An Eternal Donation

Reflections on Those Honored at the Body Donation Memorial Service
By Shreya Reddy

Life can be measured by the hard work you face, the pain you bare, the love you share, the success you attain and the failure you endure. And a big part of life is helping those in need. The courageous men and women who donated their bodies in the name of education and medicine did just that. They were able to give in death so that others may experience life. By selflessly volunteering themselves as our very first patients, they have helped us learn so much about ourselves, each other and the pursuits of medicine.

Their donations were our vessels to learning the details of human anatomy. Their bodies told us stories of unique lives; stories of serving in the military, sunbathing endlessly, pursuing professional athletics, raising large families, and lots more. Their bodies also told stories of unfortunate tragedies and devastating diseases. They taught us the intricacies of the human body. But they did more than that; they taught us the intricacies of life. They helped us learn what failure feels like, sometimes more than success, but also taught us how to remain calm, regroup and carry on. They taught us how to work in teams formed of people sometimes drastically different from one another and the struggles that arise from those situations. They taught us that a healthy amount of stress can lead to profound discoveries and accomplishments, but that too much will become toxic and make you question everything, even your own abilities. They taught us that attention to detail is key and that respect for the human condition is crucial. They taught us that the path to becoming a physician will be an extremely long and arduous journey but a very rewarding one in the end. Because we’ll get to experience moments like the ones we’ve shared with your loved ones.

A memorial service to honor those who have died is a somber event. However, it’s also a time to reflect and celebrate the beauty of life. The Body Donation Memorial Service is different than most in that we must also honor the selflessness and bravery of the donors. These courageous men and women have started our careers. By equipping each of us with irreplaceable skills like knowledge, communication, responsibility, patience and respect, the donors helped continue the circle of life. With their donations, we are one step closer to becoming competent physicians to help those future patients in need. In their times of death, they have given us the developing power (which is still in progress) of saving lives. So let us celebrate their families, their journeys, their stories, and their gifts to the world. The gift of life.

Reddy is a second-year student in the College of Medicine from Mason, Ohio.