Chapter
28

On the first day that I returned to work after the accident, it was, of course, a heavy day. Many cautioned me that it might be too soon. However, my work family was surrounding me and loving on me every minute. I needed to get back. I wanted to get back. The workload was steady that day but not overwhelming. I remember my friend and chief of staff, Dr. Warren Degatur stopping by to check on me. He told me to call him for anything. He would be there in an instant if needed. I appreciated the backup but was confident that all would be ok. As the night shift approached, it suddenly got more intense. The ambulance company called and said they were bringing in an asthmatic patient in severe respiratory distress. The patient would not survive. Warren did come in that night as both back up medical support but also as my friend. The family of the patient was amazing. They told me that the patient knew for years that his asthma was way beyond severe. He had a premonition of his death at a young age. He had told his family that he knew he would pass away at a young age as a complication of asthma. Then the mom said, “He told us to make sure that his organs were donated after his death.”

 

Of all the patients to have on my first day back at work, I would have a young man pass away who had made a point to tell his family that he wanted to donate his organs at the time of his death. God was surely at work. I contacted LOPA, and a few hours later in the middle of the night they would arrive at the hospital. However, God would not send just any team out that night. The team that arrived in Breaux Bridge was the same team that had harvested Jackson’s organs as well. That night the ER was completely quiet. I sat up talking to the LOPA team who described the vivid details of the collection of Jackson’s heart valves and eyes. They began by reminding me of the on again, off again, on again nature of the corner’s approval. They also remembered coming from New Orleans to Covington that night in the pouring rain and severe lightning. They then described how “beautifully clean and innocent” Jackson’s tissue was. Many would probably think this description was morbid, but as a physician, I so appreciated the depth of which they described to me an aspect of Jackson that I’d never seen before. I knew how beautiful his eyes were, but I didn’t know how pure and fresh his heart valves had appeared. As a physician, it was a point of view that no one else on the planet could have shared with me other than this particular team. And this particular team had been placed in my ER on that particular night to share that particular perspective with me. Thank you, God.

 

It was beyond surreal to recount that as an ER physician, I experienced organ donation from both the perspective of an ER physician discussing organ donation with families as well as experiencing organ donation from the perspective of a father. This dual perspective was noticed by LOPA as well. Each year they have a time of remembrance for the loved ones that have donated organs. They asked me to speak at that year’s gathering. Again, the man who never talked in public would be addressing family members of organ donors and organ recipients. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning of the speech:

​

"Hello, my name is Eddie Dease. I am the father of Edward Jackson Dease, IV. We call him Jackson. Jackson was born five years ago. Jackson is one of the best souls I've ever met. Jackson loves everyone, and everyone loves Jackson. Jackson would give the shirt off his back to anyone, just to make them feel better. On July 10th, 1998, Jackson Dease gave someone more than his shirt. He gave someone his heart."

 

Jeremiah 29 NIV

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”