My beautiful 26 year old donor, Brittany, received her angel wings in 2011, following a tragic accident in Gulfport, Mississippi. The next day I received her perfect lungs in Dallas, Texas. Brittany was loved deeply by her family and her community. She left behind a precious 4 year old daughter. I had the honor of meeting her parents, sister, and aunt a little over a year later and felt an instant bond with this wonderful family. It’s been almost 10 years since our paths crossed unknowingly and unexpectedly and since we met, we’ve shared many special life moments together—weddings, births, deaths, birthdays, graduations—as a family. They are originally from New Orleans and I’ve had the honor of riding on a Donate Life float hosted by their OPO on several occasions in an annual Marci Gras parade. To my angel Brittany, I say “Because of you I breathe. Because of you, I live.”
