I had initially written this reflection as a letter to my grandmother, who has pledged to give the 
same gift as your loved ones did.  Since her condition has worsened and I expect her body to 
come here to its final resting place within the next few days, I realized that the probability of my 
crying was high.  So about an hour and a half ago I thought I would re-write, as I am sure you 
would prefer actually being able to understand what I?m saying.

My grandparents decided to donate their bodies to SLU before I was even born.  My grandfather 
died when I was 9, and I didn?t understand what was meant by ?he donated his body to science.?  I 
wanted a funeral, I wanted to say good-bye.  I eventually realized I said good bye in my heart. It 
did not matter if his body was there or not.  I also am now fortunate enough to know what was 
meant by ?he donated his body to science.?  Your loved ones have given a great gift.  They have 
given us an opportunity to learn what no text book or drawing can show us.  We get to see the 
human body in 3D, as it really is.  There are several things we can learn on our own - I can take 
blood pressure from a peer, for example, but there is no other way we can learn about the 
functions of the human body than through the gifts your loved ones have given.  We can see 
structures in situ, we can see function by pulling on a tendon and see the action of the muscle.  
These valuable lessons aren?t possible any other way.

More than an understanding of anatomy, though, I've gained an appreciation for the diversity of 
humans and the complexity of the machine that is our body.  No one can dispute that we are all 
unique.  We are just as different on the inside as we are on the outside.  According to the 
textbooks, we have two arteries supplying the stomach, but some people only have one - and the 
stomach digests just as well as a stomach with two arteries.  Our patients will have the same 
diversity, which we need to expect and appreciate.

The hardest part, I?ve found, of losing a loved one is saying good-bye.  Your loved ones, though, 
have chosen to continue to live by educating future doctors.  We learn as their spirits look down 
and guide us.  The effect of their donation will be felt beyond our classes.  Our patients will 
benefit from the knowledge we?ve gained.  This is a gift we can never repay except by learning as 
much as we can from it.  Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to learn.