Almost 19 more years of precious moments

By RICHARD F. DENNO
On Feb. 19, Martin lost one of its finest citizens with the death of Donald ‘Don’ Jones. He left behind to mourn a lovely wife, Jean, and two wonderful sons, Vernon ‘Rip’ and Jeffrey V. Jones.
While Don Jones was indeed a remarkable man, there was another aspect of his life that was even more remarkable. Don was a heart transplant recipient of almost 19 years! Some heart recipients reach ‘double digits’ in longevity with a transplanted heart, but it is truly remarkable to find a heart recipient enjoying life for almost two decades.
Don was a Past Worshipful Master of Dresden Lodge #90, located in Martin. Desiring to give back to his community for the precious gift of his new heart, in 1994, he became the program director of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee’s Organ Donor Awareness Program. Through his efforts and those of his Masonic committee, Freemasons spread the lifesaving message of organ/tissue/eye donor awareness and registration.
In December of 2008, after over four years on kidney dialysis, my beautiful wife, Midge, received a kidney transplant. Like Don, I approached the Grand Lodge of Connecticut about starting the Masonic Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Program. A few months later, I went online, looking to see if any other Grand Masonic Lodge had such a program. It was there that I learned of Don’s program. I immediately telephoned him and we became fast friends, sharing a common bond in our passion and desire to spread the Donate Life message of organ donation and registration.
Have you ever had a ‘best friend,’ whom you have never met face to face? That was our relationship. Many times in these past four years, I would turn to Don for advice and good counsel. In late 2009, I was ‘waxing poetic’ about my desire to attend the Grand Master’s Conference in February 2010, and make an appeal for the other states to join Tennessee and Connecticut in promoting our cause. When I returned home and turned on my computer, Don’s email simply said, “You’re all set, Richard. You are on the program.” Thanks to Don’s efforts and those of Tennessee Grand Lodge’s Past Master of 2011, Dr. Thomas Boduch, I indeed pled our case before every Grand Master in the USA and Canada.
Although I am deeply saddened by Don Jones’s death, I take solace in the fact that he received a blessed gift of almost 19 additional years; years to see Rip and Vernon grow up, spend quality time with wife, Jean, and to encourage both Freemasons and anyone who would listen to him, to become registered organ donors. Where I come from, those are called ‘Precious Moments,’ spent with loved ones and friends. To explore becoming a registered organ donor, simply go online to www.donatelifetn.org. There you’ll find all the information needed to make an intelligent decision to become a registered organ donor.
Remember – “Don’t yake your organs to heaven – heaven knows we need them here!”

Published in The WCP 2.28.13

Print