"To the loved ones of those who so generously donated their bodies,
A hero is defined as “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” I would like to start off by saying that in my eyes, your loved ones are truly heroes. It takes a special kind of person to so generously and selflessly donate their body to science. By choosing to do this, your family members have been able to help so many students like myself expand their knowledge in ways we never thought possible. In a sense, your loved ones acted as silent teachers…we have so much knowledge from school and work, but no true hands-on experience with people in this kind of way. University lectures, diagrams, pictures, videos, mannequins, etc., can only go so far in teaching us about the human body, and by having this experience with your loved ones, we were able to learn so much more. I am forever thankful.
I want you all to know that your loved ones were treated with so much respect and dignity, and that they have impacted each and every one of our lives. Through this experience and my own personal life, I have recently grown a much stronger appreciation for those donating their body to science. In March 2019, I received news that my grandmother passed away, and shortly after learned that she was donating her body to science exactly like your loved ones. I understand that it must take great courage and generosity to come to this decision. As my grandmother impacted my own life, I’m sure your loved ones have had such a strong, positive influence in your lives. It’s truly beautiful to realize that not only did they get the chance to impact you in that way, but now they have also had the opportunity to impact many others in some way too. They continued to leave their mark on this world even months after having passed, and for this I applaud them and believe that you should all be proud.
I would like to encourage you all to celebrate this day in your loved one's honour, by spreading kindness, generosity, and selflessness all around, much like they did indirectly through their decision to help students, like me, learn."
- Cassandra Bilodeau, BNI student and registered nurse