Unexpected Silver Lining As Overdose Victims Give The Gift Of Life
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It is an unexpected silver lining to the epidemic of drug overdose deaths and it's become a lifeline for patients waiting for organ transplants. Drug overdoses have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States.
Many victims become organ donors and their gift of life brings great comfort to grieving families. Long before the day came, Charles Grugan let his parents know he was going to be an organ donor.
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"He was checking it off because he believed it was the right thing to do, not that he would ever be called on to do that," said his mother Eileen Grugan. "He had big dreams."
But an addiction to painkillers derailed those dreams and swept Charles into the nation's opioid epidemic.
The Montgomery County man had his first pill in high school and by his 30th birthday he had moved on to heroin.
He was 33 years old when he overdosed in the family living room in Wayne. "I yelled to him, 'Charles?' and he didn't answer," said Eileen. "And I ran in and grabbed him and I said 'Charles' and he was gone."
His parents and sisters honored his wish to donate his organs. "It is the thing that helped us get through this grief," she said.
Drug overdoses have spiked since the opioid epidemic started sweeping the nation and health experts say the only silver lining has been the increase in life-saving organs for transplants.
Howard Nathan of the Gift Of Life Donor Program in Philadelphia has witnessed how organ donation can comfort the grieving. "They hear that a loved one can save somebody else's life, as many as five, or six, or seven people, this helps them in a way we can't even imagine," explained Nathan.
Charles' organs were tested and cleared for any diseases and damage. His kidneys, liver, and heart went to three strangers.
"He often thought that he would do something so incredible, and he did it, he really, really did it," said Eileen.
Charles saved three lives.
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This year 12 percent of organ donations came from overdose deaths. Those transplants are considered high risk and recipients have to be informed, but the situation is usually easily managed.
Turning tragedy to hope with the gift of life.
