A local nonprofit is urging residents in Colorado to consider the profoundly impactful gift of becoming organ or tissue donors this holiday season. As the holiday spirit engulfs the state, Donor Alliance highlights a critical need with nearly 1,300 Coloradans waiting for organ transplants and tens of thousands more in need of tissue transplants. Their call to action is not just a statistical plea but a heartfelt story shared through the lives of people like Calvin and Sherry Somerville from Aurora.
Calvin, a military retiree, faced an unexpected medical battle when he was informed he needed a liver transplant. Initially disbelieving due to his perceived health, Calvin received a liver transplant over ten years ago. However, his joy was short-lived as complications arose, leading to kidney failure, and he was once again placed on a transplant list. With a grim prognosis and only weeks to live, the urgency for another kidney transplant became his reality.
Sherry, Calvin’s devoted wife, became the hero of their story. After four challenging years on the transplant list, Sherry discovered she was a compatible match for her husband. Her decision to donate one of her kidneys earlier this year became the lifeline Calvin desperately needed, allowing him not only to survive but to regain a quality of life he had been missing.
Their inspiring journey is a testament to the profound impact organ donation can have—not only prolonging life but enriching it. This holiday season, as they cherish time with loved ones without the constraints of dialysis, the Somervilles embody the true essence of “The Gift of Life.” Their story is a stirring reminder of the power of selfless giving and the life-saving potential held within each of us in the simple act of registering as a donor.
