Gray's Donation

The podcast explores the profound impact of organ donation through the story of Sarah and Ross Gray, who donated their infant son Thomas's organs after he died from anencephaly. Driven by a need to understand the impact of their loss, Sarah embarks on a journey to connect with the researchers who received Thomas's organs, visiting labs in Boston, Durham, and Philadelphia. These visits reveal how Thomas's corneas contributed to eye research, his blood samples highlighted epigenetic differences between him and his twin, and his liver, though unusable for transplant, aided in determining optimal freezing temperatures for infant liver cells. The journey culminates in a meeting with a researcher using Thomas's retina to study eye cancer, fostering a sense of collaboration and purpose amidst grief.