Billy’s Biscuits 

A True Story of One Man’s Gift

Billy was a forty-three-year-old adult gentleman physically abused by his mother at the age of ten, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury and a permanent IQ of a four-year-old. What started as a typical day in Billy’s life ended with Billy being pronounced brain dead and his next-of-kin faced with making their best decision on their worst day.

Billy died suddenly following an accidental fall down a flight of stairs, hitting his head on a cement floor. Following his death, when faced with a decision about Billy being an organ donor, it was clear his caregiver, his legal next-of-kin, Edgar, wasn’t sure what Billy would have wanted. How could he be? How could he know what someone with the mental ability of a four-year-old thought about organ donation?

When asked to describe Billy’s personality, Edgar beamed a warm smile. He told how Billy loved to take daily walks around the neighborhood, stopping to talk to adults and children, frequently offering the children hard candy and gum. Edgar easily recalled that after Billy had learned to ride a bicycle, the two could often be found at the nearby recreation park, winding their way through all the trails. Billy loved baking cookies, Edgar recollected, especially Christmas cookies he could decorate. The dear man would put his frosted and sprinkled cookies in Christmas tins and deliver them to a few neighbors.

Edgar stopped talking, sat quietly for a few moments, seemingly deep in thought, and studying his large, calloused hands.  His eyes filled with tears, the drops falling onto his plaid work shirt – and it was clear that these memories had evoked stirring emotions. Resuming his narrative in a soft voice that cracked with the effort, Edgar began to recall the morning’s breakfast chat the two guys had shared, “Just today, Billy sat at the breakfast table and cheerfully announced, ‘I got two biscuits today; I got two breakfast biscuits today!’”  “Yes, you sure do. You have two breakfast biscuits today,” Edgar replied.

“I want to share them. I want to share my breakfast biscuits today,” Billy had said in a voice a bit louder than usual. Edgar questioned, “Who would you like to share your biscuits with, Billy? Who would you like to have one of your biscuits today?”

“‘Ooooohh, anyone! I want anyone who needs or wants a biscuit to have one of my biscuits,’” Billy had replied, smiling his smile that always seemed to warm the hearts of everyone lucky enough to be on the receiving end of it.

Edgar responded to Billy by saying, “That’s very nice. It is very nice that you want to share, Billy.” Then in an unusually thoughtful manner, Billy looked directly at Edgar and questioned, “Edgar, I like to share. Will you be sure I share? Will you promise always to make sure I share?” To which Edgar replied compassionately, “Yes. Yes, Billy, I know you like to share. And, yes, I promise I will always make sure you share.”  Edgar paused the conversation, sat silently for a few moments as tears continued to moisten his face. Slowly lifting his head, the sad man wiped away his tears, took a deep breath, and smiled.

With the revelation of that simple and innocent conversation between a loving caregiver and a mentally impaired individual, it was clear Billy had chosen organ donation. Edgar did not have to struggle and wonder what Billy would have wanted. He was no longer faced with making his best decision on his worst day. Because Billy was so eager to share, Edgar’s only required act was signing the consent form.

Despite the brain of this gentle soul being brutally injured so unfairly several years before, his sweet spirit remained as pure and kind as an angel’s; he was so willing to open his heart and give unconditionally to others.

Yes, this precious being was capable of understanding the gift of sharing. Thus, Billy is now sharing a lot more than breakfast biscuits; he now shares the gift of life – that magical gift given by saying yes to sharing yourself and what you have to offer to benefit others.

Miracles are sometimes born out of the most tragic circumstances yet can have truly unexpected and exceptional blessings. Two weeks after Billy’s death, his family learned that surgeons had successfully transplanted all the organs donated by Billy, and the recipients were doing well. On behalf of countless organ recipients, to Billy and others like Billy with a generous heart, the grateful transplant community sends a loving, gracious, and sincere thank you. You have helped save many lives. You are an inspiration to others.

© IAR 2020                                                                                                                                                                   IdgjyAnne Rickard