To Bend Light

Three months after Ami’s z”l death, my daughters and I received a thank you note from the man who received her heart. He said he was sorry for our loss. He wanted us to know that he was doing great and that his family thinks of us every day. He promised to treat Ami’s heart with care. I confess, it was too much for me to contain – it still is – this idea that my wife’s heart is out there, still beating, but she is gone. But this is certain: there is absolutely no doubt that my daughters and I would make the same decision again. G-d has given us the means to make a miracle out of a tragedy. We must take it. I believe we should rejoice in it. I really wish that I could. I’m working on it.

This is my third prayer about the gift of life. “For Organ Donation” thanks G-d for the medical skill and asks for blessings on all who make transplantation possible. “In Memory of An Organ Donor” is a yizkor prayer for organ donors. This is a prayer for those, critically ill, suffering and perhaps near the end of life, who are waiting for transplants. The prayer is written to be said for oneself or for another, with options shown in [brackets]. There is also the option to add a name.

To listen along, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

On Waiting for an Organ Transplant
Ancient One,
Breath of Life,
In Your wisdom You have given medical science
The skill and ability to transplant organs,
Renewing life for the critically ill.
G-d of compassion and mercy,
Bless [me] [my father / mother / sister / brother / child / wife / husband / partner / dear one / friend]
[______________________ (name in Hebrew or your native tongue),]
With this gift of life.
Release [me / him / her] from fear and pain,
From moments of uncertainty and times of despair,
From powerful medications, debilitating treatments and temporary interventions.

Open the hearts of men and women
To share their health
By giving blood,
Registering as marrow donors
And dedicating themselves to organ donation.
Open, too, the hearts of families
Facing the death of a loved one,
So that, in the shadow of grief,
They find the strength to give the gift of life.
May they find meaning and comfort
In their time of suffering and loss.

G-d of healing,
[I ] [my father / mother / sister / brother / child / wife / husband / partner / dear one / friend]
Wait(s) in the shadow of disease,
In the shadow of pain and suffering,
In the shadow of mortality.
May this wait end soon,
With a healthy organ, a successful transplant,
And a speedy recovery.

© 2012 Alden Solovy and http://www.tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: My other prayers for healing include: “For Surgery,” “Upon Recovery from Surgery,” “For Healing the Spirit,” “For a Critically-Ill Mother,” “For a Critically-Ill Father,” “For a Critically Ill Child” and “R’fuat HaNefesh: Healing the Soul.”

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~ by tobendlight on February 29, 2012.

Posted in Healing, Life and Death
Tags: gift of life prayer, healing, health, organ donation, organ transplant prayer, prayer while waiting for a transplant