美国国家公共电台 NPR Through Organ Donation, A Heart Lives On

Through Organ Donation, A Heart Lives On

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Just before Jeni Stepien got married to Paul Maenner last Saturday, she turned to the man who walked her down the aisle¹ and put her hand on his chest - to feel the heartbeat of the father she lost 10 years ago. Michael Stepien was a chef on his way home from work at a restaurant in suburban² Pittsburgh in September 2006, when he was robbed by a 16-year-old who shot him through the head. Arthur Thomas was a school counselor³ in Lawrenceville, N.J., and a father of four who'd been diagnosed with a heart disease 16 years before. He was in a hospital close to death.

When Michael Stepien died, his family decided⁴ to donate his organs to help save lives. Michael Stepien's heart was transplanted into Arthur Thomas' chest, and it turned out to be a good match. The two families have become friendly over the last 10 years, sharing both grief and gratitude⁵.

When Jeni Stepien got engaged, she asked Arthur Thomas, is there any chance you'd consider walking me down the aisle? He told her, oh, there's a big chance. The last 10 years, I watched my children graduate from high school and college, and I'm probably going to be able to see them get married, Arthur Thomas told The Washington Post. It was important for me to do this very small thing for her.

Arthur Thomas took Jeni Stepien's hand as the music at her wedding reception started. He did my father-daughter dance with me and then handed me to my mom, she wrote on Facebook. It was truly the best day of my entire life.

The Department of Health and Human Services says that almost 30,000 people received organ transplants in the United States in 2014. But 22 people a day die, on average, while waiting for a transplant, in part because there's a shortage of organs available.

Charity Tilleman-Dick, an opera soprano who's become a vocal⁶ advocate for organ donation, has had two double lung transplants at Cleveland Clinic. She still sings. I'm alive today because a family in Ohio turned their tragedy into a miracle, she told us. Some people say life's not a sprint⁷, it's a marathon. It should be a relay. When you round mortality's final bend, pass the baton⁸. In death, we can give breath. We can give grace. We can give life.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE DAY OF GRACE")

UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing) Another day, a day of grace, is given us from on high.

1 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

2 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

3 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

6 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

7 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

8 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。