Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
They stay in our lives for awhile,
leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.
Timothy John Michaud, Jr., T.J., was my beautiful oldest child. T was born on February 28, 1985. He died on May 9, 2004, Mother's Day. T.J. died as a result of a traumatic brain injury he sustained when the defective truck tailgate he was sitting on collapsed, sending all 6'2", 220 lbs. of him crashing to the ground. leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.
T.J. was just a little bit different. T was picked on, bullied and harassed most all of his life; he battled a lot of demons. He could have walked a very different path in life than he did if not for the love and support of his family, and his own hard work. He kept his nose clean, worked hard, and tried always to be the bigger person and walk away from difficult situations. The last year of his life had been the best. He had graduated from high school and had a beautiful, smart girlfriend who loved him regardless of his flaws. T.J. got his license, a car, and a full-time job doing what he loved most of all, landscaping and snowplowing. His last words to his Grammie, said with a smile on his face the night before his injury were, “Grammie, there’s nothing like the smell of fresh cut grass!”
T.J. is our hero - he was an organ donor. 5 people who were dying are alive, 2 people who were going blind can see, and numerous others helped with his gift of organs and tissue. If you've never considered being an organ donor, please consider it; it's a very easy process. Donate Life America can lead you through the steps to register in your state. Be a hero, donate life.
