A Teenager Gives the Gift of Life to Five Strangers
By: Jasmine Brooks
Updated: December 28, 2012
WEST HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY- It's been four years since Paul Penkala's son "Paulie" past away at the age of 16, following a car crash in 2008. Penkala says, "You know, Paul had suffered massive head and neck injuries and was able to hang on for 3 days, but then eventually succumbed to the injuries. " Penkala describes his son as a good Christian, always looking to help someone out.
He says after his son's death he and his family faced an important decision. Would they donate Paulie's organs? He says, "We were all in a state of shock from the whole situation so we had to regroup, sit down as a family and make the decision for paul, based on what he thought he would do. Of course we thought he would be an organ donor, so we consented to donating five of his organs." Those five organs would save five lives.
Paul wrote each of the recipients. Only one would respond to his letter. The recipient of his son's right kidney thanked paul and his family for donating their son's organs. Penkala says, "That's what we had hoped, that he would take the gift that we gave him and carry out our son's legacy." The most precious gift a person can give is the gift of life. Paul encourages you to register to be an organ donor this holiday season. He says, "if they know anybody in their family or have ever met anyone waiting for an organ, it's a no brainier, but again it's a personal choice. We did it and paul saved 5 people. 5 people who would not be here right now."
He says after his son's death he and his family faced an important decision. Would they donate Paulie's organs? He says, "We were all in a state of shock from the whole situation so we had to regroup, sit down as a family and make the decision for paul, based on what he thought he would do. Of course we thought he would be an organ donor, so we consented to donating five of his organs." Those five organs would save five lives.
Paul wrote each of the recipients. Only one would respond to his letter. The recipient of his son's right kidney thanked paul and his family for donating their son's organs. Penkala says, "That's what we had hoped, that he would take the gift that we gave him and carry out our son's legacy." The most precious gift a person can give is the gift of life. Paul encourages you to register to be an organ donor this holiday season. He says, "if they know anybody in their family or have ever met anyone waiting for an organ, it's a no brainier, but again it's a personal choice. We did it and paul saved 5 people. 5 people who would not be here right now."
