Wife touched by service honouring man's wish to donate body to science
'My husband would be proud to know that he helped somebody, especially in fields that he was ill in'
Faye McLean waited more than a year to say a proper goodbye to her husband Gordon, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
McLean and her husband, whom she described as a compassionate, intelligent and quiet man, were together for 36 years.
"When he said something, you listened," she said. "He just would give you very gentle guidance."
And even after his death, Gordon McLean continued to provide guidance.
His final wishes
The Dartmouth man died in March 2016 at the age of 85 and, as per his wishes, his body was donated to a Dalhousie University program so students can learn basic anatomy with a human body.
Faye McLean said her husband's decision was important — she once worked as a first responder (as paramedics were known at that time) and understands the benefits of learning with a body. She sees it as the same as donating organs.
"If I could have seen a real nerve and a real muscle, to see what it really looks like, rather than work on a doll, it would have helped me understand the anatomy of the body a lot better," she said.
Bodies donated to Dalhousie can be used for one to three years. Each year, the university holds a service for the donors' families to recognize their generosity and how they helped the next generation of health professionals.
During last week's service, Gordon McLean was one of the donors recognized.
Brenda Armstrong, the program coordinator, said it's important for the families of donors to know what the program means to students. A representative from each of the various health programs speaks on behalf of their classmates.
"That is the part of the service that people really resonate to, is hearing the students," said Armstrong.
"And to me, those students are the direct beneficiaries of the gifts that were given by the donors."
For McLean, the service, which includes interment for those who want it and the release of doves, was like a funeral but more friendly and comforting.
A special comfort and closure
"It made you feel like you were the only family there. And everybody I spoke to that was [with] another family, felt the same way — you just had a bigger family."
Sharing the same experience with other families brought comfort and closure to McLean, something she isn't sure would be possible with a normal funeral.
Armstrong said Dalhousie's donation program is typically well supported. It can take up to three years before a loved one's service takes place, and waiting can be a challenge for some families. There's also the issue that everyone must have a backup plan, in the event the donation can't be accepted.
'Would be proud'
Gordon McLean had heart problems, bladder cancer and he was on dialysis. That someone might have benefited from studying his health problems would have mattered to her husband, said McLean.
"My husband would be proud to know that he helped somebody, especially in fields that he was ill in."
It's a gift McLean said she hopes more people consider making.
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