Serba was hit in the head with what was believed to be a brick as he left a Jane and Bloor St. bar Saturday night. He was in a coma, then taken off life support on Tuesday afternoon.
His family has decided to turn their tragedy into a kind of triumph, by donating the hockey player's vital organs to those awaiting life saving transplants, a generous donation they made reference to in their touching tribute.
"When our family learned that Michael was no longer with us in body, we did not hesitate to donate his organs to help others in need," they note.
"We are certain this is what our son would have wanted. His organs have now been recovered to save lives ... to turn what has been a tragedy for our family to goodness for others and further Michael's legacy.
Commentary: From my own limited experience around a patient shortly after traumatic brain injury, and from my extensive reading of articles like this, I believe that typically a brain injured patient requires a respirator or ventilator (I still haven't figured out the difference, since so many use both terms interchangeably) for about two weeks, after which they can be weaned off it. During this time, it appears more patients are killed than allowed to live. It's real easy to kill a patient during this initial period. Once they can breathe on their own, killing them becomes a public relations nightmare.
Serba Family Releases Statement On Death Of Son
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