Emily

I would like to introduce you all to someone named Emily Matejovitz. 

Emily was born on June 19, 2008. She loved kids, and especially babies. She was from Michigan and had plans to study at Ferris State University, with the goal of becoming an ultrasound technician one day. She played travel softball (#75!) and even though I've only ever heard recordings of it, she had a laugh that could stick to you like glue. 

Last year, on December 27th, Emily passed away. You might remember that day for another reason if you know our family though, because it was late that night that we got the call about a possible kidney for Ripley. By the next night, Ripley was in surgery. 

Emily saved at least three people that day, including Ripley. 

Somewhere, Emily's heart gave a 14 year old boy a second chance. 

Somewhere else, a man in his 50's was saved by Emily's liver, pancreas, intestines and one of her kidneys. 

Emily's tissue and corneas were donated, saving others. 

And here, in our house, one of her kidneys gave our three year old a chance to grow up. 

If you're not familiar with how organ donation works, it's a lot more privacy-focused than you would expect. Contact with your donor family is entirely optional. Some people receive organs and for their own reasons decide they would prefer not to interact with the families of those who saved them. On the other hand, a lot of donor families choose not to communicate with those who their loved ones saved. It's entirely optional in both directions. 

In our case though, we very much wanted to meet our donor family. Until this summer, we knew absolutely nothing about the person who saved Ripley's life. 

It was the first thing I asked the surgeon when Ripley was prepped that night. 

We've thought about Emily every day this year without knowing her age or even her name for most of it. 

I will never try to speak for Emily or her family because it isn't my place but I get the sense that they were also thinking about Ripley. I see comments on Facebook posts from just days after Emily passed where her mom is asking everyone to pray for the people who received Emily's organs. The second sentence of Emily's obituary mentions Ripley and the other two people she saved. 

As of this month, we're in very regular contact with Emily's family. We've seen so many videos of Emily laughing with her friends, just being a normal, goofy 16 year old. 

If you are not registered to be an organ donor, I hope this story stirs something in you and compels you to register as an organ donor. It doesn't cost you anything and it could change or even save the lives of others. 

If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, emotional support or just someone to talk to, 24/7 crisis care is available via call or text at 988, or 988lifeline.org.