Dirk's Legacy: American Tissue Services

     Around the time Dirk was eight years old, he informed us that he planned to be an organ donor. He was very disappointed to learn he was too young at the time to carry a "donor card" and he wouldn't rest until we PROMISED that should something happen to him, we would make sure to donate as many of his organs as possible. We duly promised, but never expected we'd be in the position to carry out that promise.
     When that dreadful day came, we were afraid it wouldn't be possible to follow through under the circumstances, but Dirk's "you promised!" sounded in my brain, encouraging me to ask anyway. We learned that Dirk's death wasn't the type that allowed him to be an "organ" donor, but instead, a "tissue" donor. I was disappointed until we heard he could donate bone, eyes, fascia, heart valves, ligaments, pericardium, tendons, veins and skin. Dirk's tissue donations will have directly helped at least 50 people!
     Dirk wouldn't consider this page complete without encouraging everyone to consider being a donor. The links below lead to more information about tissue and organ donation as well as other donation services. Please check them out: