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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Even in death, miracles are born

Courtney Dunham Correspondent

It’s amazing how one phone call can devastate a family, yet at the same time be the miracle seven other families have been waiting for. A young man, 25 years old, dies unexpectedly from an aneurism. Left behind are his new wife and baby son.

I’m on the side of the one, extended family, which received that devastating news. The seven families, whose loved ones were given another chance, you will read about in a bit. But first you need to meet the hero, because without him, no miracle could have taken flight. His name was Tyler, and he was my cousin.

The last time I saw Ty was at his wedding to Jenny. They were a gorgeous couple who had been together since they were teenagers. Eventually they added a son named Joseph, who turned 1 year old this month. All babies are special, but this one had a special namesake. He was named after Ty’s older brother, who died at birth. His arrival showed that life comes full circle, just as it will again, with Ty’s spirit carrying on through his son.

Although I didn’t know Ty as well as I do his parents and grandmother, it doesn’t matter. I feel their loss because I am so close to them. That’s how family is – no matter how extended, we’re all interlocked and bonded in some way, and never more than when a tragedy occurs.

I received the phone call several days ago. The more I’ve heard, the more I’ve cried each day for the family, especially for Joseph, who never will know his daddy. I’ve been remembering some of my favorite memories of Ty to tell Joseph when he’s older. Like how he mimicked Billy Joel, decked out in shades playing the piano, at one of our spoon parties (where we danced and sang into our spoon microphones) and how when he won the state championship in football, he called my mom from the stadium to tell her about it. But there aren’t nearly as many memories as I would have liked to pass on – I thought we’d have more times to come.

After hearing of Ty’s aneurism that morning, I kept close to the phone, hoping for a miracle. Although the doctors told the family that it was the largest aneurism they had seen and there was nothing they could do, I tried to hold onto some hope, a miracle.

Indeed a miracle came several hours later, just not for our family. Ty’s family decided to donate seven of his organs. I cried the most when I heard that news, thinking of how his death – his life – would be saving so many others. Can you imagine how those families felt when they finally got that call? “We’ve found a heart for you.” I can’t imagine it. Just as I can’t imagine how it felt for Ty’s parents to get that other call.

Ty will live on through seven other people and through his baby son – through all those who loved him. Still though, we would rather have Ty. None of us wishes that more than his widow, Jenny, who asked if it was all right to not donate his eyes. She wanted him to keep them so he will be able to see her when they meet again.

Waiting for Ty now is his big brother Joseph and grandfather Francis, to name a few – as I said our family is quite extensive. Now that Ty has given so many miracles to others, he will be extended too.