A Memoir · Available Now
Anatomyof aYes. — A Memoir by Brent Whetstone
A trauma chaplain's field notes from the bedside of organ donation in Appalachia — on grief, grace, and the families who say yes in the darkest hour of their lives.
by Brent Whetstone
From the Prologue
“These are our friends, our relatives, our neighbors. All of them are waiting on someone to say yes.”
About the Book
A trauma chaplain's intimate account of the sacred work behind every yes.
Anatomy of a Yes traces a decade in trauma chaplaincy and organ donation advocacy — from the late-night hospital calls Brent Whetstone once dreaded to the bedsides where families confront unspeakable loss and choose, somehow, to give life.
Across eleven chapters — Trust, Silence, Kindness, Redemption, a No, Time, Legacy, Hope, and Appalachia — the book moves through the moments most of us never see: the conversations, the waiting rooms, the prayers whispered between fluorescent lights.
It is both a field guide and a memoir — true stories shaped by grief, grace, and the enduring power of legacy.
Inside the Book
- PrologueOne Man's Yes
- IThe Anatomy of Trust
- IIThe Anatomy of Silence
- IIIThe Anatomy of a Superhero
- IVThe Anatomy of Kindness
- VThe Anatomy of Redemption
- VIThe Anatomy of a No
- VIIThe Anatomy of Time
- VIIIThe Anatomy of Legacy
- IXThe Anatomy of Hope
- XThe Anatomy of Appalachia
An Excerpt
PrologueOne Man's Yes
I've been a trauma chaplain for just under ten years. Never in a million years did I imagine I'd spend my days in emergency departments and intensive care units.
The truth is, I hated hospitals. They unsettled me — the sights, the sounds, the smells. As a youth minister, I did everything I could to avoid hospital visitations. If I had to go, it usually meant walking into the worst kind of moment.
One night, while I was talking with a friend about that very dread, the phone rang. I didn't even have to look at the caller ID; I knew what it was going to be. Another hospital call. My friend listened and then said something I hadn't considered before:
“You need to work through this. Have you ever heard of Clinical Pastoral Education?”
I couldn't have known that those long hours, hard conversations, and bedside prayers would lead me to my true calling: the sacred, often invisible work of being an Organ Donation Advocate.
A Place
Set against the hollows and ridgelines of Appalachia — where faith, family, and grief are inseparable.
The Author
Brent Whetstone
Brent Whetstone is a trauma chaplain and nationally recognized leader in organ procurement, specializing in the education, training, and management of Family Services Coordinators.
His path began as a youth minister who dreaded hospital calls — until a friend pointed him toward Clinical Pastoral Education at Mercy Health. Nearly a decade later, he has spent his career walking with donor families at the intersection of loss and legacy.
Anatomy of a Yes is his first book — born from handwritten notes in the quiet hours after the work was done, and dedicated to his wife Heather, his five children, and the families whose courage made these pages possible.
Trauma Chaplain · Author · OPO Leader
Reader Reviews
Raw..Emotional..Educational MUST READ!!
The storytelling is powerful yet hopeful. While the subject matter carries emotional weight, the book consistently emphasizes healing, gratitude, and connection. Readers come away with a greater understanding of the life-changing impact of donation, as well as a renewed appreciation for the courage and selflessness of those who choose to give.
Equally impressive is the book's educational approach. Complex medical and ethical topics are explained clearly and compassionately, making the information accessible without ever feeling overwhelming. By grounding these discussions in Appalachian culture and lived experience, the book creates trust and understanding rather than fear or distance.
A must-read for anyone in the OPO world!
The people of Appalachia are truly the last marginalized population in this country — to the point where most Americans don't even think about what the community has endured socially, economically, and medically. Bringing his unique insight to this community, Whetstone draws back the veil to reveal this unique American experience in an eye-opening memoir of his ongoing work in the field of organ donation.
Deeply accurate
So much more than a book, the stories shared provide an intimate look into the journey of donation from a variety of perspectives. The accuracy and depth expressed through words will stir emotions inside your soul, no matter your level of knowledge about/experience with organ, tissue, and eye donation.
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