MOD Squad Spreads Its Wings

By Kristina Krawchuk

Vicki Crosier said, "Kyle was knew everything there was to know in the world. He was just a good kid. He was a fun loving kid."

Susan Baron said, "She was full of life. She was funny. She was lovely and a pleasure and we loved her very much."

Vicki Crosier lost her 17-year-old son, Kyle John in a 1980 car accident. Susan Baron's 16-year-old daughter Lindsey was also killed in a car accident in 1996. But these two angelic women made a decision to heal by spreading their wings.

Vicki said, "It's hard to tell people because so much of what we do is intangible. So much is said with a touch or a hug or sometimes not even that. Sometimes total silence. Sometimes it's just listening to a story nobody else wants to hear."

Susan said, "We know how they feel. If they have questions for us or just to know we're alive and that we go on living. I think that's big because believe me, I didn't want to go on living. I thought I had no reason to go on living."

Susan and Vicki are part of the MOD SQUAD which stands for Mothers of Organ Donors. The program is built on bereaved mothers who volunteer their time to comfort families in the hospital after the death of a loved one.

Organ donation is only discussed if the family asks, but for these women, knowing their child's organs would help another child live was the right choice for them. And although the issue isn't pressed, Dr. Liva Jacoby said organ donations have taken a positive direction.

Dr. Jacoby said, "We know that so many people are waiting for organs who will die if they don't get an organ, so to know that we are affiliated and part of a program is so extraordinary with extraordinary women, and that we could do some good is a wonderful thing."

And now this wonderful thing will spread wings over five other states thanks to a $1.3 million grant. Dr. Jacoby calls it an important step in providing support to many others who may face a tragedy in their family.

Copyright © 2003 TWEAN News Channel of Albany, L.L.C d.b.a. Capital News 9.

This article posted February 15, 2003.