver…although we are waiting for our generic letter from our donor group, it does appear that 5 different people received organs.
We SO want to know about those people. Our thoughts and hopes for them is what keeps us going every day. It was so unfair for us to lose Molly and we feel so lost and hopeless – but knowing that others are living is what gives us hope.
I wear a “Donate Life” bracelet that I got years ago. (I found it in a box the day after Molly died). I had gotten it from a booth at a fair - my husband’s job also had a booth and I can’t even remember what we were doing there. But, at the Donate Life booth, I spent a lot of time talking to this man. He was telling me all about organ donation, etc…and he showed me a photo. It was of him, hugging a young woman (maybe in her 20s or 30s) very close to him. He told me that she was listening to her husband’s heart beating in his chest. I was so choked up and touched by that I cried as he told me that story.
Shannon -that would be my dream – to someday lay my head against the chest that holds Molly’s heart. Or to hold the hand of the person who has her liver or to feel the breath of the person who has her lung…
Please, please keep spreading your word to the recipients of the importance of contacting the donor family. Tell them not to be afraid of sharing their joy…we want to share their joy too. Our grief is real and it will always be there and please don’t let that be a deterrent to them. We NEED to know about them.
Even though it has only been a month, I think that each day could be the day that our phone will ring or there will be a letter in our mailbox.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Molly’s Family,
I’m deeply sorry for the loss of your beautiful Molly. I know Molly will never be far away from your thoughts, and you will always miss her.
Every single one of us could have our lives turned upside down in the blink of an eye. It is a testament to your compassion, grace and love that you made the life saving decision to donate Molly’s precious organs. We are all going through this journey of life together, and when my time comes my family knows my wishes are to gladly be a donor. I’m also officially registered.
Jeff, you and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. You made the noblest of decisions.
Hugs, Cathy
Shannon speaks the truth. I am molly’s brother and reading these comments helps me get by everyday. Those of you waiting for a transplant, I wish you the best. My heart goes out to you and I pray that your organs come quickly and without complications. I challenge everyone reading this to sign up to be an organ donor. If you already are, ask your friends, roommates, family, coworkers, etc. to do the same. I educate someone on the process everyday and how big of an impact they will make if something does indeed happen to them.
Molly’s Family,
My heart goes out to your family for your loss of Molly. I cannot imagine the emotions you must all be suffering.
My daughter is 35 and has been in the hospital since February waiting for a heart and liver transplant. Knowing someone must lose their life, so that she may live is so very difficult. Especially, to think of someone as young and full of life as Molly must have been. Yet, everyday I watch the helicopters take off and land…and I hope.
I want to thank you for your courage in sharing Molly’s story. You have turned the tradgedy of Molly’s accident into a miracle for others…Life. If there were more awareness of organ donation, Melissa might be home now.
Thank you all for the kind comments to Molly’s family. Her mother and brother have been both reading your comments and Molly’s mom wants to thank you all. She would post herself but technical difficulties prevent her from posting a comment at this time.
Again, thank you and please feel free to post more comments for her family.
Dear Molly’s family,
Your story is heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time, if that is possible. Molly sounds like a truly amazing person and you all should feel so proud of her knowing she lives on and saved so many people.
I am waiting for a double-lung transplant. I am basically next on the list, and am waiting each day knowing the call could come. It is emotionally difficult to know that someone like Molly and her family have to lose a life, in order for mine to be saved. I will be eternally grateful to my donor who will allow me to continue my life with my wife and twin boys who just turned 6. My life depends on it..
You all should be so honored that your loved one, saved someones life..
-mitch
I am Jeffrey Noble, Molly’s brother. The wishes to hear her heart beat or feel her breath are wishes that I share. I spent the extremely long 4 days mentioned, in the hospital room with my sister. I watched as the helicopters took off during the fireworks show. Knowing that Molly was able to help 5 other families is what keeps me going. Thank you so much.