Were told to send a letter for FOX TV, about the stolen body parts.

[LaraP]

Hi Folks,

I don't know if any of you happen to see Fox TV about the stolen body parts. Well, we were told to write a letter to Fox to tell them our story about our son Joshua. I am sure you have seen me write on the Forum several times about what happened to Joshua with a donor company.. I am not a good writer as my brain works faster than my fingers and I get so darn upset that I can't seem to relay the message that I am trying to get across.. Well, here is a real rough draft to the letter to Fox. If you don't have other things to do today could you give me pointers? I would greatly appreciate it

Thanks Lara Pier

Hello,

We watched your special report on the people that were stealing body parts on Friday the 25th..

On January 16th of 2005 our 19 year old son was killed in a horrific car accident. He was a member of the US NAVY, heading back to his ship, fell asleep at the wheel and hit a tree. This accident happened in Va. We live in the Nashville area of Tennessee. We were aware of Joshua's death alittle less than four hours and a donor company called. In our unbearable grief, and with promises that it would NOT change the appearance in any way to Joshua, and that they were to TAKE NO BODY PARTS.. ie, heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. This was all on tape.. Corneas, yes, but not his whole eyes. Well, you guess it.. His eyes were gone. A Mrs Sykes, from LifeNet told David that they would take Joshua's long bones, to be used for bone marrow transplants, being Joshua had a rare blood type, David thought that would be so awesome to save a person's life.. NOT.. They don't use the bone marrow, science has yet to come up with being able to extract bone marrow that way.

To make this story shorter, we have no closure now on what killed our son, the autopsy report is undetermined due to the fact that when the Medical Examiner for the Navy got Joshua's remains, his heart was GONE.. Of course no one knows what happened to it, they just misplaced it. Since this has happened, we have been on a campaign to inform other folks that the donor companies aren't truthful. Our son had to dressed in a special suit under his military uniform to keep his body from leaking.. Yes, you read that right.. LEAKING!! I will tell you that was to hard to believe.. He was leaking his body fluids, fat, water, and the fluid they embalm with.. because of the incisions that they made. I was told, that sometimes they even use super glue to hold those incisions together..

When talking, which was very hard for me to be pleasant. I asked Lifenet's spokesman, David Angel, fitting name huh? that I would like to talk to the surgeons that did the procurement, ( thats there word not ours). Mr Angel did not respond to my request, skipped right over it, I then asked again, to please talk to the surgeons that did the procurement, he informed me that no surgeons were present. Medical students did the procurement. That was enough for us.

We have got to educate the public.. These people have got to be held responsible for what they are doing.

We have found out in investigating and working with the National Funeral Directors, that when we agree to donate tissue and bones, 90% of the bodies are either cremated or they have a closed casket. Not what we were TOLD..

We also feel that people that work in this places should have to have gone through a sudden death, at least they would know what it feels like to lose a love one so unexpectedly..

Sincerely,

Lara and David Pier

615-547-1590

 

[Miniv]

Lara,

Overall, I feel you've written an excellent letter. You make it clear the horrific details of what the doner company did and how it affected you and your husband.

My only suggestions would be to break the letter into paragraphs, just to help make it easier to read. I would also put into your first paragraph the statement that you also believe that you have been victims of a questionable doner company. By making that statement after the first sentence, you will surely catch the reader's attention!

Beyond what I mentioned above, I say -- Go for it! And I wish you all the best. What it comes down to is that you and your husband were victimized TWICE -- Initially by having to deal with the loss of your son, and Secondly, by the doner company!

Blessings,

MA

 

[LaraP]

Lara,

Overall, I feel you've written an excellent letter. You make it clear the horrific details of what the doner company did and how it affected you and your husband.

My only suggestions would be to break the letter into paragraphs, just to help make it easier to read. I would also put into your first paragraph the statement that you also believe that you have been victims of a questionable doner company. By making that statement after the first sentence, you will surely catch the reader's attention!

Beyond what I mentioned above, I say -- Go for it! And I wish you all the best. What it comes down to is that you and your husband were victimized TWICE -- Initially by having to deal with the loss of your son, and Secondly, by the doner company!

Blessings,

MA

 

[Cathy_H]

I saw a brief clip on this story....... I just wanted to say I am sorry that this happened to you & your family. I would send a copy to Oprah also. If she takes off with this story then those people better hide.

 

[MeadowRidge Farm]

I also think you wrote a excellant letter and got right to the point. Sending this off to Oprah sound like a very good idea, it sure would get the word out. I am sure many of us had no clue as to what is really done. I am so sorry you had to go thru this. Corinne

 

[Ashley]

I am not saying that this is a bad thing to do by any means, however think about it, is this what your son would really want you to be doing?

For me personally, and I have made it very clear to my family, that when I die they can take ANYTHING from me that could possible save another persons life. I am very well aware of what I will look like in the end but that dont matter to me. I would live a peaceful after life knowing that what I wanted was done, no matter how I looked in the end.

How do you think your son would feel despite how he looked afterwards?

 

[nootka]

I agree the letter is a great one, but I would make sure to emphasize that you were not told what to expect when they initially contacted you. That part is a bit confusing. Was he registered as a donor prior to this and had he discussed anything with you? Was he informed as to procedures? I realize that you were not fairly apprised of what would happen and being as you were unexpectedly placed in this situation (which I would think, unfortunately, is the "norm" for this type of happening since sick people who know they will die are probably unlikely to have much that would be donation worthy), you needed a liaison to help you both make an informed decision that you would be comfortable with.

You were given a terrible and sudden burden of grief, under which you made a somewhat pressured decision, and weighted with consequences that you cannot get over. Unfairly treated and callously ignored is how I would put it.

If more people are going to make this decision (and you know they are every day of this world's existence), there needs to be rights in place for the families, and a protocol that they must legally adhere to in order to conduct their business. It is a sad fact that we do need these parts to help living people to live longer, healthy lives, and it's very sad indeed that it comes to a time and place in which we all feel fragile and uncertain, and want to give honor to our lost ones.

I know my sister decided against organ donation when her husband was suddenly killed, he was a young and healthy man of 25 in excellent shape, but she had been thrust into the grieving process quite abruptly as you were, and she was two months pregnant. She could not bear to think of him being torn apart for their purposes though they assured her that would not be how it was (I think they were purposely misleading her now that I think about it), she stuck to her guns and I'm glad she did in light of what you went through. He had a viewing at his first funeral and his second one home in KS, and it just would not have worked properly for his family that had not seen him in a long time, to not have his body to see one last time.

Please know that my thoughts are with you and I'm so sorry for the way you were treated when you were trying to do a noble thing and bring honor to your son. I think that he still has a lot of purpose here on this earth in helping to bring a fairness to this process, a bit of humanity and life. I wish he could be alive to do so.... I can feel your grief even from here.

Liz M.

 

[shane]

lara i thought your letter was great,you must be like me,the way you dont word things the way you want to say them, its very frustrating isnt it? i think your letter was excellent ,i got everything out of it that was needed, i sympathise with yourself and your husband i went through a similar situation,and its a real ordeal,your crossed between being shocked,heartbroke, mad,and frustrated,and angry,he was your son,its the last thing as a mother you can do for him, i wish you all the strength you will need to deal with this, take care....lynda

 

[Sterling]

I did'nt see the segment, but I just wanted to say I am sooo very sorry for what you and your family have endured. I think your letter was very well written, and I hope it gets the respect and attention it needs to inform the public on this kind of a situation.

 

[LaraP]

David and I thank all of you for taking the time to read our post. I had to leave alot of stuff out, as I needed to just get to the point, more or less, we seen the pictures of our son in Morgue at the hospital, he looked asleep, he had a little cut above his eye, very muddy and dirty, of course, you could tell all the broken bones especially the one leg. You have to remember Joshua was a 6ft 2" young man, weighing in at 187 lbs. When we got him home to TN, he didn't weigh 100 lbs. Shocking, yes, but I was so happy to have him home. We should of had a closed casket.. But that would have meant that we couldn't have touched him through the whole funeral. We could still touch his hair, I will cherish that forever. It was so soft.. No, Joshua was not a organ donor, of course tissue and bone donations were foreign to us before his death. Josh had once said he never would want to be cremated. So this was a decision that we made for Joshua. Do I blame myself? yes, does David, he can't forgive himself.

Ashley, you ask if this is something that Joshua would want us to do? I believe with all my heart that answer is YES.. If Joshua's donation would have saved ONE LIFE, then it would have been different. His donation was not of life saving. I firmly believe in organ donations, because that is truly a life saving gift. I know Joshua would want us to stand up for him, for the lies, injustice, and education. I don't feel that any tissue and bone organization should be allowed to have free access to whatever they want to do with loved ones remains. And Ashley, it wasn't just how he looked. We now don't even have a cause of death on Joshua. David and the donation organizatin had an agreement. THEY LIED. I respect your decision in what you believe in. But your family would need to know the FACTS, the TRUTHS. Educating the public is what we want to do, nothing else. People need to know the TRUTH..

It was so very important to us that Joshua didn't not lay in that car for hours. We so needed closure, we were truly hoping that Joshua had a ruptured arorta. this way we would have known he didn't suffer for hours. But we don't know now. The investigating team figured out, with driving the speed limit from where he was coming from to the ship, how long it would have taken Joshua to get to where he had the accident, which put Joshua at around 4:30 AM, he was found at 8:10AM and was pronounced dead at 9:51 AM. That breaks our hearts. Was he unconsious?? I know in my heart, that no one dies alone. I know the angels come for you, I just hope that he didn't hurt, or was scared and COLD.

I know I have come along way, I now can think of Joshua with a smile on his face, not that person laying in that casket.

Well, again thank you all..

Lara and David Pier

A young Josh..

 

[Westwood Farms]

Again, I am sorry for your grief. I know I spoke to you several times through all this, and it is appauling that someone would do this. If you could somehow get your hands on some tangible proof, add that to the letter, it may make it even more powerful. Otherwise, I think it is a great letter.

 

[wade3504]

I just have to say because one donor company might not have been truthful that doesn't mean they all are not truthful. I am sorry you lost your son, but since he had a rare blood type maybe he did save someone's life. I hope my body is used for research and education as I was diabetic and they can use my body to maybe even help find a cure so others do not have to suffer. I know my donor family knows what was used from their daughter and some details on who received them as far as male or female and how old they were etc. I hope to be able to speak with them some day.

Amanda

 

[runamuk]

I just have to say because one donor company might not have been truthful that doesn't mean they all are not truthful. I am sorry you lost your son, but since he had a rare blood type maybe he did save someone's life. I hope my body is used for research and education as I was diabetic and they can use my body to maybe even help find a cure so others do not have to suffer. I know my donor family knows what was used from their daughter and some details on who received them as far as male or female and how old they were etc. I hope to be able to speak with them some day.

Amanda

I tend to agree...once a person is dead they are dead all that is left is "parts" and in my family we would never do open casket etc...as we all are always cremated so really it is a moot point.

However this does not diminish the fact that your family was not properly prepared for the reality of what happens when a body is harvested for parts.......you should have been counselled and fully informed of the reality of what would remain of your son's body. I am sorry for what happened to you BUT I still strongly believe in organ donation as it can save many lives. I do not support the people involved in this recent scheme as they were stealing and lying to the parties involved and that is just plain wrong. Again I am sorry for what happened to you and find it unfortunate that you were ill informed and prepared for the result of your decision which was a very noble one....

 

[CyndiM]

Your letter is very to the point and also expresses your pain and sorrow.

I think Josuha is looking down on you and he's happy to know you can smile again.

 

[Sonya]

I think your letter is good and you should get it out to everyone/everywhere you can. I am also a firm believer in organ donation, etc. But, it's obvious they did not tell you the truth of what exactly was going to happen. To some people - they may say - well it's only a body and they don't need it anymore, which may be true, but until they are in a situation like yours, they have no business saying what is right or wrong and how you should feel or what you should do. You and your family need closure and need to tell others what happened.

I am sorry for what happened and by them lying to you about what exactly would happen with your son, they've made the grieving process longer for you and have made it difficult for you to put closure to the unfortunate accident.

Good luck.

 

[LaraP]

I too, once again believe in ORGAN DONATIONS. and we wish so much that Joshua would have be able to give that life saving gift. But Joshua was passed away to long for any organ to be able to be harvested. When they organs are harvested the person must kept alive to be able to get an organ that is able to be used.

Organ donation and bone and tissue donations are totally different. Bone and tissue donation is used to help people that have bad joints or bad backs, they take the bones and transplant them into another person's spine, or knee, ankle etc.

It would have matter not to us, what Joshua looked like or what they did to him if Joshua's gift would have been life saving.

I respect all your opinions. And I am truly sorry if I have stepped on anyone toes. I know Joshua is watching over all of us. I know he occasionally visits with us. I can feel him. David feels him around him too. I cherish the days we had, the nites Joshua would lay at the foot of David and I's bed and talk for hours. The phone calls after he joined the Navy, when he had a good day. His visits to Italy, Malta and countries that he would have never had to the opportunity to visit had it not been for the Navy. Joshua was looking for his place on this earth. A definite wondering soul, loving life but in such a hurry to see it all.. and RIGHT NOW. He had no patience. I know he would not want to come back here, even if given the chose. He is in heaven now, and can you just imagine what he is seeing and experiencing being with God?

Well, there I go rambling again. Sorry! I have said enough on this matter, but certainly didn't intend to cause anyone to misunderstand that ORGAN DONATION is very important, and we are not against that.

Sincerely,

THe Piers

 

[Miniv]

Lara,

I also support the Organ Doner program. Infact, my driver's licence is marked that I am willing to be one. However, I also understand YOUR situation as well. It's one thing to have made arrangements and all is understood from the beginning. It's another thing to be LIED to about the whole process and have the doner company do horrendous job as well!

I think you have every right to bring the doner company to task for how they handled the situation.

MA

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I too, once again believe in ORGAN DONATIONS. and we wish so much that Joshua would have be able to give that life saving gift. But Joshua was passed away to long for any organ to be able to be harvested. When they organs are harvested the person must kept alive to be able to get an organ that is able to be used. Organ donation and bone and tissue donations are totally different. Bone and tissue donation is used to help people that have bad joints or bad backs, they take the bones and transplant them into another person's spine, or knee, ankle etc.

Can you include some of that in the letter? Your explanation in that post was very clear and articulate and I finally understood why you had not donated his organs. It sort of sounded before like you were a proponent of organ donation but when it was your child you weren't willing to give anything that would change his appearance. And that's not what happened at all! I don't want anyone else to be confused like I was. You guys were truly mistreated and your son's wishes were not honored nor were yours, and your story deserves to be told.

Prayers,

Leia

Edited to add: I don't mean to sound like I thought you were being hypocritical or anything. I simply couldn't figure out what was going on and what that company was supposed to take if it wasn't his organs. I've got it now!

 

[sedeh]

Lara, I agree that you should put more of the situation in your letter. That you are a supporter of Organ donation but that Joshua had died and the organs were not usable and you were terribly misled by the donation company on the rest of it. I am so sorry for your loss. The pic you posted brought tears to my eyes; there was such life in his eyes. I'm praying for you and your family to find peace with this and to remember all the great times of his too-short life.

 

[Magic]

Seeing that picture of Josh just breaks my heart. For you and your family to just be able to keep living after losing your sweet son is a heroic act in and of itself. {{{hugs}}}

I now understand more of what happened to him after his death, with the tissue and bone donation, after your later posts here. I don't understand why they would have taken his heart. And I can see how the condition of his body when you got him back would be devastating to you. That isn't "organ donation", it's more like "desecration".

Thank you for making this clear to us; I still strongly believe in organ donation, but the "tissue and bone" donation (and other body parts that weren't given permission for) is another thing entirely. I agree with the others, if you can add in or clarify with what you've said in your later posts on this thread, it will be much more clear what happened with your poor son's body.

And bless you for attempting to help others avoid the trauma that you had to deal with on top of losing your precious son.