Last week at the ALA we found out one of our Lung Champions, Oakes Ortyl, passed away. Oakes was 15 months old and had a congenital heart defect called truncus arteriosus, as well as a tracheal defect called complete tracheal rings and severe pulmonary vein stenosis, which meant that Oakes had to have a double lung transplant.
http://www.mightyoakes.org/
The Mighty Oakes survived his double lung transplant and two open heart surgeries all before reaching five months old.
Sadly, June 6th of 2012, Oakes passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=oakes-lee-ortyl&pid=158028200
His family started the Might Oakes Foundation in July in 2011 and their mission is to provide financial support to help families coping with the traumatic reality of congenital heart defect as well as to provide funding support for research focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects. They are a small foundation with great aspirations.
Today, I am going with two coworkers to donate blood in honor of Oakes. We will also be sending a card, with money collected at work, to his family.
While I am am certain that life does not end after biological death, I am still extremely saddened by the loss of this little boy. His family went through great measures to insure his comfort in life and I feel sad for them, as well as his little sister, who is only two years older than Oakes.
Oakes' strength and will to survive can only be attributed to one thing, and that is love. If we all gave and felt the love that Oakes put out, it would be a happier world. So today, you should be thankful for your life and contribute to someone else's life. Whether through a donation, paying for someone behind you at a drive-thru, hugging someone, or just telling someone you care, be thankful for every day and make other's thankful for theirs.
No comments:
Post a Comment