Some derivative of the name Francesca must mean “healer,” “giver,” or “hero” in an ancient language, because my sister dedicated much of her life to serving others—as a physical therapist, a hippotherapist, a rescuer of dogs and horses, and, in the end, as an organ donor.
As my fraternal triplet sister, we could not have looked more different; but we complemented one another’s traits in so many ways, allowing us to be best friends throughout life! She definitely got the beauty and brainiac gene, and growing up together with our triplet sister was one of the best gifts I could have asked for (thank you, Franny, for helping with high school trig and pre-calculus!)
As a lover of learning and a voracious reader, Franny volunteered in her community at the local pet shelter and she and her husband, Paul, were active members at the Church of Our Lady of Grace. Her beautifully knitted Irish sweaters were the envy of both family and friends.
She touched so many lives, especially after retirement when she worked with special needs children and veterans using horses at a local riding center to help them with their physical and emotional healing. Francesca traveled extensively with her Irish-born husband and their adopted Guatemalan-born daughter, whom she dedicated the later half years of her life to support, protect, and love. What a gift Francesca was to the two and the four-legged who needed healing!
Francesca was an expert rider and rescued horses. One morning Francesca was riding on a designated bridal path with others in a secluded area of a large public park where her horse was in the lead. Something spooked her horse and he took off at a fast pace and she was thrown from her mount. No one saw the accident. Francesca suffered irreversible brain damage and the decision was made to remove her from life support.
Franny was a registered donor and firmly believed that we should all strive to keep our bodies, minds, and spirits in the best possible health. I know she would have been deeply gratified to learn that she saved two lives. Three of her organs were transplanted; though one was ultimately rejected, two recipients survived.
From the moment we were told that my other sister and I would be welcomed in the OR when they removed life support, I knew that the healing could begin. Normally, only three people are permitted at the bedside, given the space needed for medical equipment and the transplant team. In our case, however, an exception was made because we were triplets, and Francesca also had a husband and daughter. The four of us held each other and were able to hold her hand and be with her as she took her last breath. It’s not easy to describe all of the emotions and the feelings that go through you during this process and in that setting—it doesn’t seem real. Afterwards, a sense of peace, calm, and gratefulness came over me because I knew there was at least a better than 50/50 chance that three of her organs would help enrich and sustain the lives of at least one of the lucky individuals who were matched the night before with her two kidneys and her liver. A year later, we learned that two survived. We have been blessed by their survival as much as the recipients themselves. We now look forward to the possibility of meeting them and their families, those whose lives were most profoundly touched by Francesca’s final gift.
