Heidi Lutz / Galveston Daily News

Some eight years ago, I was introduced to Vince Colelli, a Galveston man waiting for a new heart. I was a reporter at The Daily News at the time and wanted to write a story about an everyday individual waiting for an organ transplant. Southwest Transplant Alliance introduced me to Vince, and life changed.

They say that reporters are not supposed to get too close to their stories, that they are to remain objective and keep their distance so they are not blinded by opinions. But sometimes those rules don't apply, and every once in a while a story comes along that stays with a reporter for the duration of her life and career. Vince's story was one of those.

A year after our first introduction, the call came that Vince was getting a new heart. I had the unique and special privilege of being there with Vince as his old heart was removed and the new one put in. And this week, I, along with others whose life Vince touched, said goodbye to him.

Vince Colelli died last week. As a reporter in a community for several years, I began to realize that I'd eventually see people I interviewed in the obituaries. But reading Vince's obituary was different than others. Vince and his family allowed me, and through my story the entire community, to share in the intimate experience of receiving a new heart, and my heart sank when I read he had died.

Vince and his family openly discussed their fears and concerns, joy and gratitude with me so I could share that story with the community. Following his successful transplant, Vince continued to volunteer with the Southwest Transplant Alliance, sharing his story again and again in hopes of encouraging others to become organ donors.
The Colelli family made a lasting impression in my life. Despite not seeing or talking with the family in the years since the series was published, rarely has a day gone by that Vince and his family have not been in my thoughts in some way.
While working on my story about Vince's experiences, I learned how devoted the Colelli family is to each other. They supported him through the two years he waited for a heart, and they supported him when he agreed to be the subject of my series. For that, I will be forever grateful.

It took courage and strength for Vince to open his life to the public the way he did. I know it was a difficult time for the family, and they certainly did not have to oblige the request of a young reporter. But they did, and through that story, I was reminded how precious life is, how important family is, and what a difference one person can make in someone's life.

As a writer, I always hope that my articles made a difference in someone's life, and I know that my story about Vince made a difference in at least one - mine. As I sat in Vince's funeral listening to people talk of the faithful and good man Vince was, I realized he touched so many other lives in many different ways. It's difficult to sum up the loss this community will feel without a man like Vince, but a friend in the back of the church said it best when he simply said to me "We've lost a good one."

We did indeed.

Goodbye, Vince. Thank you.