Is There Anything as Sweet and Pure as the Gratitude of a Child?

Today, like every day, was special.  But today, was particularly special as it marked the 10-year anniversary of my liver transplant, without which, I would not be here today.

It’s important to celebrate the milestones of life, so I was especially deliberate and appreciative throughout the day of the many blessings in my life.  But I was surprised by the most wonderful and unexpected gift of a child’s drawing  from years past that was a poignant reminder of one of my greatest blessings.

As part of my job, I do speaking engagements often.  As I was delivering a presentation to a group this morning, I grabbed one of my journals to read something to the audience and I found, tucked in the back pages, a cut out, pink construction paper heart with a note written by my daughter.

After my transplant, my then 7-year-old daughter wanted to say thank you to the organ donor so she wrote a thank you note and gave it to a nurse to pass on to the donor.  The note read,

“Thank you for saving my dad when he got ill.”

In my case, the donor was not around to receive her note because the organ donation was the result of a fatality.  But the pureness and simplicity of her gratitude was perfect.

What a blessing it was to find Kylie’s note, on the anniversary of my transplant.  It was a wonderful reminder of the gift I’ve been given – 3,650 extra days (and counting) with my little girl, my two boys, my wife, my friends and my family.

I join my daughter in saying to the generous person who allowed me to live, Thank you for saving me when I got ill.  It is so very much appreciated.