Craig Johnson

Organ donor

1969 — 2004

Words can not even begin to express my feelings for Craig. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know Craig. We had been dating for the past 2 1/2 years and had talked of a future together. One week before Craig passed away, he held me in arms, looked me in the eyes, and said, "I could never let you go" and then promised to marry me. One week later, I had to let Craig go. As I was cleaning off his desk at work, one of his friends had said he was starting to save for a ring...it's so bitter-sweet to hear after he had passed away.

Craig came into my life as quickly as he left. We met at a local bar and I still remember that night like it was yesterday. He would want me to say that I was checking him out all night, but it's funny...everytime I was looked at him, he was looking at me! We connected that very first night. I gave him my number (I can still remember the pen I wrote with and the gum wrapper I wrote on) and was surprised that he called later that night! He just wanted to make sure that I had gotten home safely. Craig and I played phone tag for a few days before we actually made contact with one another. We had our first date 3 days later and the rest is history.

Craig was a passionate person. He did everything to its fullest extent. He knew how short life could be and lived everyday like it was his last.

One of Craig's best qualities was his ability to make people laugh. He had a smile that would light up the room. He was always there with a joke, quickly followed by a little smirk and twinkle in his eye! Every time someone speaks of Craig these days, a big smile comes to their face as they say, "Remember the time when Craig...". I can still hear his laugh, and miss it terribly. I find comfort in the fact that he touched so many lives and is still making people smile.

Craig and I had never talked specifically about organ donation, but there was no question in my mind that it was the right thing to do. Craig had so many dreams...he wanted to be a college basketball coach, travel to Australia, Hawaii, and South America. He wanted to see a Michigan football game at their home stadium. He wanted to go back to school to get his teaching certificate, he wanted to be a husband and a father and raise his family where he had been raised. All of these dreams ended in an instant, or did they? Through organ donation, Craig will live on. He may not have been able to accomplish his dreams while here on earth, but he will be able to help someone else accomplish their dreams.

As I look back on my relationship with Craig, I realize just how much he taught me about life. I am just sorry that I was unable to appreciate it to its fullest extent while he was here with me. Craig taught me how to love unconditionally, to forgive, to smile, to relax, and not worry about the things I could not control. I look at life differently now that Craig is gone, I look at life the way Craig did...that life is short and you should live each day to its fullest.

Craig touched so many lives and I am proud to say that he was my boyfriend. I will continue to keep Craig's wonderful spirit alive through my actions as will his friends and family. Craig may be gone from this earth, but his spirit is not. He will always have a special place in my heart.

I don't understand why Craig was taken so soon, but I do believe that we are never given anything that we can not handle. I know that the night Craig had his accident, he was happy. He was doing something he loved, and wouldn't have wanted to go any other way. Craig passed away on March 2,2004 after being involved in a motorcycle accident a few days before. As days pass by,I long to feel his arms around me, hear him laugh, see him smile and hear him call me "honey", but as I have said to friends, "God must have needed him more".

I love you and miss you so much, Craig. I am so proud that you haven given the gift of life. You are now my angel.
Always and Forever,
~Mary

7-12-07 Almost three and a half years after Craig's passing, I am happy to say that all of his recipients continue to be in good health!