The Nicholas Effect Essay

Reginald Green is the father of a young boy who loved life to the fullest. There adventures together in mythical stories and travel across world formed a strong relationship of love and compassion. Reg never thought his young little boy would leave his life so early. His death on October 1st, 1994 was tragic, but also a turning point in the history of organ donations. Reg Green, the father of Nicholas Green, is given a choice. He can either donate the organs or let Nicholas be buried with them. The events leading up to Nicholas's death weighed heavily on Reg Green's emotions. From the car chase and being in a foreign country, it took its toll. It stirred up emotions like fear, alienation and drive. Reg Green went through those emotions countless times before and after Nicholas's death. The Greens, devastated by their position, were willing to donate Nicholas's organs: other families, however, do not. Reg Green never wavered, his mind was set. He was not fearful about this decision, alienated to the outcome or driven to make the situation seem like it was going to get better. He choose to donate the organs.

I first became fearful the Salerno-Reggio di Calabria autostrada; a highway nearing Sicily. Sicily is known for its petty crimes, but I always thought it was never happen to me. It came to as a shock when my family and I were targeted. It was the dead of the night, when a rusted old car came increasingly close to our own. I remember saying quietly to myself, "There's something wrong here." Cars in the overtaking lane do not drive by slowly they pass with speed. This car slowly matched our speed in the overtaking lane. It did not add up to a typical Italian highway passing. Now I spoke aloud: "Something's happening."...

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...s and gave them new life. His story, The Nicholas Effect touched the hearts of millions, and increased the percentages of organ donors worldwide. Nicholas father, Reg Green was just along for the ride, what happened to his son was tragic, but the pluses overweighed the negatives. Without Reg, organ donation would not be the standard it is today. Reg Greens emotions of fear, alienation and drive affected his choice on donating Nicholas's organs. Without those emotions his choice may have wavered away from donating, that is why Reg Green is just as important as Nicholas. October 1st, 1994 is the day Nicholas died, except Nicholas is still alive. He is alive in all of those seven people he donated organs too and, Nicholas is alive in all who donate their organs.

Works Cited

Green, Reg. The Nicholas Effect: A Boy's Gift to the World. Beijing: O'Reilly, 1999. Print.