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John Daley ReportingA big event is planned at Library Square in Salt Lake City tomorrow to honor a profound act of giving-- organ and tissue donation.
You can see they're feverishly putting the finishing touches on the Celebration of Life Donor Monument. This monument honors thousands of people who've donated organs or tissues. It's also an expression of gratitude from the many lives they've touched.
At Library Square Park all the pieces are falling into place. A new fountain, landscaping, and a long thin glass wall. For each name on the wall there's a story--each one represents an organ and tissue donor.
Each recipient has a story too, like Michael Pollard who three years ago was dying from a rare disease called Holo-visca-myopathy. Doctors pulled out five failing organs and replaced them all at one time. Only 80 people worldwide have had this kind of procedure; not many have survived.
Michael Pollard: "I had a five kids and I didn't want to give up. I didn't want to quit and just say you know, ‘This is going to be the end for me.’ And thanks to 15-year old boy I'm able to stand here today."
A transplanted liver, stomach, small intestine, duodenum and pancreas came from a Pennsylvania teen who died in a car accident. The generous donation from the boy's family forever changed Michael's family.
Michael Pollard: "I didn't think I'd get to see my kids graduate from high school. That's all been changed."
Tomorrow's dedication honors 2000 organ and tissue donors and their families.
Lisa Hawthorne, Quest for the Gift of Life: "Donors are heroes. Organ, eye, tissue, super blood donors, Samaritan donors. They're heroes and they deserve to be honored for giving the gift of life."
Thousands of people are expected down town tomorrow for the grand opening of the monument. That happens at Library Square Park tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
