SUZANN O’ROURKE

“It’s too late.”

In the dark hours following her son’s sudden death, Suzann O’Rourke kept hearing these words. Too late to get yesterday back. Too late to share one more hug. Too late to hear his voice.

As the morning light came, the phone began ringing from friends offering kind thoughts and condolences. Then she received a phone call from a stranger: He was calling to see if the family would be willing to let Ryan be a tissue donor. Suzie explained that he was mistaken; Ryan had died around midnight and it was too late for any donation. For the first time on that awful morning, someone could tell her, “It’s not too late.”

The comforting representative from the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center explained that although Ryan could not donate organs, he could still be a tissue donor. As Suzie gave approval for the donation this thought went through her mind, “I was still trying to comprehend that my youngest child had died, but now I didn’t have to bury all of him. Some part of my child would live on and be in some way alive.”

Ryan was a fun-loving 20-year-old who loved poetry and music. He delighted in playing the piano and guitar for his friends and family. He befriended everyone, cherished his Irish heritage and enjoyed a vigorous game of laser tag.

Suzie said, “I knew nothing about tissue donation. Somehow this was a way to do something positive. I received so much consolation from this process. Part of him has become a living part of someone else.”

Suzie later learned that Ryan’s last gift benefitted 41 people. “I cried as I thought of what a gift that was for me. I keep these recipients in my thoughts and prayers and savor the number 41. I am grateful for the 20 years that Ryan lived and I am grateful for the phone call that allowed Ryan to be a tissue donor in death. I am so glad that it was not too late.”