FATHER AND SON SHARE INSEPARABLE BOND
CELEBRATE NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH BY REGISTERING TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR
A father, George Schroeder, of Norman, shares an inseparable bond with his now eight year old son, Christopher. Together, they watch sports and play basketball or wrestle one another to the floor.
In 2009 when Christopher was born with a heart condition, the doctors originally thought he would just need a series of three surgeries to repair his heart. However, they learned Christopher would need a heart transplant to survive. At just seven weeks old, he received a new heart from a selfless and generous donor – saving his life.
Shortly after the procedure, Christopher’s kidneys failed. Doctors and medical staff worked tirelessly to bring him back to the best health possible, while he still relied on dialysis to keep his kidneys functioning.
The doctors knew Christopher would eventually need a lifesaving kidney transplant, and they suggested living donation so he would receive a great match at his young age.
Immediately, Christopher’s father, George, hoped he was a match. However, because Christopher was just an infant, the team had to wait until he grew so he could have an adult sized kidney.
“God has wired it into me: do good for Christopher. It’s just who we are as fathers,” said George Schroeder. “Fathers would give and have given much more because of the love they have for their kids.”
At 11 months old, Christopher went home for the very first time following his lengthy hospital stay. His parents would spend time every evening with a machine to do dialysis at home.
Once Christopher was almost two years old, the doctors suggested that he could receive an adult sized kidney from his father.
George was anxious to donate his kidney to his son, knowing this would change the course of their lives forever.
“I had a sense of thankfulness and peace after I donated my kidney,” said George.
Today, Christopher is a thriving second grade student, and will turn eight at the end of this year. He has a sunny disposition and a fighter mentality that has served him well and helped him thrive.
Christopher likes to read, play with hot wheels and recall information about cars.
Since George has donated his kidney, he lives his life as if he has both. This family has been dramatically impacted by the need for organ donors.
In 2017, 183 Oklahomans gave the gift of life by becoming an organ donor saving 481 lives. The need for transplant is growing, and there are still approximately 700 Oklahomans currently waiting on a lifesaving transplant.
Across the United States, more than 115,000 individuals wait for an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more are in need of tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 30,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting for a lifesaving gift.
This April, LifeShare is honoring those who have given the gift of life by celebrating National Donate Life Month. You can give the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.LifeShareRegistry.org.
About LifeShare
LifeShare is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes. We work closely with five transplant centers and 145 healthcare organizations in the state of Oklahoma to facilitate donation. Additionally, we strive to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.
In 2009 when Christopher was born with a heart condition, the doctors originally thought he would just need a series of three surgeries to repair his heart. However, they learned Christopher would need a heart transplant to survive. At just seven weeks old, he received a new heart from a selfless and generous donor – saving his life.
Shortly after the procedure, Christopher’s kidneys failed. Doctors and medical staff worked tirelessly to bring him back to the best health possible, while he still relied on dialysis to keep his kidneys functioning.
The doctors knew Christopher would eventually need a lifesaving kidney transplant, and they suggested living donation so he would receive a great match at his young age.
Immediately, Christopher’s father, George, hoped he was a match. However, because Christopher was just an infant, the team had to wait until he grew so he could have an adult sized kidney.
“God has wired it into me: do good for Christopher. It’s just who we are as fathers,” said George Schroeder. “Fathers would give and have given much more because of the love they have for their kids.”
At 11 months old, Christopher went home for the very first time following his lengthy hospital stay. His parents would spend time every evening with a machine to do dialysis at home.
Once Christopher was almost two years old, the doctors suggested that he could receive an adult sized kidney from his father.
George was anxious to donate his kidney to his son, knowing this would change the course of their lives forever.
“I had a sense of thankfulness and peace after I donated my kidney,” said George.
Today, Christopher is a thriving second grade student, and will turn eight at the end of this year. He has a sunny disposition and a fighter mentality that has served him well and helped him thrive.
Christopher likes to read, play with hot wheels and recall information about cars.
Since George has donated his kidney, he lives his life as if he has both. This family has been dramatically impacted by the need for organ donors.
In 2017, 183 Oklahomans gave the gift of life by becoming an organ donor saving 481 lives. The need for transplant is growing, and there are still approximately 700 Oklahomans currently waiting on a lifesaving transplant.
Across the United States, more than 115,000 individuals wait for an organ transplant to save their life. Thousands more are in need of tissue and corneal transplants to restore mobility and sight. Without the generous gift of more than 30,000 donors in the United States each year, many would still be waiting for a lifesaving gift.
This April, LifeShare is honoring those who have given the gift of life by celebrating National Donate Life Month. You can give the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.LifeShareRegistry.org.
About LifeShare
LifeShare is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes. We work closely with five transplant centers and 145 healthcare organizations in the state of Oklahoma to facilitate donation. Additionally, we strive to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.
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