April Awareness: Donate the Gift of Life

April is both National Donate Life Month and Organ Donation Awareness Month making it the perfect time to consider registering to be an organ donor. If you are already and organ donor, congrats! And thank you! Maybe this is a great time to spread the word and share your decision with friends and family...you just might inspire someone to register.

There are many misconceptions about being an organ donor. From personal experience, there is one misconception I'd like to clear up.

Myth:
If you're not in great health, you shouldn't or couldn't sign up or be an organ donor.

This is absolutely not true and couldn't be farther from the truth.

While it is true you may not be able to donate certain organs, there are other organs and/or even tissues that may be perfectly fine and usable.

The day my brother lost his battle with cystic fibrosis, the first thing I thought about was organ donation. We had actually been right in the middle of fundraising for his double lung transplant and we had learned so much about organ donation and transplant. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

Unfortunately, at that time that I was fundraising for him, I was also working a full-time job, a part-time job and taking college courses part-time. I know.....when did I possibly have time to do fundraising?! I will not lie. It was not easy. But, I did it.

Having all that responsibility......I just never thought to have that conversation with him. You know, the one that would answer that question, "Do you want to be an organ donor?" I guess a part of me figured he would have most certainly had that conversation with his wife -right?!

That day when I got the dreaded call...Eddie was losing his fight. I was completely heart broken and devastated that he passed before I got to his room. I never got to say goodbye; to say it was okay to go; or to say I was sorry that I couldn't do more to have changed his circumstances.

As I stood next to him in his bed, the nurse had come in and asked my mother if she wished to have him be an organ donor. Her response, "I don't think there is anything (organ) good he could donate." I glared at her and said, "That's not true!" But, in the end, she was listed as his health proxy, so I didn't have a say.

At that time, I was angry with my mother for thinking he (my brother) could in no way be an organ donor. It was almost as if she was saying he was damaged. He was not damaged! Looking back, now, I think her response came from a place of fear/uncertainty and lack of knowledge. I knew, he may not have been able to donate his lungs or pancreas, possibly a few other organs -but, he could donate organs and even tissue(s).

The point of sharing my very personal experience with you is to educate through experience, as my grandmother always said, "Knowledge is power." Yes, my brother had cystic fibrosis but that did not disqualify him from being an organ donor. Please talk with your health care provider, transplant clinic and family. Educate yourself, and above all, please consider being an organ donor.

Fact:
One organ donor can save up to eight (8) lives! That same donor can also save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes!¹

Remember -you can save a life -register to be an organ donor and Donate Life, today.

Learn how to register and become an organ donor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Donate the Gift of Life.

¹LiveOnNy: Organ Donation Facts and Information.

Read more...

A Thoughtful Commentary on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenges

I am part of a lung transplant group on Facebook and recently another member posted a powerful message in response to the ASL ice bucket challenges circulating the internet. She has given me permission to share her message and it is definitely "food for thought".

Posted by: Kara D.
I wrote the following on my wall in regards to all of the ALS posts that has bombarded my wall, as I'm sure everyone else's...sorry in advance for the long post!

I am amazed that ALS has been able to raise so much money in such a short amount of time, and I am happy for them and their cause. At the same time, when I scroll through to see all the videos of people pouring buckets of ice water on their heads, I can't help but think, are these people donating, or just pouring water on their head because everyone else is doing it, and it's the "cool thing to do" right now? I wish there was some sort of trend I could start that would go viral to get organ donation awareness out there. I live every day half fearing if today is the day my lungs start to fail again. I look at my kids and see my oldest graduating this year...will I make it to see his graduation? In "good" shape? On oxygen? Or worse...not here?? What about my other 2 kids. My youngest will be in 6th grade. Will I still be here in 6 years to watch him graduate? Every day, my day is a big, fat question mark.

Not everyone is an organ donor. Some fear that if they are in an accident and the EMS sees you are an organ donor that they won't save you. FALSE! For me to even get my lungs, my donor had to have been declared brain dead at the hospital on life support. She could not have perished at home or anywhere else. Some think that they are too old to donate. I just recently read of a 92 year old woman donating when she passed!! Some think religion separates them from donating. Wrong again. Some people want to donate, but don't have it on their license, nor have they told their families of their wishes....the family that is grief stricken when they know they have lost you, wants to keep you whole and decides not to donate your organs, eyes, or tissues. That's at least 8 lives, probably more that could have been saved. There are so many that die while waiting for their life-saving transplant. Instead of the 1 donor that passes on, 8+ more people pass along with them. We need more education for everyone.

We also need more research money for transplants. I'm living on borrowed time, like I said before. My lungs could reject tomorrow...next week...next month...2 years from now...20 years from now. I don't know when, but they will. At this current time, transplant is NOT a cure. It's a temporary fix. A band-aid. With more research money, they could come up with new and improved ways to make it so your transplanted organs will become a part of you, instead of a foreign body in your system that every single day it's a fight and a struggle to keep them.

I'm not bashing ALS, or what they've done by any means. It's genius that they've been able to get in the spotlight the way that they have. I'd love to know or figure out a way to get organ donation awareness out there too...after all, it's a death sentence for us too.

I posted the below comment on a friend's post that said she would not be doing the ALS challenge since they have been blessed with so many donations already. She instead, is donating to the Arthritis Foundation in honor of her mother who suffers from osteoarthritis and will need surgical treatment.

My comment:
"Good for you! While ALS is a horrible disease, there are also so many other diseases out there that need attention, help, and awareness. Organ donation is one I'd like to see go viral. There are so many that die on the waiting list because there are not near enough people that have signed up...so we lose at least 2 lives, but many more when one person doesn't say yes on their drivers license. Plus any money raised could help researchers find a way to help make transplanted organs so they would never reject in the recipient. One is not cured after transplant...we are simply living on "borrowed time". I'm glad you are donating to a cause close to your heart instead."

My apologies on the long post...I just felt this all building up.

So what do you think of Kara's comments? Share in a comment below.

Read more...

New Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet

It's been awhile since a new design has been rolled out but it's finally here and there are many more to come. This newest design features a lovely centered Swarovski Crystal flanked by sterling silver awareness ribbon blocks with a fully beaded bracelet of sterling silver, Swarovski Crystals, pearls and silver twisted floating rings.

Floating Ribbon Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B177)

And what transplant bracelet is complete without our signature butterfly charm and jewelry tag.

Currently, there is only 1 available of this designs so don't miss out. Hurry on over to Crystal Allure Jewelry and snag it before it's gone!

Read more...

'Presumed Consent' for Organ Donation

Westchester County assemblyman, Richard Brodsky (D-Greenburgh), whose daughter is a two-time kidney transplant recipient wants to flip New York's organ-donation system on its head by presuming people are donors unless they indicate otherwise. The reason: he feels "New York is a completely failed system".

Statistics show:
-The majority of New Yorkers would like to be donors, yet just 13% of residents 18 and older are on the state Donate Life Registry
-More than 9,600 people in the state need organ transplants (New York Organ Donor Network)
-There were just 423 deceased organ donors in New York in 2009

But because both individuals and religious groups have raised legitimate concerns on this subject, he will not be pushing the proposal this session. However, he co-sponsored legislation that would let people consent to giving an anatomical gift through an electronic signature. It has passed both houses and now goes to Gov. David Paterson for his consideration. Right now, 45 states allow electronic signatures for donor registries (New York Organ Donor Network).

Other organ donation reforms he is working on includes requiring the state Department of Motor Vehicles to provide information on organ donations and creating an organ donation tax credit.

In an April Donate Life America report, data showed other states with low donor-registration rates are Texas (an estimated 2 percent), South Carolina (9 percent) and New Hampshire (10 percent), compared to 73 percent in Alaska.

No states have "presumed consent" laws, although there have been attempts in several of them, including Maryland and Pennsylvania. Legislation is under consideration in Illinois. A bill was introduced in the Delaware Legislature two years ago. And a number of European nations, including France, Austria and Spain, have this kind of system in place, and they have seen an increase in organ availability.

It is felt by some that since the majority of New Yorkers and Americans want to donation organs and tissues when they die, the burden should be on the minority to opt out.

The Long Island Coalition for Life Inc. opposes Brodsky's legislation. "This legislation opens up the door to abuse via hastened death of vulnerable people and overriding of family concerns," Jerome Higgins, chairman of the coalition, wrote in a memorandum to lawmakers. "It also goes a step further toward turning human organs into commodities. The sick and disabled need to be protected, not exploited for their body parts."

Mary Ann Baily, a fellow of the Hastings Center, a bioethics research group in Garrison, Putnam County, who once sat on an Institute of Medicine committee that looked at how to boost organ donations, stated that even if all available organs were taken, it wouldn't eliminate waiting lists. Hospitals may not get the maximum number of organs possible if they and organ banks aren't well organized, she said.

Cara Matthews
Gannett Albany Bureau



So what do think about presumed consent? Leave a comment below, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Read more...

Potential organ donors should be sure to register

Monday, October 25, 2009 -Friday's front page Tri-City Herald story should have had a disclaimer on it that warned readers to keep a box of tissues nearby.

Herald reporter Annette Cary wrote a piece about one local girl that now will live because another died tragically.

Alex Hatley-Flores and Taylor Tefft, two middle school cousins from Richland, both died from injuries in a collision on Interstate 182.

Kayla Jackson, a Pasco teen in need of a double lung transplant, was likely one of nine organ recipients from these two young donors.

Kayla has been on the transplant list for eight months. Her lung capacity was down to 10 percent and had been told that without a transplant, she would only live a few more months.

It is an awful and wonderful, grief- and hope-filled story.

Our hearts go out to the parents of all of these girls.

There are some interesting statistics about organ donation. According to Donate Life Today:

* More than 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants.

* Every 11 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.

* An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.

And here's a statistic that is easy to change. Although 90 percent of Americans say they support organ donation, only 30 percent know the essential steps to become a donor.

It's easy to register as a donor in Washington. If it's something you are interested in, you should indicate your wishes on your driver's license or state ID.

Out of courtesy to your loved ones, you should also let your loved ones know of your wishes.

Washington does not require family consent for donation, but filling out a family notification card will help avoid and confusion or delays. This form can be printed from www.donatelifetoday .com.

From this same site you can also register to become a donor, update (or remove) your profile or register your child as a donor.

What many would-be donors may not understand is that everyone can be a potential donor, regardless of age, race or medical history, and there is no cost to the donor's family.

They may also be concerned that if they sign up for organ donation, their own life becomes less valuable. Thankfully that's just not the case.

Even if you are a donor, when you are in an accident or become seriously ill, the first priority will always be to save your life.

Each life is precious. Timothy Woodall, Alex's stepfather captured this sentiment beautifully when he said, "(God) takes one under his wings and saves another."

Becoming an organ donor is a personal decision, but those who favor the idea should take the necessary steps to register. You never know when your chance to save a life will come.

Source: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/767366.html

Read more...

New Awareness Bracelets to Share!

Don't you just love fresh, new, unique awareness jewelry designs?!

Three new awareness beaded bracelets have been added to the Crystal Allure Awareness Jewelry Collection. By popular request, one of the designs is for cystic fibrosis and the other two are transplant awareness.

Jasper Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B165)

By far, this is my most favorite. Why? Because the focal stone has a unique coloring that looks like a mix of both green and purple -the two most important awareness colors for cystic fibrosis and transplant! This is the Jasper Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B165).

These two beautiful stunners were designed specifically to provide jewelry with meaning AND to add a little sparkle for the upcoming holiday. Each showcases a shimmering Swarovski emerald or amethyst crystal cube and the pearl of hope accented with shiny sterling silver Bali spacers. Your choice of either the Sterling Purple Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Bracelet (B166) or the Sterling Green Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B167).

Sterling Purple Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Bracelet (B166)

Sterling Green Organ Transplant Awareness Bracelet (B167)

Best of all? They are all one of a kind! That means when you purchase one (or all!) of them -you buy that design. How exciting is that? It's like having your own name on that design!

And remember, each purchase helps support the Lungs for Life Breathe Blog. Beautiful jewelry that does double duty.

Psst. I've heard there are many more unique awareness designs coming from Crystal Allure!

Read more...

Back in Stock: Transplant Awareness Ribbons Bracelet

The Organ Transplant Awareness Ribbon Bracelet (B105) is back in stock and available for purchase. But hurry, this bracelet has been very popular and I don't suspect it'll be in stock for long over at Crystal Allure Jewelry.

Organ Transplant Awareness Ribbon Bracelet (B105)

View the Organ Transplant Awareness Jewelry Collection

Read more...

The Most Popular Transplant Awareness Bracelet

Crystal Allure Beaded Jewelry Designs has been designing and selling beautiful beaded transplant awareness bracelets and cystic fibrosis awareness bracelets since the company first started. A portion of the proceeds of each bracelet sale benefits the Lungs for Life Breathe Blog.

Organ Transplant Awareness Ribbon Bracelet (B105)

Although green represents many awareness diseases, this bracelet was designed as a symbol for Organ Donation awareness and the Gift of Life through Transplantation. When someone receives a set of transplanted lungs, it has been said the new lungs look like a butterfly opening its' wings, when they take their first breath of new life.

Emerald Swarovski Crystals and white Swarovski Pearls accent sterling silver awareness ribbon beads. This handmade beaded bracelet is finished with a sterling silver lobster clasp, butterfly charm and our signature jewelry tag. Measures 7-1/2".

This bracelet has been featured in the following media: -Shooting Stars Mag Blog

Read more...