Adam Bernstein
Not so many weeks ago on television, I heard a public service
announcement to urge the public to donate their corneas and vital organs
at the time of their deaths. I thought that this would be a commendable
act; but, somehow, it sounded distasteful as it seemed to mean that more
pain would be inflicted on the beloved, now deceased. Why tamper with
them? Then --, a week later, my outlook radically changed.I was involved in a car accident that took my precious little son's life. Adam was only eight years old. His heart stopped - everything stopped. My husband and I were in a terrible state of shock as we kissed our little boy good-bye for the last time. Desperately, we took a mental picture of our now permanently asleep little boy which will remain in our hearts forever. Adam had the most gorgeous, expressive blue eyes with the thickest, darkest, longest eyelashes, which we told him that God had made just for him. Now those eyes seemed eternally closed and expressionless. We were in a trance-like state when someone asked if we would like to donate Adam's corneas. My husband and I, with tears in our eyes, looked at each other and decided that this was what we would like to do as long as our Jewish faith permitted corneal transplants. An urgent phone call was made and instantly we were given not only the permission but the blessing that we were indeed doing the right thing. We did not allow the transplant to be done because we wanted praise or gratitude from anyone. We did it because it was our only way of making sure that part of our very special son lived on eternally in a beneficial and tangible way. It was actually a comfort for us to do this and our hope is that the two people who now have the ability to see would have a possible new and deeper outlook on life. May these two people see with their hearts along with their minds as Adam always did. He was so sensitive to everyone and each person he met had inner beauty. He appreciated all of God's wonderous creations and lived his life as though there would never be another tomorrow. May they be blessed and live on for many years to come and be able to see the things that our little boy now will never be able to see. May their minds merge with their hearts as they truly live and not merely exist. May God bless them with all of the beautiful things in life. Although our dear little son no longer has his beautiful blue eyes, we know that God will take special care of him as one does not need eyes in heaven to have eternal peace and contentment. We have peace of mind because Adam was, and now is - thank you to two very special people - and will be Forever. |
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