Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: A Life Everlasting
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1973
WEBSITE: http://sarahgray.com/
CITY: Washington
STATE: DC
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
https://www.ted.com/speakers/sarah_gray
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2016033054
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2016033054
HEADING: Gray, Sarah, 1973-
000 00420nz a2200145n 450
001 10186649
005 20160617140658.0
008 160617n| azannaabn |n aaa
010 __ |a n 2016033054
040 __ |a DLC |b eng |e rda |c DLC
046 __ |f 19730810
100 1_ |a Gray, Sarah, |d 1973-
375 __ |a female
670 __ |a A life everlasting, 2016: |b ECIP t.p. (Sarah Gray)
670 __ |a Email from publisher June 15, 2016 |b (Sarah Gray, b. 8/10/73)
PERSONAL
Born August 10, 1973; married; husband’s name Ross; children: Callum and Jocelyn.
EDUCATION:Marquette University, B.A. (communications); American University, M.A. (public communication).
ADDRESS
CAREER
National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, marketing; American Association of Tissue Banks, McLean, VA, director of marketing and public affairs; award-winning speechwriter, public speaker, and biospecimen donation advocate.
MEMBER:National Press Club.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Sarah Gray lost an infant son, Thomas, to the terminal brain disorder anencephaly. Finding a silver lining, she donated the baby’s organs to scientific research and wrote about her journey in her memoir A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy’s Gift to Medical Science. Since then she has become an organ, eye, tissue, and blood donation advocate and an award-winning speechwriter, public speaker, and donation advocate. She speaks about donating biospecimens, overcoming obstacles, and coping with grief and loss. Gray previously worked in marketing for the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, but after Thomas’ ordeal she became the director of marketing and public affairs for the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) in McLean, Virginia, and a member of the AATB Donor Family Guidance Document Committee.
Gray’s story of Thomas’s organ and tissue donation received national and international media attention as it was shared with media outlets like CNN, NBCNews.com, National Public Radio, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Radiolab, and the Today show. Sharing her story gave her family profound peace and purpose. Gray holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and a master’s degree in public communication from American University. She lives with her husband and children in Washington, DC.
In A Life Everlasting, Gray recounts how she received the tragic news during her pregnancy that one of her unborn twin sons had anencephaly, a terminal condition. In 2010 she gave birth to the twin boys, and one of them, Thomas, lived for six days. Not wanting his death to be for nothing, Gray researched infant organ donation online and hoped that Thomas could contribute to the advancement of modern medicine. She arranged to donate his organs to medical research and organized the logistics of preserving and transferring his remains. Due to his premature weight, the organs would go to medical research instead of to a live recipient. The donations of Thomas’ eyes, liver, and cord blood went to some of the most prestigious scientific facilities in the country, including Harvard University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania, all of which used the organs in cutting-edge research that could benefit mankind.
Wanting to know more specifically how her son’s organs were being used in research, Gray followed the process. She learned that Thomas’s liver was used in a study on liver cell preparation, his umbilical cord blood was used for genetic studies, and his eyes were used for an education research project. This way she discovered that even the shortest lives can make a big difference and that every life has potential. Along the way, she interviewed scientists, researchers, medical facility personnel, technicians, donor organizations, and empathetic counselors. She also presents the inspiring stories of other donor families. Writing in Booklist, Karen Springen noted that Gray “write[s] a compelling first-person argument for registering to give away organs and tissue.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented: “She writes movingly not only of her own experience finding out how her dead son ‘was contributing to the greater good,’” but also of the emotional and thankful researchers.
The book chronicles Gray’s journey through loss, exuberant hope, solace, discovery, and understanding, as well as the encouraging information she learned. She lauds the unsung heroes in the medical community and tireless researchers who used her son’s donations to search for surprising and inventive ways to treat and cure disease. The book includes a state-by-state list of resources for families who want more information on organ donation. Overall, through the book, Gray asserts that not tragedy, but how we handle it, is what defines us. “Gray writes movingly of the loss of her son [and] the research it aided,” stated a Publishers Weekly contributor, who added that Gray’s remarkable account will ensure that Thomas’s legacy will continue to inspire.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, August 1, 2016, Karen Springen, review of A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan Gray, p. 17.
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2016, review of A Life Everlasting.
Publishers Weekly, June 27, 2016, review of A Life Everlasting, p. 72.
ONLINE
HarperCollins Speakers Bureau, http://www.harpercollinsspeakersbureau.com/ (April 1, 2017), author profile.
Sarah Gray Home Page, http://sarahgray.com (April 1, 2017), author profile.
TED MED, http://www.tedmed.com/ (April 1, 2017), author profile.
About Sarah Gray
When Sarah Gray received the devastating news that her unborn twin son Thomas was diagnosed with anencephaly, a terminal condition that meant he would not survive long beyond birth, she decided she wanted his death—and life—to have meaning. In the weeks before she gave birth to her sons in 2010, she arranged to donate Thomas’s organs to medical research.
Later curious about how the donations were being used, Sarah embarked on a quest for those answers that took her to some of the most prestigious scientific facilities in the country, including those at Harvard, Duke, and the University of Pennsylvania. Pulling back the curtain of protocol and confidentiality, Sarah met the researchers and scientists who received Thomas’s donations, and learned how they’re being used in cutting-edge research for medical discoveries to benefit humanity. This story, and Sarah’s journey, is shared in her book, A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy’s Gift to Medical Science.
Today, Sarah is the Director of Communications for the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) in McLean, Virginia. She is a passionate organ, eye, and tissue donation advocate and public speaker for the cause. She lives in Washington, D.C. With her husband Ross and their children, Callum and Jocelyn.
IN A NUTSHELL
Sarah Gray shares her journey to finding meaning in her most tragic loss–by learning how to donate the organs of her newborn son to advance scientific research.
ABOUT SARAH
While struggling to cope with the loss of their infant son Thomas, Sarah Gray and her family met the researchers who received his eye, liver, and cord blood donations. This journey garnered national and international media attention and brought profound peace to the Gray family. Sarah is the Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for the American Association of Tissue Banks and a member of the AATB Donor Family Guidance Document Committee. She is author of a forthcoming memoir from HarperOne, A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy's Gift to Medical Science. Gray holds a BA in Communications from Marquette University and a Masters in Public Communication from American University, where her capstone topic was non-directed kidney donation. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband Ross and children Callum and Jocelyn.
Sarah Gray
Author, Organ, Eye, Tissue & Blood Donation Advocate & Donor’s Mom
SPEAKING TOPICS
Organ, Eye, Tissue and Blood Donation
Biospecimen Donation
Overcoming Obstacles
Coping with Grief & Loss
More Media
Sarah Gray is an award-winning speechwriter, public speaker, organ, eye and tissue donation advocate, donor parent, and author of A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy's Gift to Medical Science (HarperOne).
When Gray received the devastating news that her unborn twin son Thomas was diagnosed with anencephaly, a terminal condition that meant he would not survive long beyond birth, she decided she wanted his death—and life—to have meaning. In the weeks before she gave birth to her sons in 2010, she arranged to donate Thomas’s organs to medical research. Later curious about how the donations were being used, Gray embarked on a quest for those answers that took her to some of the most prestigious scientific facilities in the country, including those at Harvard, Duke, and the University of Pennsylvania. Pulling back the curtain of protocol and confidentiality, Gray met the researchers and scientists who received Thomas’s donations, and learned how they’re being used in cutting-edge research for medical discoveries to benefit humanity.
A Life Everlasting is an unforgettable testament to hope, a tribute to life and discovery, and a portrait of unsung heroes pushing the boundaries of medical science for the benefit of all humanity. Gray’s journey to find solace and understanding takes her beyond her son’s donations—offering a breathtaking overview of the world of medical research and the valiant scientists on the horizon of discovery. She goes behind the scenes at organ procurement organizations, introducing skilled technicians for whom death means saving lives, empathetic counselors, and the brilliant minds who are finding surprising and inventive ways to treat and cure disease through these donations. She also shares the moving stories of other donor families.
Gray regularly speaks around the country about the experience of being a donor mom as well as advocating for the cause. She and her family have shared their story with national and international media outlets, including CNN, NBC News.com, NPR, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Radiolab, and Today.com. Currently, Gray is the Director of Communications for the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) in McLean, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Marquette University and a Master’s degree in Public Communication from American University. As well, she is a member of the National Press Club.
Gray lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Ross, and children, Callum and Jocelyn.
A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan
Gray
Karen Springen
Booklist.
112.22 (Aug. 1, 2016): p17.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan Gray. By Sarah Gray. Sept. 2016. 288p. HarperOne, $27.99 (9780062438225). 617.
Gray was able to see the silver lining of the death of her son, Thomas, in March of 2010. Born with anencephaly, a fatal brain defect, he lived less
than a week, though he did come home with his identical twin brother, Callum. Gray feels a loss for words at his funeral. "What do you say about
a 6-day-old infant?" At first, she blames herself and goes through "what-ifs." Could she have caused the problem by consuming alcohol or
caffeine or using a sauna? She moves on to write a compelling first-person argument for registering to give away organs and tissue, noting that
her son's eyes, liver, and blood have helped researchers. Smith writes, "In his short but treasured life, he contributed to the advancement of
modern medicine." Now director of communications for the American Association of Tissue Banks, Gray remarks, "I only hope my life can be as
relevant." She ends with a state-by-state list of resources for families who want more information, which many will after experiencing her view of
her son as Thomas Everlasting.--Karen Springen
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Springen, Karen. "A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan Gray." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 17. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761591&it=r&asid=aff3d4e06a3d32f6cd026093140709f2. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A460761591
---
3/5/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1488743404356 2/2
A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan
Gray
Publishers Weekly.
263.26 (June 27, 2016): p72.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan Gray
Sarah Gray. HarperOne, $27.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-06-243822-5
Gray, director of communications for the American Association of Tissue Banks, personally recounts how her six-day-old son's death helped save
countless lives, detailing the dogged purpose and exuberant hope that fueled her daunting journey into the world of medical research. Gray and
her husband, Ross, knew months before she gave birth to identical twin sons that one of them, Thomas, had a lethal neural tube defect, and they
quickly recognized its "higher purpose": that his death would allow organ and tissue donations. Knowing only that Thomas's liver was recovered
for a study on liver cell preparation, that his umbilical cord blood would be used for genetic studies, and that his eyes would go to "a very special
education research project," Gray methodically tracks down the places that received the donations and the researchers who studied them. "In his
short but treasured life," she proudly writes, Thomas accomplished nothing less than a contribution "to the advancement of modern medicine."
Gray writes movingly of the loss of her son, the research it aided, and the career to which it led her at the AATB as an advocate for organ and
tissue donation. With this remarkable account, Thomas's legacy will continue to inspire. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Gift of Thomas Ethan Gray." Publishers Weekly, 27 June 2016, p. 72. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA456900936&it=r&asid=9b732dbb349f1a117c99d05189b6ece1. Accessed 5 Mar.
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A456900936
A LIFE EVERLASTING. Kirkus Reviews, 19487428, 7/1/2016, Vol. 84, Issue 13
How the author gave meaning to the short life of her son, who was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal neural defect.Gray and her husband were jubilant to learn that they were to be the parents of identical twins, only to have their hopes dashed when a subsequent screening revealed that one of them had anencephaly and would live a few days at most. She writes poignantly of the remaining months of her pregnancy and the need to prepare for one baby joining their home while bracing themselves "for the heartbreak of losing a child at the same time." Online, she learned about a research program being conducted at Duke University in which researchers were seeking a cause or cure for the defect by analyzing the blood of the parents and the cord blood of both twins. The Grays decided that they would give some meaning to their tragedy by participating in the program and donating the body of their infant after his death, and the author organized the logistics of preserving and transferring his remains. At the time of her pregnancy, Gray worked in marketing for the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, managing a speaker's bureau that enlists people with disabilities to themselves become advocates. She is currently employed as director of communications for the American Association of Tissue Banks as an advocate for organ, eye, and tissue donations. Inspired by the hope of finding out how her son's brief life took on meaning, she traveled to the various institutions where his tissues have been studied by researchers. She writes movingly not only of her own experience finding out how her dead son "was contributing to the greater good," but also of the positive emotional impact of her visits on the researchers themselves. An informative account of the various aspects of organ donation and an inspiring affirmation of the potential value of every life, however brief.