Heartfelt Gift from page 19

eral months to walk again," Morganroth said. "I never
had a broken bone; I never had a cavity, and I still
haven't had any of those things."
Because he was so ill, Morganroth doesn't remem-
ber much about waiting for the first transplant, but
this time around things were different. Although
tests showed his heart was severely damaged,
Morganroth felt healthy the entire time. That gave
him a lot of time to think about the juxtaposition
of life and death involved with the transplant he
needed.
"That's one of the most unique and difficult parts.
You realize someone else has to have the ultimate
tragedy for my family to continue to lead a normal
life," Morganroth said.
Right now, Morganroth doesn't know anything
about where the second life-saving heart came from.
Medical privacy laws now prevent that information
from being released. But he can attempt to contact
the donor's family through the organization Gift
of Life Michigan in Ann Arbor. That's something
Andrea says they plan to do.
"We can't wait to write a letter and thank them:'
Andrea said. "Hopefully, they'll be receptive to hear-
ing from us."
Dr. Nicklas said, "In many ways, it's a miracle every
time someone gets a heart transplant. I think all of
us have come to respect and admire the resilience
and fortitude both Erik and his wife have shown
through this ordeal."

—.-
Erik Morganroth with his wife, Andrea, and their children,
Emma, 6, and Max, 4.

The Jewish Debate

In Judaism, the obligation to save a life
in jeopardy is known as pikuach nefesh.
Whether organ donation falls under
that obligation is the subject of debate
among different streams of Judaism.
"Saving a life supercedes that which
would cause us not to want to donate,"
said Reform Rabbi Harold Loss of
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Rabbi
Loss, who visited Erik Morganroth in
the hospital, is on Michigan's organ
donor list. He has also counseled fami-
lies who have wrestled with the deci-
sion in the midst of their grief over a
loved one's death.
"Having been with families who
have made the decision to donate, I've
always seen that they felt their gift, in
the midst of their sorrow, was an act
they could treasure," Rabbi Loss said.
The issue is much more complex in
Orthodox Judaism where there's no

20

March 29 2007

Raising Awareness
After having his life saved in such dramatic fashion,
Erik feels a strong desire to give something back.
He has already spent the past 12 years speaking
to various groups and raising awareness about
organ donation. According to the Gift of Life Web
site, 1,071,749 Michigan residents are registered

clear-cut answer.
"Donating to someone who is a
relative or someone you know, like
donating bone marrow or a kidney,
is considered the greatest of mitzvot
because you have ability to give life to
a person," said Rabbi Reuven Spolter of
Young Israel of Oak Park. "It becomes
much more controversial when we're
talking about a person who got into an
accident and is going to donate."
Rabbi Spolter explained that the

as organ donors. Morganroth hopes his story will
encourage others to consider adding their names to
the list.
"I think everyone would love to be able to save
someone else and turn something tragic into some-
thing positive Morganroth said. "It's amazing to
me that people are able to make those decisions and
the more people talk about it, the more we can help
people overcome the psychological taboos of organ
donation."
Morganroth, who handles sales and marketing for
a custom home builder, will continue to take medi-
cation (20-30 pills a day) to prevent his body from
rejecting the new heart. The drugs alone can cost
more than $2,500 a month. His family is fortunate
to have health insurance that covers most of the
expenses associated with the transplant. They also
feel lucky to be part of Metro Detroit's Jewish com-
munity. Area rabbis, Jewish students and members
of Jewish organizations have paid regular visits to
Erik at the hospital.
"When you have an outpouring of love and sup-
port, it helps you cope Morganroth said. "I think the
Jewish community's support was definitely part of
my survival the first time around!'
For those who want to do something to help the
family, Andrea Morganroth has one request.
"Go to the Gift of Life Web site and register to be
an organ donor:' she said. "Or talk to your family and
friends about how they feel; that's what people can
do."
"I feel talking about it benefits society:' added
Erik.
"My life was saved and my children's two lives
were created over the amazing thing someone did
for me. If someone can look at this story and realize
what good can be done, they might do something
good for someone else."

issue is whether or not the donor is
dead according to Halachah (Jewish
law).
"If a person is still technically alive,
it's okay to donate parts of the body
that would not terminate their life,"
Rabbi Spolter said. "If your rabbi
believes a person who is brain dead is
not dead according to Jewish law, then
removing a major organ would kill the
donor, and that's not permitted. It's a
rather complicated issue."

Organ Donation Facts

• People of all ages and medical histories can become organ donors. A person's
medical condition at the time of death will determine what can be donated.
• Gift of Life says donated organs from one person can save the lives of up to eight
people and directly improve the lives of up to 50 people through tissue donation.
• If you put your name on the organ donor list, it's kept confidential. There is no
cost to the donor or the donor's family.
For more information or to register as an organ donor, contact Gift of Life Michigan,
2230 Platt Road, Ann Arbor; (800) 482-4881; www.giftoflifemichigan.org .

By The Numbers

Michigan patients waiting
for a transplant as of
March 1, 2007:

2521
Kidney
Liver
393
Lung
58
Heart
59
34
Pancreas
Kidney and Pancreas... 47
Kidney and Liver
7
Kidney and Heart
2

Total: 3,121

Last year, 905 organs were trans-
planted in Michigan. So far this year,
150 transplants have taken place.

- Source: Gift of Life Michigan