2017 Ourania Barbara Brennan

OURANIA BARBARA BRENNAN

Tissue and Organ Donor

Age 06/17/2013 – 06/22/2013 ~ Binghamton, NY

Donated on 6/22/2013

at Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamton, NY

Honored by iiam.org

The Brennan family’s beautiful Ourania was born on June 17, 2013. An ultrasound revealed the devastating news that their precious baby would likely live for only moments after her birth due to the fatal birth defect anencephaly.  She gifted a lifetime of priceless memories. After spending her life in her loving family’s embrace, Ourania passed away peacefully in their arms. Her eldest sister Calliope especially cherishes the time she spent feeding her and the family will never forget the sweet little kisses that Ourania gave.  They decided that organ and tissue donation would be the best way to honor Ourania while helping others. The Ourania Brennan Scholarship at SUNY Broome is a testament to Ourania’s impact on the world.

Ourania’s Story

On January 23, 2013, the Brennan family visited Lourdes Hospital for the ultrasound that would indicate the gender of their second child.  Their eldest daughter, Calliope, joined them for the appointment since they were planning to celebrate the news by choosing a name for their beautiful baby.  The ultrasound revealed their baby’s gender but also identified the presence of the fatal birth defect anencephaly.  The family was devastated to learn that their precious baby would likely live for only moments after her birth, if she even survived the rest of the pregnancy.  Despite their disbelief, the Brennans immediately decided that organ and tissue donation would be the best way to honor their daughter while helping others.  The other decision they made that day was to name their daughter Ourania, which means “heavenly girl” and is the name of the Greek muse of astronomy.

After their beautiful Ourania was born, she fought back several times from what they thought were her final moments to give them a lifetime of priceless memories.  Calliope especially cherishes the time she spent feeding her baby sister while her parents will never forget the sweet little kisses that Ourania gave so tenderly.  Having spent three days in the hospital, the Brennans were overjoyed that Ourania, who was not even supposed to make it out of the delivery room, would enjoy her final days in the comfort of her home.

After spending her entire life in her loving family’s embrace, Ourania passed away peacefully in their arms in the early morning hours of June 22nd.  They returned to the hospital shortly afterward to surrender their daughter into the loving arms of one of her nurses so that her organ procurement could take place.

Ourania’s tissue and organ donations include gifts to the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM) and the Lions Eye Bank of Albany.  The Ourania Brennan Memorial Scholarship at SUNY Broome provides another example of the positive long term impact Ourania’s brief life will have on her community.  The Brennans loved Ourania from the moment they became pregnant and they continue to love, honor, and remember her to this day.