Cincinnati Bengals beat writer Jay Morrison is going through an ordeal that he says “obliterated” his world, but through it all, his wife, Nicki, was able to make an impact in her final moments.
Jay shared a video via X of Nicki’s “honor walk,” which took place on Monday, December 22. An honor walk is traditionally held for individuals on life support, with no chance for survival, as they are wheeled into the operating room for organ procurement. Hospital staff join family and friends in lining the hallways to show their appreciation for the individual, who is performing a potentially life-saving act for organ recipients.
“We said our goodbyes to Nicki last night in the most appropriately meaningful way, with a hero’s Honor Walk,” Jay wrote via social media on Tuesday, December 23, as he shared the video. “I need to advise that the video might be hard to watch, seeing her in that state. But we are sharing it in order to help bring awareness and positivity to the beautiful act of organ donation. True to her selfless spirit and soul until the very end, she will be giving people she never met the greatest of Christmas gifts.”
“Thank you to everyone who came out to send her off as a hero, and to everyone who sent their love from afar,” he added via Facebook.
Nationwide, more than 103,000 people are on the organ transplant waiting list, according to organdonor.gov. The site adds that 13 people die each day while waiting for a transplant, but one donor can save up to eight lives.
Jay, who covers the Bengals for Sports Illustrated, revealed earlier Monday that he would be stepping away from his role indefinitely after Nicki suffered “catastrophic” complications from what was supposed to be a routine medical procedure.
“For the first time in 14 years, I watched a Bengals game with my wife Nicki yesterday,” he wrote via X. “It will be her last. What should have been a routine medical procedure on Friday turned catastrophic.”
Jay continued, “She has been on life support since, waiting on organ recipient matches, her final gift in a magnificently beautiful and selfless life. We will be saying our final goodbyes and removing her from the machines.”
“My heart is shattered, and my world is obliterated,” he wrote.
Nicki and Jay share daughter Veda and son Braden. Veda married her wife, Bethany, in May, three weeks after Nicki and Jay celebrated their wedding anniversary.
“It was one of the happiest and proudest days of Nicki’s life,” Jay exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday.
Veda and Braden can be seen emotionally walking behind their mother in the video shared by Jay on Tuesday.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor took time on Monday to recognize Jay during his press conference.
“Jay, as you all know, is one of the greatest guys in this business,” Taylor, 42, said. “Thoughts and prayers with him and his family and I hate that he’s got to go through that. I know we’re all here for him, so I just wanted to make sure that he knows that and his family knows that.”
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