BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- The Transplant Games of America are underway in Birmingham as thousands of transplant recipients and donors are gathered to compete in 20 sporting events throughout the week.
However, Sunday afternoon the games paused competition and took time to honor those who saved lives through organ donation after death.
The event is always a bittersweet time for Pat Hieber, who lost her 18-year-old son in car crash 25 years ago. The games are a reminder of that loss, but they are also a reminder of the people her son saved through organ donation.
A year after her son died Pat received a letter from the Gift of Life Donor Program, which included information about the people who his organs went to.
“If I hadn’t of gotten that letter from Gift of Life giving me information about the people he saved, I would probably still be in bed grieving my son and ignoring my other children,” said Pat Hieber.
Hieber's son Chris was just starting life when he was killed in a car wreck.
“He was my jokester. He loved to make people laugh. He loved basketball,” remarked Hieber.
Just days before the 18-year-old died he had asked his mother about organ donation. Hieber said that conversation saved the lives of six people: The five who received transplants and hers.
“I didn’t have to make that decision myself, you know? Because he made it for me, he told me what he wanted,” added Hieber.
The Transplant Games introduced Pat Hieber to Nilsa Edmonds. Edmonds is the recipient of Chris Hieber's liver. The transplant came just in time for the mother of two.
“I was on my deathbed. They told my family I had three more days,” said Edmonds.
The friendship the women have formed goes far past the week they spend together every other year at the Transplant Games. Both of them refer to each other as family.
“She’s actually the godmother of my grandkids, both my grandkids,” remarked Edmonds.
Hieber and Edmonds say becoming an organ donor only takes a few minutes and you can save hundreds of lives by doing so.