My story starts a little more than a year ago when I found out my son, Wilson Perry, who was then 5-years-old would need a double lung transplant. It took me a while to realize that this was the result of what started out as something as simple as strep throat. For months and months we tried to rehabilitate his lungs until we were out of options and his heart began to suffer. After multiple CT scans we were informed that in fact a transplant would be the thing that could save his life. I remember thinking, “Not us, this was not suppose to be what happens, this is my worst fear!” After many days of reality setting in I knew this was the thing that would save Wilson, and the thing I feared most would become the thing I wanted most in the world to save my son.
I began learning more about organ donation and other children and families affected by transplant. My world and eyes began to open to the amazing possibilities, struggles, heartbreak, miracles, and beauty that encompasses organ donation. I have since educated myself and others on organ donation and made it understood that this is the only chance my son has at living a full life outside of hospital walls.
Wilson is currently 6 -years-old at Cincinnati Children’s hospital where he lives on a mechanical life saving device inside of the hospital. The circuit is monitored 24/7 by staff. The longer he is on the device the more crucial the machine becomes and the more necessary it is that he receives a transplant as soon as possible. He has been on the device for over 350 days and has been inpatient for over a year. He has been listed to receive a transplant for 5 months.
I had not really thought about organ donation much before it affected me and my family. I knew I was an organ donor on my license, but didn’t really know too much beyond that. In this past year I have learned so much about organ donation and the lives that are changed and are being changed by the selfless act of becoming an organ donor. I will continue to be an advocate, educate and tell my story to others on the beautiful gift of organ donation.
-Mindy Wilson, Wilson’s mother
Mindy is from Asheville, North Carolina.
