Scott Fornea
On February 23, 1991, my 26 month son Scott pulled a color television over onto him off of a dresser in my older son, Matthew’s bedroom in Youngsville, La. Within 24 hours we were told by the neurologist that Scott was brain dead and some very difficult decisions would have to be made in the next few days. As I sat by his side while family members came to say their final goodbyes I couldn’t help but think to myself just how sweet a little boy he was and what a good hearted boy he was. I decided to discuss organ donation with my husband. Once we made the decision things moved really quickly. There was a woman from LOPA by the name of Joanie Bernard who really walked beside me and for many years we stayed in contact even after we moved to Texas. Her loving and compassionate heart I will never ever forget. She truly was my saving grace sent by God.
When Scott’s accident occurred that Friday night our neighbor’s premature baby son had to be life lighted to Ochsner in New Orleans and was admitted to the critical NICU. They had no idea of Scott’s accident. While in the waiting room they conversed with an older woman whose granddaughter Bridgette Johnson from Coden, Alabama was being prepped for her second liver transplant. Our neighbor got a message, that Scott was on life support back home. In 1991 the donor/recipient information was closed information. But the grandmother put the pieces of the puzzle and assumed it was definitely Scott who was her granddaughter’s liver donor. She sent a picture with the recipient ‘s name address, telephone number and parent’s names by my neighbor to us.
Wow God is amazing! Letters were written between families and then 8 years of silence went by. We moved that same year of 1991 to Texas. Bridgette’s mother contacted us and decided it was time we meet her sweet daughter. After that we have remained very close and see each other as much as possible. The same year of Scott’s passing I had a daughter named Danielle. Bridgette served in our daughter Danielle’s wedding in 2012.
Our lives have been intertwined ever since.
My son Scott will always and forever be a hero as we were told he saved many lives through organ donation. Corneas, kidneys, heart valves, liver and skin graphs.
We may never really know why this accident happened but he is our HERO!
