Letter from Jake's liver recipient about 4 months ago.
Mrs. Gentry,
Mrs. Gentry,
My wife forwarded me your e-mail of Feb. 8. I am usually not at a loss for words, but it is difficult for me to find a way to express my gratitude for your family's gracious act of organ donation. We say 'thank you' when the potatoes are passed at dinner, but somehow those two words seem completely inadequate when someone's selfless gift saves your life. So in my own clumsy way I want you to know how much I appreciate Jacob's donation of life.
As I was on the gurney awaiting my surgery, I was alone for some time while they waited for everything to be prepared, and I couldn't help but reflect on how my day of hope had to be a day of great sorrow for some family. I now know that it was your family, and reading about Jacob and his story makes the whole experience even more bittersweet. April 7 for me now is a day of reflection and gratitude, and with tears remembering your loss. I hope it provides some small measure of comfort to you and your family that Jacob was able to contribute joy and hope to strangers even in his death. I will never take Jacob's gift for granted.
I must tell you a funny little story. I hope it is one that you can appreciate without having been there. One of the surgeons, Dr. Logan, visited me in ICU sometime after surgery. She emphatically informed me that I had received a beautiful liver. In my narcotic-induced haze I told her that only a surgeon could think like that. She would have none of my nonsense and insisted on what a wonderful looking organ it was. I smile and hope you will accept Dr. Logan's medical opinion that beauty is apparently more that skin deep!
I think that my wife has a plan for us to meet before long if you are ready for that. She is very strong and has been my Rock of Gibraltar through this whole journey, so I leave the details of that up to her and yourself. I have to warn you that I may be choked up when we meet, but even if I can't get many words out, I want you to know how grateful I am that your family made that life-saving decision on what my wife now calls my other birthday.
God bless you, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Mike Morgan
Sadly, Mike passed away on Thursday, June 21. A good friend of mine said, "It wasn't the liver. The liver gave him two more years with his family." My heart breaks for his family, although I have not lost a father, or husband if you have been challenged by the untimely death of someone you love dearly you can relate. Mike was a huge supporter of organ donation, so as I end this post, I encourage you to visit the link below, and register to be a donor. I'm also including the link to the Morgan Music website where you can read more about Mike. =)
Love,
Rachel 
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