I met my wife ‘Liezl’ when we were 15 years old. We were married for 18 years, and she fulfilled every single aspect of my life with so little effort it was amazing. We had it all, two wonderful kids, love beyond comprehension and complete and utter fulfillment. Even though I know that life happens, and it does not always happen the way you want it to, I was in a blissful state of happiness, thinking this will last forever.

One morning my life shattered when I received the news that my wife had passed away in a motor vehicle accident. At first I did not believe it, but the inevitable realisation of the fact that my best friend were gone from this earth, just like that with no warning, broke me. Through the pain and tears I knew that if Liezl had thought about it before this day, she would have wanted to be able to help other people, even in death. It was strange to me that I could have such a clear conviction to donate organs at that moment, because we never really discussed it. (Remember?.....my blissful state thinking our happiness will last forever?) When I was approached a few hours later by a coordinator from CTE (Centre for Tissue Engineering) to ask consent for tissue donation, I knew that it would be what Liezl and God would want me to do. Signing the consent form was the hardest thing I ever did, but knowing it was the right thing to do, I signed and gave consent for her bone tissue, corneas and heart valves to be donated.

Almost two months have passed since, and not a day goes by that I don’t cry and feel a big empty space in my heart, but knowing that Liezl’s bone tissue will help crippled children walk, her corneas already helped two people see and her heart valves will enable two young people to actually live their lives again, gives me a sense of peace. Liezl’s death was not in vain. The knowledge that the legacy of love and giving Liezl believed in, have fulfilled other peoples lives, just like she fulfilled my life while she was still here, gives me a great deal of comfort in this painful time.

My wish is that this God given legacy of love and giving would be embraced by us all, so that every one who has lost, or will loose a loved one might know the comfort that giving can bring.

Willem Viljoen