On April 8, 1995, Cassie was killed in an accident. She would have been 12 years old on May 9.
As with all parents we felt our "Cassie" was extra special and the three of us made a great team.

In the emergency room following the accident, when the doctor came to us and said that Cassie "didn't make it," we had the reaction any loving parent would have with the loss of a child. After the staff let us into the room to be with her, my wife and I sat crying. We sat along side the table, hugging our daughter. It was at this time I asked my wife, probably the hardest question I've ever asked her. Our daughter was a very generous and caring person, who loved to help others. I made the comment, "I know it's too late for Cassie, but maybe we can keep someone else from going through this pain." I asked my wife how she felt about organ donation and she answered, "Cassie would like that."

Crying, I then asked the deputy coroner to help arrange this. He stated, "you can't, because she is brain dead." I told him that was one of the requirements for organ donation. He then said, "You can't because they need to do an autopsy." This was not the time and place to argue, so I dropped the subject. (You see, a coroner or deputy coroner does not need to be a physician or any other medical professional. It is a political position.)

It is at this time that I promised Cassie, and myself, that we would make a difference. Cassie's Friends exists to help educate the public and medical personnel as to organ donation and to influence legislation concerning organ donations. No one likes to think of their loved ones being exposed to further procedures, even after their death. (All they need to ask themselves is, "If the person that they are crying over could have been saved by an organ transplant, would they have wanted someone else to have donated an organ?")

We need to have families discuss organ donation among themselves so they can carry through the wishes of each other. In the hospitals, even if you have filled out a donor card, if a family member objects, the organs will not be taken.

Every day, all over the world, people are dying while waiting for transplants. Most people do not realize how many people they can help. Depending on the loved one's condition as many as 25 people can be helped. Organ donations are done as a surgical procedure and do not create any need for changes in funeral services.

Ideally, I would hope that no one would have to make these decisions, but realistically we know many of us will be asked.

Our end desire is to get people thinking, talking and committing to becoming organ donors. If we can only save a few lives in the name of Cassie, some good would come out of this tragedy.

Thank you for your help.
Ron and Patti Ranus
Redlands, California
(Reprinted from Ron & Patti Ranus flyer)

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