Adib Akroush shudders to sound of a gunshot. The 60-year old lost his youthful son to a similar fire some 14 years ago.

Recalling bitter details, tearful Akroush says: “William was playing with my gun, unaware of a bullet that he accidently fired piercing in and out of his head.” Soon the doctors declared him brain dead, admitting their helplessness to save his life.

Too late for miracles and prayers, William lost his battle for life in four days. The grieved father did not receive the body for burial. Instead, he opted to donate his organs for transplants.

“All I could think of is that others should benefit from William's organs . . . His death should give life to others as my William was generous in his life so why not be in his death?”

Adib Akroush poses at the entrance of the organ donation facility in Amman, Jordan. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Given social and religious sensitivities involved in any organ donated and transplanted, Akroush has to carefully study the paperwork. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush and hospital manager in pre-transplant discussions. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush wish good health to a man after his successful operation for organ donation. - Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush addresses a medical attendent as an organ donor looks on. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Adib Akroush poses at the entrance of the organ donation facility in Amman, Jordan. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Given social and religious sensitivities involved in any organ donated and transplanted, Akroush has to carefully study the paperwork. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush and hospital manager in pre-transplant discussions. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush wish good health to a man after his successful operation for organ donation. - Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush addresses a medical attendent as an organ donor looks on. - Photo by Rania Sarayreh.

Akroush acted with unique courage that day. In about two hours, he could convince William’s mourning mother to let the doctors of King Hussein Medical City to take out vital organs for likely transplants.

Jordan’s best medical facility networked with a wide array of hospitals, meanwhile, chose five deserving
recipients of William's heart, lungs, kidneys, and corneas. They were all Muslims by faith.

“It was a spiritual moment when I felt closer to God,” the aging dad says with a smile of contentment.

Akroush family is not the only Christians family to donate their loved one’s organs. William Yacoub Azizat set the precedent in 1985 in Jordan by donating his priest brother’s heart, liver and kidneys to four Muslim families. Thus Christians Jordanians opened the door for organ donation in the country.

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