New Year, New Heart: A Reflection on Time
Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash
We often remember the most significant years of our lives - the ones that leave a mark. The year we graduated, bought a house, started our first job.
For myself, and many others fortunate to get their miracle organ transplant, 2023 quite literally left a mark.
And whilst we may all have been operated on by different surgeons, remained in different hospitals, and had different health “blips” following our transplants, we all share a mark of kindness, of one final selfless decision, the mark of time itself.
A Beautiful Decision
I often look down upon the rosy-red scar that runs down my chest and am reminded that someone said “yes”, instead of “no” to organ donation, and I am consumed in gratitude, alhamdulilah.
I think there should be a word for being so full of joy, happiness and gratitude, that you feel like you might just go mad – ah, yes… jappitude. Organ donation is the reason I feel immense jappitude every single waking moment. I want to run like the wind (bullseye), I want to keep my head on the ground in salah (prayer) forever, and I want for anything to fall into my donor’s family’s arms and just cry.
Because, ultimately, how do you repay a gift so priceless?
A Reflection on Time
As we enter into the New Year, I wanted to share a reflective piece I wrote a few months back on the beauty of time, how we take it for granted, and how deeply beautiful it is, if we decide to pause and observe it with our own eyes.
The day I wrote this piece, I was on a walk and I thought to myself, its a shame that we only see just how invaluable time is, when we are running low of time itself.
Time is the brightest and most precious gem in your life, keep it safe, and watch it shine brighter every day with your loved ones.I hope you like my reflective piece on time (+ piano cover) and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Enjoy!
I covered a piano composition by musician, LUCHS, called Her Eyes The Stars - it seemed a beautiful fit to the words that were floating in my head, but I will let you be the ultimate judge of that :)
Time - a short reflection by Mehreen Ahmed
Final remarks
I have seen time in its true form: in the shape of my parents, in the smiles of my best friends, in the purr of Rafi the Freeman cat. All because of the beauty of organ donation, the wonders of the field of transplantation, and the will of God.
I feel so incredibly blessed, so full of jappitude, to be able to carry such a beautiful heart in my chest. Alhamdulilah. But I am also filled with sadness knowing that there are over 7,000 patients, who are in the same position as I was – waiting for a life-saving transplant.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, hundreds of opportunities for transplants are missed every year, because families of the deceased are unsure what to do. In other words, they never had their heart-to-heart conversation about organ donation.
Have the conversation today, and make your loved ones certain of your organ donation decision.
Organ Donation: Your Decision. Your Choice.
Time, a truly beautiful gift, for those who appreciate...
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