On Jan. 26, 2017, I lost my nephew, Michael Peters, 20, to some health complications. Michael was an amazing young man. He was smart, funny and full of life. He had opinions and insights about many things but was always willing to listen to thoughts and ideas as well.
Our family knew Michael was special from the minute he was born. At 9 months, Michael was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. This meant that his heart was underdeveloped, and it was basically not functioning as a muscle but more as just mush. At this point, Michael was placed on an organ donor list and waited for a heart. My brother and sister-in-law moved into the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, and the waiting game began. Their prayers were finally answered on Feb. 19, when Michael was the recipient of a heart from a young person in Dallas. The surgery took place in St. Louis with a wonderful team of doctors and nurses.
Michael's life was that of any regular young man from that point on; he loved Legos, superheroes, movies and especially Harry Potter. He actually was the winner of the Harry Potter look-alike for the Omaha World Newspaper, and his picture dressed as Harry made the front page on the release date of the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Michael graduated from high school and took his education to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He aspired to be a screenwriter, to bring his amazing ideas to television or movies. There was no doubt in any of our minds he was destined for success.
While Michael was at school, he developed kidney issues as a result of the heart transplant from so many years before. Michael needed a new kidney, and again was afforded the opportunity to receive one in July 2016. Unfortunately, the kidney did not take and was removed. From that point on Michael was in a constant battle to stay healthy. Eventually he lost the battle, but I can tell you this: It wasn't for a lack of trying. His faith and desire to live was incredible. His parents and his family battled as well. The prayers continued to pour in from all around, but it just wasn't enough.
So why do I tell you the story of my nephew Michael? I tell you his story to remind us all, no matter how long we live here on earth, life is pretty amazing. How we approach each day is important. The people you meet, the decisions you make, the kindness you share, it all matters. Our life is a gift given to us. How will you choose to use this gift?
This week we celebrate Valentine's Day. A day where we focus and share love with our spouse, significant others, family members, children, coworkers and classmates. The symbol for Valentine's Day is a heart. Over 20 years ago a family, whom I never met and never will, made a decision. A decision to donate their dying child's heart. My nephew was given this selfless gift of life by this loving family and because of this, we were all given the opportunity to know a truly incredible young man, Michael Thomas Peters.
Organ donation is a completely selfless act that has the ability to change not just one person's life but the countless lives of others. I would ask as you focus your "heart" on those special people in your life this Valentine's Day that you also think about becoming an organ donor. It is a simple process and can be done in a few short minutes. You can sign up at the Wisconsin Organ Donor Registry, you can use your Wisconsin Driver's License to show you are an organ donor, you can include organ donation in your power of attorney documents, but most importantly you can tell people you are an organ donor.
We were blessed with the opportunity and gift of my nephew Michael for 20 years, because someone chose to be an organ donor. Remember life is pretty amazing. Why not choose to make the same gift of life and love during this Valentine's Day? Become an organ donor.
- Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. His column appears on the second Saturday of each month.
He can be reached at
joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
Our family knew Michael was special from the minute he was born. At 9 months, Michael was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. This meant that his heart was underdeveloped, and it was basically not functioning as a muscle but more as just mush. At this point, Michael was placed on an organ donor list and waited for a heart. My brother and sister-in-law moved into the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, and the waiting game began. Their prayers were finally answered on Feb. 19, when Michael was the recipient of a heart from a young person in Dallas. The surgery took place in St. Louis with a wonderful team of doctors and nurses.
Michael's life was that of any regular young man from that point on; he loved Legos, superheroes, movies and especially Harry Potter. He actually was the winner of the Harry Potter look-alike for the Omaha World Newspaper, and his picture dressed as Harry made the front page on the release date of the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Michael graduated from high school and took his education to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He aspired to be a screenwriter, to bring his amazing ideas to television or movies. There was no doubt in any of our minds he was destined for success.
While Michael was at school, he developed kidney issues as a result of the heart transplant from so many years before. Michael needed a new kidney, and again was afforded the opportunity to receive one in July 2016. Unfortunately, the kidney did not take and was removed. From that point on Michael was in a constant battle to stay healthy. Eventually he lost the battle, but I can tell you this: It wasn't for a lack of trying. His faith and desire to live was incredible. His parents and his family battled as well. The prayers continued to pour in from all around, but it just wasn't enough.
So why do I tell you the story of my nephew Michael? I tell you his story to remind us all, no matter how long we live here on earth, life is pretty amazing. How we approach each day is important. The people you meet, the decisions you make, the kindness you share, it all matters. Our life is a gift given to us. How will you choose to use this gift?
This week we celebrate Valentine's Day. A day where we focus and share love with our spouse, significant others, family members, children, coworkers and classmates. The symbol for Valentine's Day is a heart. Over 20 years ago a family, whom I never met and never will, made a decision. A decision to donate their dying child's heart. My nephew was given this selfless gift of life by this loving family and because of this, we were all given the opportunity to know a truly incredible young man, Michael Thomas Peters.
Organ donation is a completely selfless act that has the ability to change not just one person's life but the countless lives of others. I would ask as you focus your "heart" on those special people in your life this Valentine's Day that you also think about becoming an organ donor. It is a simple process and can be done in a few short minutes. You can sign up at the Wisconsin Organ Donor Registry, you can use your Wisconsin Driver's License to show you are an organ donor, you can include organ donation in your power of attorney documents, but most importantly you can tell people you are an organ donor.
We were blessed with the opportunity and gift of my nephew Michael for 20 years, because someone chose to be an organ donor. Remember life is pretty amazing. Why not choose to make the same gift of life and love during this Valentine's Day? Become an organ donor.
- Joe Peters is the principal at St. Victor School in Monroe. His column appears on the second Saturday of each month.
He can be reached at
joepeters@stvictormonroe.org.
