Episode 27: Cincinnati Bengal Chris Henry’s Legacy Continues

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast,  host Andi Johnson talks to Carolyn Henry Glaspy- a mother, grandmother, community advocate and wife. She shares her personal story with organ, eye, and tissue donation and how her life was changed forever on December 17th, 2009.

 

Episode Highlights: 

• August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month. It is a month-long observance to highlight organized tissue donation with respect to communities of color. People of color suffer from a higher rate of disease that often leads to them leaving transplants, particularly kidney transplants, so this is an opportunity to educate yourself and learn more about what you can do. 
• You can register to be a donor. You can also talk with your physician about what it means to be a donor, but the most important thing is that you get the facts correct. So please visit https://lifepassiton.org/ to get more information. 
• In 2005, hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana, and Carolyn and her family members were trapped in their home for two days. Luckily they made it out safely, but since there was no other place to go, they had to shift to Cincinnati. 
• Since 2009, Carolyn has been a great supporter of organ donation; that was the year that her son, Chris suffered a traumatic brain injury post falling from a truck.
• The doctors said that they did absolutely everything to save his life, but he didn't make it. 
• Losing Chris was the hardest part of Carolyn’s life; It is a feeling that just doesn't go away. 
• Carolyn has been a great ambassador for donations. She has been sharing her story at different events and in the community. 
• Doctors work under oath, and their main target is to save lives. So, getting registered for organ donation won’t change a doctor’s oath.
• People’s initial hesitation for registering for organ donation is similar to their reaction to the COVID 19 vaccine, says Andi. She asks Carolyn to tell the listeners more about Chris. 
• Chris was totally the opposite of what the world has seen; They have seen the bad Chris Henry, but she sees a loving, kind, and giving young man who had a dream for a long time to do something with his life in the NFL. That dream came true, it is just that it came with a lot of baggage.
• Carolyn and her family have felt the gratitude that many donor families feel. For them, just knowing that their loved one is able to live on and help others, that did bring a sense of peace. Finally, Carolyn was able to make sense of Chris’s passing.
• No other family member would understand losing a child quite like the mother, but the realization that the child’s organ will give someone a second life is a wonderful feeling. You can also be part of that person’s life too if they are willing.
• Carolyn shared her excitement with the listeners when she met the recipients and the family members. 
• Before Chris’s tragic death, Carolyn had never heard about organ, eye, or tissue donation. She says, “You don’t see that on TV, you don’t see it on billboards, you don’t have a conversation about it. It almost doesn’t exist until it happens to you.” Carolyn explains why that makes it so important for people to do their part in getting educated and being proactive so that when that situation comes, they know what they want to do, and the family can honor their wishes.
• Andi inquires about Carolyn’s involvement with  Life Center’s Donor Family Council, “Does she find it to be helpful to be around other people who have experienced a similar loss?”
• Carolyn shares the fondest memory that she has about Chris. 
• Andi is impressed by Carolyn’s positive attitude towards life. She asks how she managed to hold herself up after the hurricane Katrina tragedy and then later after Chris’s death.
• Carolyn wants families to know that being an organ donor or organ tissue donor is not the last; It’s just the beginning of a new life for someone. You may or may not get to meet them, but a great feeling will fill your heart because you still have a part of your son or daughter walking around and living life.

 

3 Key Points:

1. Carolyn clarifies the misconception about folks, especially people of color, who feels that doctors won’t do anything they can to save you if they know you’re a registered owner.
2. Chris Henry was an American football wide receiver who played five seasons in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at West Virginia and was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
3. Carolyn shares her thoughts about her experience with the donation and with Chris becoming a donor, what she learned about organ, eye, and tissue donation.

 

Resources Mentioned:

• LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter
• Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn 
• Organ Donation Website 
• Carolyn Henry