From Deseret News archives:
U. School of Medicine grateful for gifts of bodies
He might have died then, but new technology made it possible for him to get a new heart and gave him 20 years to see his girls raise their own families.
According to his wife, Gail, Bill Rush always knew that time with his family never would have been possible if some family had not made the difficult decision to donate the heart of their 29-year-old son. And so, she said, he wanted to return the favor.
When Bill Rush died on Mother's Day in 2007, he was unable to donate his organs because of all the medications he had taken over the years. So his body was donated to the University of Utah's School of Medicine.
Kerry Peterson, director of the U.'s Body Donor Program, said they receive about 100 bodies per year.
"The human body is complex," Peterson said. "After being studied in detail and written about for well over 600 years, scientists still learn something new about the structure and function every day."
After the bodies are studied, they are cremated and either returned to the families or buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. There is a headstone in the northwest corner honoring their gift to science.
The U. School of Medicine held a memorial at the cemetery on Friday for Bill Rush and others like him. Dr. Edward Jenkins, assistant dean for Diversity and Community Outreach, spoke on behalf of the U. administration.
"We strongly believe that laboratory experience based on the direction of the human body is the cornerstone of anatomy training for medical students," he said. "Attempting to teach human anatomy through textbook presentation alone does not adequately prepare the medical practitioner of tomorrow. Because no textbook or model can substitute for the human body in the study of medicine, donor bodies are indispensable."
Shawn Mendenhall is a first-year medical student at the U. who said he recognized what a great gift it is to be able to learn about the human body thanks to families who participate in the program.
Last fall, Mendenhall became acquainted with "Fred." Students are encouraged to write letters to their cadaver. During the memorial, Mendenhall shared his letter with the families, saying he would think of Fred and the valuable things he learned each time he treated a patient.
"Thank you for choosing to continue teaching, although you are no longer here, and to continue giving when you no longer needed your mortal remains," he said.
E-mail: amacavinta@desnews.com
Comments
- Stocks tumble at open 7:59 a.m.
- Storm pounds Utah for 2nd day 7:54 a.m.
- Fierce snowstorm heads to Midwest 7:41 a.m.
- EU: Jerusalem should be joint capital 7:38 a.m.
- Obama talks job-creating initiative 7:37 a.m.
- Iran: Nearly 200 protesters arrested 7:13 a.m.
- Obama envoy begins trip to NKorea 7:12 a.m.
- Baghdad blasts toll at 118 dead 7:11 a.m.
- High school girls basketball: Top 20 1:40 a.m.
- High school swimming rankings 1:28 a.m.
- Cougars going back to Vegas
- Witness: Mitchell stalked victims
- Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
- Bring the true spirit of Christmas
- Utes excited to go to San Diego
- Winter weather is here to stay
- BYU professor remembered
- TCU's BCS game missing something
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
261 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
203 - Letters: Global warming a lie
165 - Cougars going back to Vegas
147 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
134 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
100 - Harpring's NBA career is over
96 - Utahns want health care reform bills
80 - Utes excited to go to San Diego
77
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Amazon.com, Target.com, Sears.com, Walmart.com, Kmart.com and...
Let's black top the rest of the county. Put in plastic grass and fake trees,...
Why can't Bronco say Max made a poor decision? Isn't that what it was?...
If we change the composition of the atmosphere do we really expect...
Here's hoping Ute fans can take Bronco's advice and move on...
I am all for suspending Max Hall from the team...... after the bowl game.
After the Giacoletti fiasco, it will take five years of good basketball to...
No doubt, TCU should be playing either Texas or Alabama. I'm sure TCU would...
the only joke is you!
Las Vegas is for the 2nd place team (BYU) and San Diego is for the 3rd place...
To Josh M. It is quite easy to "stereotype" BYU as a school. There is a...



You can be the first to comment on this story.