John Nicholson said he didn't understand why his grandmother donated her body to science until he came to a memorial service held by the medical school honoring her gift.
"It was something she wanted to do personally," Nicholson said. "I never considered it. What her gift was, I understand now."
The Nicholson family traveled from Shreveport, La., to attend the memorial service honoring people who donated their bodies to science at the Aquinas Newman Center on Saturday.
Mary Laughlin, co-chair of the memorial service committee, said the ceremony was put together by first-year students enrolled in the anatomy lab at the school of medicine.
Medical, occupational, physical therapy and physician assistant students read letters and poems and played music as part of the service. Many of them expressed their gratitude for the gift of the human body for the health of others.
Laughlin said the service is important because the family doesn't get the same funeral service most people do, as the body is taken away soon after the donor dies.
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"It's important to give the families gratitude for their sacrifice," she said. "It's their sacrifice as well."
Aliesha Lundstrom said those who donated their bodies to science gave the ultimate gift.
Ted With, director of the Baptist Student Union, spoke about the purpose of the service and addressed the sorrow many family members felt.
"These are lives that continue to give," he said. "They gave for the benefit for others. Their lives are an investment in others."
A song sung by two medical students had some audience members wiping their eyes, including Nicholson.
At the end of the service, the name of each donor was read aloud and a candle was lit in his or her memory.
A slide show took place at the reception with the names of the donors, a description of the person and photos of the donors provided by their families.
Nicholson said the service allowed him to reflect on everything his grandmother, Lola Welsh, had done for him. She died one year ago.
"It brought it back to a forefront again," he said.
Nicholson said it was nice to see students' appreciation and gratitude.
"You never think about it until you're involved in it, what it takes to become a doctor," he said.
The Nicholson family picked out a candle as a gift to the families from the students.
The candle had a quote attached to it from Henry Brooks Adams that read, "A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops."
The medical school holds the memorial service every year after 10 weeks of working with the bodies.
"It was probably the most educational experience for me as a student and personally," occupational therapy student Jodi Eckart said. "It's nice to say thank you."
The original purpose of the ceremony was to give students closure after working with the bodies in their lab class, said Norman Taslitz, a professor at the medical school.
The service was expanded five years ago to include family members of donors.
"For the families and for us, it's closure," Eckart said.
