The Day After

Brett died yesterday in the morning, and I suspect his organs have been put to good use. Sunday at the ward prayer meeting his wife, Hillary, somehow found the strength to get up to the pulpit and address everyone. At that point, Brett was pretty much brain dead, though apparently they had to wait for the brain activity to stop completely. While on the stand, Hillary mentioned that she and Brett had talked with each only a week before, on Thanksgiving, about what each wanted done if they were on life support. Brett told her he wanted his organs donated, and Hillary noted then on the stand that she took comfort in the thought that Brett's organs would make it possible so others wouldn't have to go through what she was going through.

Tears have come much less frequently the past two days, if at all today. Still, I don't think they've been in my thoughts any less. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not, but Brett's death and the aftermath are becoming more "normal" to me, so it's been easily to deal it and yet also deal with other things.

Not all is resolved though. Tomorrow morning from 6am to 7am I will stand on one of the corners of Culver and Michelson holding a sign asking for any witnesses of the accident to contact the police. From reports, no witnesses beyond the other driver have come forward. He has offered a statement that Brett ran the red light, though the accident investigator has found some inconsistencies in the man's story. Right now it's the only story, though, since Brett never got a chance to give his version.

So, in a desparate attempt to get anyone to come forward, the Elder's Quorum has been marshalling people to stand at the interesection where the accident occured this week, from 6am to 7am each morning, holding signs asking for witnesses to step forward. Obviously, the chances of success aren't very high, but we're not necessarily doing it so we can succeed.

For the moment it's all we can think to do for the Sterns, and the effectiveness of the service we're able to render doesn't seem so important as the fact that at least we're able to do something. So many people have come forward to fill all the gaps that most of us have been left on the sidelines with our hands in our pockets. We want to help. We just don't know how. That's why I'm standing on the corner tomorrow morning.