Donor Hero

 On August 3rd, 2009 our family spent the day at our home together. My husband, along with our girls: 10-year-old daughter Ally, 3-year-old daughter Taylor, and our 19-month-old daughter Edna Mae (Em). We spent the day as a family enjoying the last days of summer in our pool.

I stepped out for a quick run for groceries, and when I arrived home I was greeted by Edna Mae. I gave her a snack and placed her on our rocking chair while I put the groceries away. Shortly after my husband called me into another other room; I returned a minute later and Edna Mae was gone. I began calmly looking inside our home for Edna Mae, then I looked into our fenced backyard, and that’s when I saw our beautiful baby girl in our pool. I immediately jumped in and grabbed her, holding her tight. When my husband heard my screams, he came running out and immediately started CPR until paramedics arrived.

Edna Mae was taken to the hospital where she fought very hard, but as the days passed, we knew that she was not going to be okay and we knew that she was not coming home. Once we were told by the medical team that our beautiful baby girl had no brain activity, my husband and I asked if it was too late to donate her organs. We all needed something positive to come from this nightmare.

When Life Alliance arrived at the hospital unit, they were so thoughtful, caring and sensitive. They answered any and all questions our large family had, and comforted all of us with their amazing bedside manner. They allowed us to be with Edna Mae for the next 24 hours while they matched and placed her organs to four different lives.

Nothing will ever replace our Edna Mae or fill the hole in our lives and hearts that her death left, but knowing Edna Mae helped four other families not experience the heartache we endured by losing a loved one, helps us beyond words and brings us such a sense of peace. In a matter of 29 minutes our life tragically changed: At 3:46 PM I checked out of the grocery store, and at 4:15 PM I was watching helplessly as my baby girl fought for her life in the emergency room.

We have started a foundation to help raise awareness to two missions: drowning prevention and organ donation awareness. Our goal is to save families and save lives.

- Shannon and Cassie McGovern (Parents of an Organ Donor and Hero)