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Each year, Southeast Tissue Alliance holds a ceremony in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Melbourne to thank and commemorate tissue donors and their families. Donor families are invited following the one-year anniversary of their loved one's death. Speakers at the programs include area religious leaders, tissue recipients and donor family members. Father Robert Brukart, director of pastoral services at Holmes Regional Medical Center served as emcee at the June 2 program in Melbourne and was greatly moved by the families who participated.
Paula Ryder shared the story of her life-changing accident and tissue transplant at the Pensacola "Remembrance & Recognition" programs in 2001 and 2002. When Paula's horse rolled on her and crushed her hip, she was given less that a 25 percent chance of ever walking again. During a 10 ½-hour operation, the ten plates in her hip were pasted together using allograft tissue and screws. After months of therapy she learned to walk again. At the program, she thanked the families for their donation and her gift to once again walk. "I can testify that without tissue donation, I would no doubt be in a wheelchair today," Ryder said. "My quality of life is vastly improved by the gracious gift of tissue donation. The accident placed an unexpected fork in the road, but my medical procedures allowed me to walk down that path instead of be rolled."
Responses from family members about the program have been overwhelmingly positive. Mary Gainey, registered nurse and donor wife, expressed how the Melbourne event exceeded her expectations. "It
was healing to be able to share feelings about a loved one who has died,
" said Gainey. "Organ and tissue donation always reminds me
of the song from the "Lion King" movie about the circle of
life, because at some point in our lives we all will be touched by either
the need for a transplant for ourselves or someone we know, or be in
the position to be a donor."
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Through
a series of donor family recognition ceremonies throughout the last
year, Southeast Tissue Alliance has strengthened its commitment to donor
families and friends by providing a way for them to connect through
their common bond. Since the fall of 2001, more than 200 donor families
have attended one of seven Sunday programs, called "Remembrance
& Recognition" ceremonies, which are held to celebrate life
- to honor the families who have embraced tissue donation. 
"Donor
families seem to live in dual worlds of grief and gratitude. The grief
appears to lessen some each time their loved one is remembered,"
Fr. Brukart said. "I think donor families were greatly helped and
strengthened by the program."
A
candle-lighting ceremony provides opportunities for family members to
reflect and speak in honor of their loved ones.