Living to Love

"Mr. and Mrs. Daniels?" The Doctor's voice follows instantly after the knock on the door. He pushes it open and steps into the small waiting room. His dark blue eyes spark with concern, his brow furrowed together as he meets the eyes of the young couple.
"I am sorry, but there was nothing we could do for the baby," his words are soft and slowly spoken, as he glances down at his clipboard. "I am very sorry, but I have to ask i... if you would like to have her be an organ donor," he pauses as he lifts his gaze back to that of the couple. The woman is now leaning completely into her husband crying. The man clinging to his wife as his own tears roll down his cheeks. Neither made an attempt at replying so he carefully continues. "There are many babies around the country who can live if they have a transplant. The organs of your daughter can mean life or death for someone else's." He allows that to hang in the air a moment before adding, "I will give you time to think about it, but I will need an answer soon. We are keeping her heart beating right now, but all her brain activity is gone. Keeping the heart beating doesn't mean she is alive though, it just keeps the organs alive at this point." He hates the words, he hates how couples instantly seeks out hope when the heart is still beating. Once the brain activity is gone the child is dead.
He takes a step back to the door. "I will be back in five minutes for your answer. Again, I am sincerely sorry for your loss." He turns around and leaves the room without another word.

She clings to her husband with every fiber of strength she has left in her. Tears ran down her cheeks like a untamed flood. Baring her head into his chest she sobs. "Not our precious girl, it can't be her... our first child... our beautiful daughter. She can't be gone," she cries. Repeating the words over and over against his chest as the Doctor speaks. She heard his words, knows exactly what he was talking about, but she denies the fact that they will have to make the choice to give their daughter's organs away. Like she is just an item at an auction house. Once the Doctor walks out James drops his hand down to her cheek and lifts her face gingerly from his chest to look directly into her eyes. "Baby, what do you think?" his words are gentle but coated deeply with heartbreak. She tries to blink back the tears but they refuse to surrender. Sniffling she draws a deep breath. "I hate this," she cries. "It is like she is just an item in an auction that we are putting up for anyone to take." His finger glide under her eyes to brush away her tears, listening to her. "But, if she could have lived by someone else's selfless act of the donation of their child's organs it could have changed everything." She sniffs, the tears still quietly flowing down her cheeks. "If we can save even just one other couple of the heartache of losing their child, it would be worth it. Our precious beautiful daughter's life would have saved another baby." She feels the strength stream through her as he tenderly touches her cheek, rubbing her flesh affectionately. "I think we should."

James had never loved Rebecca more than he did at this moment. Even within the pain of losing their first and only child she still cares enough for others to make the toughest decision of donating their daughter's organs to other families who would ultimately live by their suffering. He leans down and kisses her lips, a passionate love, sorrow filled kiss that would tell her just how much he loves her, and how he will stand by her side to give her strength throughout the days to come. Whatever life throws at them.
Drawing back he strokes his thumb along her chin. "You are amazing," he whispers, then takes a deep breath of his own. "I agree, we should, I think our precious Amanda would want us to if it will save the lives of others." He watches as his wife lifts her hand and strokes away his tears. He smiles softly at her. "Our love for little Amanda will live on, and through her life others will be able to keep loving their babies as well." He wraps both his arms around her and they cling to each other, offering the other as much strength as they needed. "We will cling together Becca, this will make us closer. And when we have other children we will tell them about the life of their sister."
Hearing the knock at the door he lifts his head and looks at the Doctor as he enters once again.
"Have you decided?" he asks.
James looks down to meet the gaze of his wife, seeing instantly that she wants him to speak for them both. He nods to the Doctor. "Yes we have. We would like for our daughter to be an organ donor so that hopefully others will live by her death." Part of him wants to cry out, but he no longer can, because there is nothing to be sad about. Their daughter had lived so shortly, so few of days, but in her short life she will still make a difference in the lives of others. Something most people don't ever do in a lifetime on this earth. He strokes the back of his wife's head. "We want our daughter to keep living by saving others."
The Doctor smiles kindly at the two of them. "Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, you are making a beautiful decision here." He steps closer and offers the clipboard to the couple and once they sign it he takes it back and tucks it under his arm. "I am sorry for the loss you had to endure."
James nods respectfully at the Doctor and with his arm still protectively around his wife he takes a deep breath. "Can we see her one last time?"

The Doctor raises an eyebrow then slowly nods. "Yes, of course. Follow me please." He turns and leads the way out of the room down the hall to a pair of double doors and then down another hall before coming to a stop outside a closed door. He glances behind him at the couple. "Be warned that though she seems like she is still living, she isn't." Without another word they step into the room. He pauses and allows the couple to pass him to walk over to the small incubator. Little tubes are hooked into the small infant. Her fair skin looking as soft as silk, her little thin brown hair flattened against her head. She looks asleep, even with the slight rise and fall of her chest. But in truth she isn't breathing.
He watches silently as the couple goes to the incubator. He expected to see the flood of tears return to the couple, to hear them beg God for their child's life back. But what he sees surprises him beyond anything he has ever seen before. First the woman, then the man begins to sing a soft hymn, one he hasn't heard since he was a small boy. 'Great is thy faithfulness.' Tears spark in his eyes as he listens to the sweet words fill the small room. The couple's voices blending together in a heavenly harmony; a sound angels would sing background to. Sniffing he brushes the back of his hand over his cheek. Watching the couple hug and kiss without stopping the melody of their praise to their God,
It is the most beautiful thing he has seen in all his life, and now he stands witness to the even more beautiful life of Amanda Daniels. For he knows without a single doubt that the organs of this precious baby will save the lives of others, and will somehow bring this moment with the gift of her organ, basking in the amazing presence of God.
It makes him, an unbeliever, believe in the power of a Glorious Creator.