Pictured above: Julie Roman

“It was the worst day of our life, but the best day for someone else,” Naperville resident, Terri Roman says.

Roman’s daughter, Julie, had a fun-loving personality. She had a passion for animals and she found enjoyment using her creativity through her talent in floral design.

“No one else in our family had artistic genes,” Roman says.

Julie’s struggle with depression and anxiety began when she was 13 years old. She received help from medical professionals, including therapy, medication and support groups. In her later teen years, she confided in her doctors and therapists that she was experimenting with opioids.

Her team of medical professionals encouraged her to tell her family. At the age of 18, Julie’s family discovered that she was addicted to heroin.

The next 10 years of her life, Julie battled depression and addiction while also having long periods of sobriety. During this time, she completed seven rehab programs. Julie’s family wishes her addiction to opioids was addressed from a physical need for the drug versus a “just say no to drugs” attitude.

“I think it’s important to normalize the words substance abuse, addiction and depression because we need to look at her struggles and demons as a disease. I think people look at others who are battling addiction and have gone to rehab and wonder, ‘can’t you just get it?’” Roman says.

In 2015, at the age of 28, Julie passed away at Edward Hospital.

“She was more than her mental illness. She was more than her addiction. She was a loving sister and a daughter. I was proud of how hard she fought, but it was bigger than her,” her mother says.

On the day of Julie’s passing, her family was informed by Gift of Hope that she was an organ donor. Julie was able to donate her heart, liver and pancreas to someone in need.

“I didn’t have any idea she was an organ donor. We did not have any conversations about it. I was kind of sad because I think it says something about her giving character,” she says.

The following May, Julie’s family received a handwritten letter in the mail along with a sympathy card from the man who received Julie’s organs. The letter thanked Julie’s family for the gift of life.

“I truly believe that was her Mother’s Day gift for me,” Roman says.

Roman has found healing through her work with Gift of Hope and sharing the benefits of organ donation. She has also started a local support group for families who have lost loved ones to addiction.

“Julie loved to help other people. My work with Gift of Hope is her working through me. It gives me strength to stop the stigma of addiction and mental illness and to help other people going through this,” Roman says.

April is National Donate Life Month. Edward-Elmhurst Health is proud to partner with Gift of Hope and HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) to help increase awareness about the importance of donation.

By adding your name to the donor registry today, you will be helping to save and enhance the lives of more than 25 people and leave a lifesaving legacy for your loved ones.

Join our commitment to save lives. Register as an organ and tissue donor today.

Learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation.