The story in Wednesday’s Journal-World about a local family’s experience with organ donations is a powerful reminder of the life-giving and life-affirming impact of such gifts.

According to friends and family members, Carl Arentson led a difficult life. He had various physical ailments and was uncomfortable in social situations. But after he died in October at the age of 45, donated organs from his body reached out in a life-saving way to four other people. His heart, his liver and both of his kidneys were harvested and transplanted in recipients ranging from 16 years old to 61.

One of Carl’s sisters said he would have been proud to know about the people his donated organs helped. The donated organs, she said, allowed him to make personal connections he was mostly unable to make in life. Having something positive come out of Carl’s death also was a comfort to his family and friends.

This is a story that is repeated in various ways every day across the nation. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, more than 105,000 currently are on the national waiting list for an organ transplant. From January to September 2009, about 21,400 transplants were performed, so the need obviously isn’t being met.

The holidays may not seem like a natural time to discuss organ donation, but it’s important for individuals to make their wishes known. According to the Mayo Clinic’s Web site, donated organs from a single person can help as many as 50 people who are awaiting transplants. That’s a significant impact.

Carl Arentson’s sisters will miss him this Christmas, but the knowledge that four other families are celebrating his life-giving donations helps ease their grieving process. Their sorrow is offset by the joy of the organ recipients and their families.

We hope you won’t have to face a decision on donating the organs of a loved one during this holiday season, but if you do, keep in mind those who could benefit from that precious gift.