Aaron's mom and dad met with the doctor. All tests had been performed. All measurements had been taken. Every possible contingency had been considered.
There was no hope of any kind.
Aaron was brain dead. He was blind, deaf, paralyzed from the neck down and in a permanent vegetative state. He would never open his eyes, never walk, never talk, never have any motor skills at all. His brain damage was severe and it was permanent without correction.
We had time to say our good-byes privately without interruption. When one of us came out of his room with tears, no explanation was needed. We are a family.
Later in the day, Aaron's mom and dad told us what was going to happen tomorrow.
They decided Aaron's organs would be donated - that's something Aaron would want. Mid-morning he would be disconnected from the ventilator and brought down to the operating room. When the organs were harvested he'd be brought back to his room before being transported to the funeral home.
If people wanted to be here in the morning, when all of this was taking place, that was okay.
Everyone went home that night knowing in less than 12 hours Aaron would be gone.
