Right before I left for my freshman year at Butler University, my dad gave me a pair of RayBan sunglasses with a note that read "with a future this bright, you're gonna need shades". Those sunglasses have definitely come in handy on the sunny days as well as the dark days, and I am so fortunate to have them (and my family in my corner). However, not everyone has a pair of stylish sunglasses to protect their eyes from their bright future because their future seems nonexistent or looming with doom. My family friends Buck and Jackie did not have a pair of sunglasses until recently.

Buck was diagnosed with cancer nearly two years ago. Cancer literally broke his heart as he was diagnosed with heart failure in the midst of his chemotherapy treatments. However, one month ago, Buck's life changed; the doctors had found him a heart after months on the organ donation list.

Meet Jackie- a loving mother of two and my Mom's best friend from college. Jackie has been to hell and back; about five years ago, Jackie was in a terrible car accident that almost took her life. About two years later, Jackie was diagnosed with cancer and she needed a bone marrow transplant in order to survive after rounds of chemotherapy. Jackie received the transplant she needed from a living donor and met her donor last month. Jackie's donor Arielle gave Jackie the sunglasses she needed to be healthy and kick ass.

According to the United Network for Organ Donation (UNOS), " every 10 minutes, someone is added to the national transplant list... on average, 22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant... one organ donor can save up to 8 lives". I realize that in many cases, organ donation is due to someone's death, but I want people to realize that you can still do good after death. I also realize that in some religions, organ donation is forbidden and I completely understand that.

I'll never forget when I got my driver's license and the DMV asked me if I wanted to be an organ donor and I said, "absolutely". There was never a second thought in my mind about whether or not I wanted to be an organ donor. I have always been known as a person who cares greatly about others and as my former teacher said when I was being awarded a reward for my community service hours in high school "if anyone can make someone feel valued, Sam can. She is clearly the poster child for what it means to 'give back' to others... one of the most caring, giving, compassionate students I have ever known".

As sad as it sounds, we are all going to die one day, but if you have the opportunity, don't let your death be sad, let it be celebrated for your gift of life to others. For me, it wasn't even a decision to be made, but for you, it might be; please consider signing up to become an organ donor or signing up with organizations like Be The Match. Besides, they may come a day when someone you love desperately needs an organ transplant. Let your future be bright and let someone else's future be bright as well; go and buy yourself a nice pair of shades.