My grandfather has arranged to donate his body to science once he passes on. I always thought it was an amazingly selfless and unbearably difficult decision to make, especially since he asked the the rest of the family to legally agree not to counter his decision once he's gone, which must have been almost unbearable for him to ask.
My grandmother could never understand, and my mother found it incredibly difficult to do so, but everyone in the family signed off on it, because it was his wish to help the scientific community.
His body will now go wherever it is intended straight from the morgue. No burial, no ceremony.
When I was first told, I was too young to understand fully, but I always knew he was doing what was right for him.
Recently, I was reading PostSecret, and the confessions of two strangers struck me;
-----Email Message-----
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 10:04 AM
Subject: re: body donor
My med school has a memorial service at the end of anatomy for the students and the families of those who donated their bodies, including a slide show of the donors when they were alive. I don't remember the last time I cried so hard.
It touched me and, although he is half a world away, for an instant I was somehow connected to my grandfather. I feel I now understand the implications of his decision. And I am touched that the recipients of his donation will understand too.
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