It was not a day of sadness. It was a day of hope and pride and honor, a culmination of the lifetime of a loved one’s hopes and dreams. It was sharing the stunning complexity of the human body and an important lesson. We cannot limit our care to the mental body, but rather we must react to embrace the human spirit.
There are times one wonders about things to write. Some subjects may be too personal. But then, maybe someone else would like to know what we didn't until we experienced it.
As many people know it was always my father’s wish to donate his body to the Mayo Health System because he felt that if doctors could learn something, and if studying his body could help someone else, he wanted to donate it.
This is something both my mother and father decided they would do years ago, so they contacted Mayo.
Upon his death in July, we notified the Mayo Health System. They sent a hearse to take his body to Rochester. This spring our family received an invitation to a Convocation Memorial program, which honors those who donated their bodies for science or study during the past year. Students and staff join families and friends of the donors to acknowledge the immeasurable value and impact of the donor's gift. They respect and maintain the privacy and dignity of the donors and their families and friends throughout the ceremony.
The gathering was both an academic assembly of student and faculty to give thanks to the families for their loved ones’ generosity in donating their body, and closure for the family.
The program was dignified and serious. It wasn't sad. It gave us a good feeling of participation in a worthwhile program of helping to train future health professionals and of Dad’s final gift. The students who thanked us and explained what it meant to them gave meaning to the gift. They said there were things that cannot be learned from books. Some things need to be learned and practiced by hands-on experiences.
The program was dignified. The speakers were short but informative. The faculty explained the need and purpose and went on to say the knowledge gained about body changes, surgical techniques, skeletal changes, muscle, bone, vessels, veins, replacements, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoporosis could only be researched in a hands-on situation. They told us the knowledge and skills learned through the research are shared with other physicians and anatomy labs around the world so others can also learn what is learned at Mayo.
The students spoke sincerely of the three-dimensional lessons they learned from the experience. They also explained that the knowledge received could never be learned in the same way from books and lectures. In effect they said, “The donor bodies were silent teachers.” They explained that our loved one’s sacrifice gave insight into the efforts of their lives.
From speaker after speaker, we heard them give thanks to those who gave freely and quietly.
One student explained how meaningful and personal it made her feel about her chosen field of medicine. It helped her realize we are not all the same and that outlook on life can change when you have in turn been touched. This is not only a life lesson but an emotional experience for the students. It puts their job in a different perspective.
Another student said, “There is determination and meaning when you've held someone’s heart in your hand. You know that through what you have learned and felt, and that you can make a difference in the lives of others.”
Talks during the convocation were interspersed with music and readings from the students. The students stood with lit candles as they read the first names of each of the 165 remembered. I am sure no one who was present will ever forget the singing of “Amazing Grace,” which was sung a capella by one of the students.
"What is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? And when the earth shall claim your limbs then shall you truly dance." — Kahlil Gibran.
A gift of long-stemmed white roses was given to those present for the convocation. Attached to the roses was this inscription, "For you who think of the world in your last days and who have thought beyond your life, we are grateful."
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Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, May 17th: Laura Caroline Deml, her 5th; Caitlyn Nelson, David Thompson, Dale DeRaad, Rhonda Lund Thevenot, Jerry Blouin, Robert Briggs, Dyne Thereneau, Kay Barclay, Darlyne Paulson, Luella Reiman, Judith Hatch, Thomas Shawback, Rose & Carl Glienke.
• Friday, May 18th: Blake Ihrke, Zachary Jacob Dau, Cory Bailey, David Farr, Arlene Busho, Arlene Cummins, Xan Johnson, Mandy Muri Johannsen, Charlie Hanson, Dan Schember, Hank Thompson, Carol Stohr, Roger Draayer, Kelly Krumwiede, Rod Serdahl, Dan & Val Schember, Sue & Dean Westrum, Ken & Pat Sable.
• Saturday, May 19th: Christina Hill Berry, Madison Schweirjohann, Summer Schember Schultz, Mike Rysavy, John Oolman, Dawn Parks, Tim & Tiffany Hanson.
• Sunday, May 20th: Oakley Baker, Kaye Schember Cady, Laureen Hohansee, Kathy Hanson, Hannah Ashton, Carrie Thorstenson, Penny Nordhorn, Haley Collins, Scott Stohr, Kevin Peterson, Kent Lageson, Josh Kelly, Virginia Jensen, Cynthia Butler, Jay & Marsha Neitzel, Ed & Camille Nelson, Hannah Ashton, Adam & Kristen Arends.
• Monday, May 21st: Tony Dodge, Christopher Flim, Tom Wilker, Joel Cooper, Ryan Parks, William & Marvel Beiser.
• Tuesday, May 22nd: David Eliason, Christine Thompson Krause, Lori Lembke, Scott Dirksen, Pat Horan, Mark Christensen, Jim Obermoller, Michael Sarver, Roger Thompson, Andrew Grunwald, Karla Hanson, Dick Swift, Chuck & Susan Grubish, Toni and James Perschbacker.
• Wednesday, May 23rd: Stephane Paul Martin, her 3rd; Will Richard Utpadel, his 5th: Ilsbeth Wayne, Jeanne Simonson, Melissa Shaunce, Burton Borchert, Orville Langlie, Karen Quam, Rodney & Peggy Sorenson, Duane & Janice Morreim, Jeff & Sara Miller, Rebecca & Tim Brekke.
Celebrating with you as you mark another year. Hoping your day is filled with family, friends and cheer!
