53 A.T.

Eric an I took the kids out to Oklahoma this last week to see my father. Dad was having cataract surgery and we wanted to be there. This was the first time Eric had been away from home and hospital since our return from China. Everyone was amazed of how well he is doing.

Eric returned home Wednesday with our son Dominic since he needed to do lab work every Monday and Thursday. Until the doctors get his anti rejection medication where they want it, and his blood sugar under control. We won't be able to travel very far for any length of time.

I have done internet searches, just plugging Eric De Leon and China. It is unreal on how many results pop up. That most recent Opinion article by Debra Saunders was a waste of space in the paper. This woman is a piece of work. She called the house and began a very aggressive interrogation not an interview. She was quick to call my husband an Ugly American and title her article The American Vampire. She doesn't care to share the reason why we made the decision we did. No, that would take to light of us and shed light on our failing medical society. An our lack of educating society about the need for donors. A number of people choose not to donate a loved one's organs. In some of these cases religious beliefs are the reason. In others it is a little greed. It is very difficult to accept that loss. We just lost our love one and want to hold on to everything physical. I don't blame them. But what most people don't realize when an autopsy is performed every organ is removed from the body, weighed and visually inspected. The organs are then returned to the body cavity or incinerated. If the body is going to be disturbed in such a manner, doesn't it make sense to donate the organs to someone waiting for a chance to live?

Are we proud of what we did? No we are not. We should not have had to resort to going outside of the United States.

I wrote a comment back to Debra Saunders about her article. I have yet to receive a response from her. She asked my husband if his book was a how to book. He answered that he was sharing his story to bring awareness and create a movement for educating as well as change and improve our current situation with the lack of donors.

You think what my husband did was wrong, Debra. I respect you opinion, and that is exactly what it is your opinion. To attack the character of a man whom you had a five minute phone conversation with. Shows one thing, the lack of character you have, Debra. And affluent, since when is a construction superintendent considered affluent.

Are we ashamed of what we did? No, we are not. We did what we needed to do, and we did everything legally. Unlike, the woman in New York who deliberately bought a kidney. I would say she withheld her name for fear of prosecution not of shame.