InTouch Magazine - Spring/Summer 2002

In Loving Memory

Kelly Watkins seems like an ordinary 7th grader – she likes music (plays guitar, violin and viola), competes in track at school and makes beautiful cards. After talking with Kelly it soon becomes evident that she is anything but ordinary. Sitting with us on their living room couch, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, it becomes clear that she is a very gifted and wise 13 year old. Kelly radiates with joy as she talks about the special bond and cherished relationship she shared with her deceased grand-father, Eugene Gruenberg, and the gift she made with her own money to the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in his memory. Sharon Watkins, Kelly’s mom, states that her father lived with them following his heart transplant and that Kelly was the "most important thing to him."

Kelly Watkins, then 10, celebrates with grandfather Eugene Gruenberg, the 10th Anniversary of his heart transplant.

On June 4, 1988, at the age of 55, Eugene Gruenberg underwent a heart transplant performed by Dr. Frazier Eales at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. He was the 51st heart transplant since the heart transplant program started in 1985. Three months after Eugene's heart transplant Kelly was born. "It's scary to imagine what my life would have been like without him. What he taught me still stays with me today," Kelly explains. "My father had a big impact on Kelly's life. She knows that the world is not just about Kelly," Sharon adds.

Without a heart transplant Kelly may have never known her grandfather. Eugene was in the hospital when he received the call from his doctor that they had a "match" for him. Sharon recalls with humor and explained that when the phone rang he wasn’t going to pick it up! One of the floor nurses said, "that is your phone ringing, Mr. Gruenberg." This was one call Eugene wouldn’t have wanted to miss.

Each year, 20,000 Americans receive a second chance at life through organ donation and transplantation. According to LifeSource, the non-profit, organ procurement organization for Minnesota, approximately 75,000 Americans are waiting to receive lifesaving organ transplants. A new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes. Unfortunately, 15 people die each day waiting for an organ.

Kelly's love for her grandfather overflowed as she describes how her grandfather attended all her track games. "He would give me tips and good advice on running. He loved to run around the lake. His advice would always work for me too – and still does!" states Kelly. Sharon remembered the summer before Kelly entered 4th grade Eugene was determined to work with Kelly to help her improve her math skills. "He loved math and it was so important to him that Kelly would be good at it. " Kelly shares that when she started 4th grade she was the only student in her class who could do the math in her head. With a big smile on her face and holding her favorite picture of her grandfather, Kelly tells how he loved to wear this funny Halloween costume every year. "It was just this silly tie that read 'this is my costume'."

Sharon recalls how well her father did after the transplant. "He followed the doctors and nurses orders exactly and he felt really good." Twelve years after his transplant Eugene underwent additional heart surgery. "Afterward he went into right sided heart failure and then into kidney failure," stated Sharon. He was pretty sick this time and although Kelly wasn't too sure what was all going on, her priority was to be with her grandfather. Tearfully, Sharon describes how Kelly spent many hours caring for her grandfather, especially during his last days. "My dad loved Kelly's cooking. The day that he died he asked Kelly to make him his favorite – cooked spinach." It is evident that Kelly has a gift of compassion. Sharon proudly tells how Kelly created and sent wonderful cards for the people who cared for Eugene. Of her experience with her grand-father in the hospital, Kelly shares this advice to people her age: "Try not to be scared of the hospital and all the tubes and machines you might see. It is really important to spend that time with the person you love."

On December 14-15, 2001 Kelly celebrated her Bat Mitzvah. Following the celebration, her parents suggested that she consider making a contribution to the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in memory of her grandfather. This is a tradition called Tzedakah which is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call "charity" in English. It is derived from the Hebrew root Tzade-Delet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. Kelly said she wanted to make the gift because "you give back when you have been helped.” Her statement was quite profound for someone her age. She may not have even known that she was paraphrasing a famous quote by Flora Edwards: "In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

Eugene and Kelly strike a joyful pose! Kelly's favorite subject at Chippewa Middle School (where she will be an eighth grader), not surprisingly, is life sciences.

Kelly has made a life-long pledge to give a gift to the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in memory of her grandfather. It is through contributions like Kelly's that the mission of the Foundation – to improve cardiovascular health through education and clinical research – is carried out. When asked what she thought her grandfather would say about her gift to the Foundation, Kelly smiled and said "He would have liked it. I think he would've said that it was a good thing for someone my age to do."

If you would like to give the gift of life through organ donation tell your family your wishes. It's that simple. An organ donor card or your driver's license indicates your wishes. Your family can ensure those wishes are fulfilled. Call 1-888-5-DONATE to request a donor card.

To learn more about organ donation visit: www.organdonation.org.