Carolyn Henry Glaspy's life changed the morning of Dec. 17, 2009. Just when her son, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, was beginning to turn his troubled life around, he experienced a fatal fall. When Carolyn learned that Chris, 26, had suffered irreversible brain death, she made the decision to donate his organs. Eleven months after her son's death, Carolyn's tearful meeting with the four recipients of Chris's gift of life brought her closure. Since then, Carolyn has been called to tell people about her journey and the importance of being an organ and tissue donor.

Carolyn's Story

Carolyn Henry Glaspy's life changed the morning of Dec. 17, 2009. Just when her son, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, was beginning to turn his troubled life around, he experienced a fatal fall. Carolyn had been Chris's number one fan; she attended every game he played from his childhood all the way to the NFL.

Chris, 26, had made a decision to turn his life around for the sake of his children and his future wife Loleini Tonga, whom he was planning to marry in three months, his mother said. He had been in North Carolina with his family while recovering from a season-ending broken forearm, and would rejoin the team once his arm healed, she added.

"He called me every morning just to say 'hi,' but the morning of December 17 I did not receive a call until about noon, and it was from the Cincinnati Police Department, not Chris." She learned that Chris hat hit his head when he fell from the back of a moving pickup truck. When Carolyn arrived at Carolinas Medical Center, a doctor took her to her son's side as her husband Willie was en route to Charlotte, Carolyn, advised that Chris had suffered irreversible brain death, made the decision to donate his heart, lungs, kidneys and pancreas, giving four people a second chance at life.

During the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday, Carolyn had a tearful meeting with the recipients of Chris's organs. "When I walked in that room and met those four people, their gratitude was so strong. It was as if we knew each other before," she said. "I love them. I am glad to hear they are all taking care of themselves as they live out their second chance." Carolyn says meeting the recipients brought closure to his tragic accidental death. "The four people who received Chris's organs have become part of my family," said Carolyn.

Chris's four children – Chris Jr., DeMarcus, Daneli, and stepdaughter Seini – still live in North Carolina with their mother. "It makes me proud that their father went on to perform such a heroic act, and I know that when they are older and can truly understand all that he was able to accomplish during his life and after, they will be grateful and honored to know that Chris Henry was their dad," said Carolyn.

Carolyn says she has been called to tell people about her journey and the importance of being an organ and tissue donor. All members of her family are now designated donors.

"Chris was a wonderful and caring son, father, brother, teammate and friend," Carolyn said. "Our family misses him so much and we will always cherish our memories of him. My sons and I have always been extremely close, and we know that Chris is still with us because of all of the people he was able to help as an organ and tissue donor."

Adapted from April 9, 2011 article by Dan Yount, The Cincinnati Herald