Customer Reviews

The Gift that Heals: Stories of hope, renewal and transformation through organ and tissue donation

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This review is biased, because I'm in this book -- I'm part of chapter 19, "Lung recipient runs up skyscraper"... I'm the one running up the skyscraper. But, I share this chapter with my donor's precious family, and the beautiful lady who has her heart.

I made the leap of faith that my story was going to be the most wonderful one there -- then I sat in our local coffee shop with the staff and patrons wondering about my sanity as I switched back and forth between an ear-to-ear grin and tears streaming over my cheeks... There are so many wonderful stories in this book -- perhaps more wonderfuller than mine -- about donors and donor families, living donors, recipients of all organs and tissues, and the medical people who save our lives and help donor families with their choices.

Reg Green did an incredible job helping people tell their stories, just as he did a beautiful job telling the world about his precious son, Nicholas Green, in "The Nicholas Effect". There are over 40 little vignettes -- amazing stories of strength and courage and fear and love. Mostly love.

This book shows how organ donors, living or deceased, and donor families are heroes to the people they save, and to their families and loved ones. It shows why the choice to be an organ donor is so very special and meaningful.

Steve Ferkau
Chicago, IL

I ordered this book after deciding to donate my father's organs. He and my mother were hit by a drunk driver - mom died instantly so we couldn't donate hers, but dad lingered in a coma for 10 days before having a massive stroke, and was declared brain dead.
This book includes short stories about organ donation from all sides. Some are the donor families, some are the recipients, some even from transplant coordinators, physicians, and pilots (who move the organs). All together, you can piece together the miracle whirlwind of donation from start to finish. It's an amazing accomplishment to pull-off in less than 24 hours in most cases!
I am closing in on a year since donating from my father, and preparing to meet one of the recipients. I can't wait to hear about the excitment her family had that day - "come to the hospital, we have a liver for you!!!" - as we were signing the donation papers. This book has given me an idea of what THEY went through.
I hungrily wait for a volume 2 of this book!!!

Before I read this book I found myself in a dilema on whether I wanted to donate my organs when I die. I was initially against it but after reading this I now have a different outlook! The stories are all sad but true to your heart which screams out this is the most sensible thing any human being can share with someone they never knew. Most of the time I was on the verge of or actually crying, I now know this is the right thing for me to do. It's amazing how families of both come together as one, as well as learn from each other. I never would have known that this book would change from view of being a donor forever.

I have not communicated with either of the families who saved my life through the gift of organ donation. I spend a fair amount of time interacting with organ and tissue recipients but very little with donor families. I read Reg Green's famous book "The Nicholas Effect" and was profoundly impacted by his story telling. To see life from the other side of the surgical waiting room--well, I only gained more respect for the people who say "yes" during their time of loss.
I find books on the donor family perspective to be both comforting and painful to read. Reading these books makes me feel connected to my unknown donor family and increases my awareness of all it took to let me live another day. I like that.
When I heard about "The Gift that Heals" I was excited to read Reg Green's latest look into the lives connected to the world of donation. I read the book in about an hour--and I was taking my time! It's a very easy, quick read with many short stories about a large cross section of people. Some are donor families, some are tissue recipients and some have been saved by organ donation. Often, Green lets the stories of donor families and recipients weave together.
Reg Green is one of those writers who does not draw attention to his style but tells a story so cleanly you hardly know you are reading. After my first pass at "The Gift that Heals" I was left wanting more. The stories seemed so simple, I wished for a more in-depth exploration of the donation experience. Later on in the day, and continuing on into the week, Reg Green's stories began to flash in my mind like a movie you can't get out of your head. When I revisited "The Gift that Heals" I was struck by how comprehensive the stories really were, complicated by life's circumstances but easy to follow because of Green's skill. The stories continue to dance in my mind, weeks after I have read the final page.
There are many wonderful things about this book. Besides its comprehensive and clear writing, it touches on the rarely discussed subject of tissue donation. This is something few people understand and all of us should know. The stories are told in a way that allows the reader to feel "safe" in a difficult realm of human experience but somehow manages to not sugar coat the reality. Quite a masterful balance! Overall, this book is an ideal introduction to those unfamiliar with the value of organ/tissue donation and an powerful study for those who have lived it.
Reg Green's son, Nicholas, taught an entire nation about the importance of "The Gift that Heals." Through his superb writing and thorough storytelling, Green has once again used his talent and family experience to educate everyone on this topic so close to my heart...or should I say lungs? Thank you, Reg Green. I highly recommend this book.

Tiffany Christensen
two-time double lung transplant recipient and author "Sick Girl Speaks!"

I loved this book. There were lots of interesting stories about transplant. It made me appreciate transplant even more.

This is an interesting, informative, and comprehensive book, presenting the Transplant Process from multiple viewpoints, to create an unified picture of that complex world. I have commented on Ann Harris' review, which the reader may want to look at. Another reviewer finished this book in an hour. I would suggest reading this work only 2-3 stories at a time. I am not an emotional person, but I found it to be overwhelming to read more than that much in one sitting.

My wife had a liver transplant eleven years ago, and my experience with transplant is as a family member. I am a physician, and I found it illuminating to read the experiences of nurses, doctors, coordinators, pilots, and others. The book obviously has the mission to encourage organ donation, and it is not a literary work. There is nothing wrong with that. The book reads like a collection of short stories, which it, indeed, is. Mr. Green leaves it up to the reader to synthesize the whole for one's own self. Despite his son's death, the author writes like a detached journalist, and a writer. My compliments to him.

This is an excellent work, providing a new perspective on the strange world of the Organ Transplant.

This book is terrific - presents the ethical dilemmas as well as the complicated process that is organ donation. The book arrived on time and was in excellent condition!

This is a typically huggy-feely book and while I'm sorry that the author's son died, I'm glad they feel they made the right decision for themselves by donating his organs. However, he paints a rosy feel-good picture but he never presents any reasons why people refuse organ donation nor does he address the physical reality of what donation entails. This piece will not educate and it won't help someone make an informed, unbiased decision regarding donation. This book would have been better suited to Reader's Digest!