Transplant Recipients

PAYING FORWARD

As a liver transplant recipient, I think it is safe to say that all, or most, of my fellow organ recipients have a desire to pay forward for the incredible gift of life they have received as a result of the compassion of an organ donor. In my case, I have been inspired by the decision of a family of complete strangers to donate the organs of their loved one. A decision that saved my life and the life of several others. My transplant experience has raised my consciousness level concerning the number of people who are desperately waiting for life saving organ transplants, and I realized that I could do something to help educate our communities about organ donation and transplantation, and increase organ donation. In the more than seven years since my transplant I have met hundreds of organ recipients who advocate for organ donation in a multitude of ways, including run walks, state and world transplant games, sharing of stories with media, and more, all based on a desire to pay forward out of gratitude for a second chance at life made possible by the grace of God and the compassion of organ donors and organ donor families.

Leslie Franklin

OPO's

ORGAN PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE U.S.

 

http://organdonor.gov/materialsresources/materialsopolist.html

Empathy

Those of us who, due to illness or other factors, have been under the care of others, understand how important empathy and compassion are to recovery. These caretakers have learned to put themselves in the shoes of those in need of care, and as a result have not only helped facilitate the healing process, but have also been the recipient of much joy and happiness as a result of their compassion and empathy. Many philosophers and psychiatrists, including the Dalai Lama, believe that compassion and empathy are the keys to happiness. Watch this compelling video for insight into the power of compassion and empathy for others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDDWvj_q-o8&feature=youtu.be

Transplant Waiting List

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2015/09/23/The-psychological-impacts-of-being-on-a-transplant-waiting-list/stories/201509230036

Living Donation

LIVING ORGAN DONATION


http://livingdonationcalifornia.org/news-release-100-direct-referrals/

Immunosuppression

Organ Transplant Recipients & Immunosuppression

When we receive an organ transplant, our body's natural defenses does not recognize that new organ and treats it as an enemy, attacking it, as it does any foreign object that enters our body. As such, immunosuppressant medication is prescribed to block the effect of our natural defenses. The following article provides further information concerning this topic: 

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/organ-transplants-antirejection-medicines-topic-overview

Living Organ Donation

LIVING ORGAN DONATION

Due to the critical shortage of organs donated by deceased donors, there is not enough available organs to meet the needs of people awaiting organ transplants. One solution to this problem is living organ donation. This is possible because certain organs are able to either regenerate themselves, or continue to function well when a section is removed.

Throughout the country transplant teams have developed new techniques and procedures to save patients lives through living donor transplants. Living donations are handled by each individual transplant center where the recipient is waiting. It is currently possible for a living person to donate:
* A Kidney
* A portion of the Liver
* A lobe of the Lung
* A portion of the Intestine
* A portion of the Pancreas

Currently, living organ donors account for almost half (49%) of all organ donation in the U.S.  The following link will provide further information about living organ donation and how you can become a living donor:

 

http://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/about-transplant/living-donation/becoming-a-living-donor/



2015 Liver Life Walk

Seven years ago I was blessed and fortunate to receive a life-saving liver transplant. That miracle was made possible by first, the grace of God, and then the compassion of my organ donor family and the work of organizations like the American Liver Foundation.  This will be my 4th year participating in the Liver Life Walk since my transplant in 2008.  In addition to walking I also seek to raise funds to support the research work by the ALF to help prevent and cure liver disease.  This year I am closing in on my fundraising goal, and if you would like to support me in this effort visit my fundraising page and make a donation:

http://go.liverfoundation.org/site/TR/LiverLifeWalk2015/GreaterLosAngeles?px=1811363&pg=personal&fr_id=4830

 

 



RELIGIOUS VIEWS ON ORGAN DONATION

One of the enduring myths concerning organ donation is that the religious community is against organ donation. The truth is that most religions support and encourage organ donation as an act of charity and love. The following sets forth the position of various religions:

http://www.donorrecovery.org/learn/religion-and-organ-donation/

 

 

POPE FRANCIS:

 

Pope Francis has expressed his support for organ donation.

 

http://www.donorrecovery.org/2014/10/pope-francis-supports-organ-donation/

Waiting for a Transplant

I know, from personal experience as a liver transplant recipient, that waiting for transplant is one of the most difficult parts of the experience. The wait can vary anywhere from days to years, in my case, 3 years and 9 months. Almost every organ transplant recipient and their families, that I spoke with, agree that the waiting is often agonizing. There is also the added factor of subliminal guilt, understanding that, with the exception of living donors, someone would have to die in order for you to live. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reports that the average waiting period for organ transplants are: Kidney~5 yrs;  Liver~11 mos;  Heart~4 mos;  Lung~4 mos;  Kidney/Pancreas~1.5 yrs; Pancreas~2 yrs    Of course these statistics can vary significantly based on a number of factors, like location, seriousness of illness, etc.

http://www.donors1.org/patient/waitinglist/

V.A. Transplant Lodge Vancouver

After being on the national waiting list for a liver transplant for 3 years and 5 months, the Veterans Administration transported me to the V.A. Transplant Lodge in Vancouver, WA where veterans who are critical wait for an organ to become available. The lodge has 30 double occupancy rooms with TV, fridge and private bath. There is also 3 communal kitchens, a computer room and exercise room. I was there for a period of 3 months and 14 days. Most of the veterans there were seriously ill, but still it was a very positive environment with fellow veterans doing all we could to support and encourage each other during this period of pain, suffering and anticipation.  We lost many of our fellow vets who lost their battle while waiting for a transplant. The saddest thing was to wake up and find the room of one of the vets open, empty and cleaned out, the sign that they had passed!

http://www.portland.va.gov/locations/vancouver.asp

Team SoCal

 



 



Team SoCal is looking forward to participating in the 2016 Transplant Games of America to be hosted by Cleveland, Ohio from June 10 thru the 15th.  I joined the team in 2014 and participated in my first transplant game in Houston.  The team consists of dedicated members of the transplant community who are dedicated advocates for organ, eye and tissue donation.  I hope my readers will consider joining the team and participating in the 2016 Games.

2016 Transplant Games of America

I am excited about joining Team SoCal as we participate in the 2016 Transplant Games of America. The games will be held in Cleveland, Ohio from June 10th thru the 15th.  This will be my second year participating in games. My first time was the 2014 games in Houston, Texas where I had an opportunity to meet members of the transplant community from all over the United States, organ recipients, donor families, living donors, members of our transplant medical teams and supporters. Our Team SoCal participated in multiple competitions winning medals in several of them. It was great fun meeting and exchanging stories and pins with participants from different states, and the most rewarding  aspects of that experience was the opportunity to join the transplant community in celebrating life,  raising awareness, throughout the nation and the world, of the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation, and encouraging organ donation. I am thankful for that experience and I look forward to Cleveland in June 2016.

http://www.transplantgamesofamerica.org/

 

The Gift of Life

More than 123,000 men, women, and children are on the national waiting list for organ, eye and tissue transplants. Advocates all over the country are dedicating their time, energy and resources to educate our communities, dispel myths that discourage organ donation, and increase organ donor registration. Because of that effort and others, those on the waiting list have hope that they will receive a life saving transplant and have a second chance at life.

Pros and Cons of Opt-Out in the U.S.

With more than 123,000 people on the national waiting list for organ transplants in the United States, and nearly a third of them dying while waiting for organ transplants due to a shortage of available organs, some have proposed an Opt-Out, or Presumed Consent, system of organ donation to address the critical shortage.  There are compelling arguments for both the pros and cons of this proposal. Those who support it argue the presumed consent system would alleviate the shortage of organ donation resulting in saving more lives. They point out that countries including France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden and others have adopted the opt-out system and, as a result, the percentages of organ donation has increased significantly. The opposition to this approach perceive it as an unwarranted state intrusion into the lives of citizens. By forcing people to opt-out of organ donation, they claim, the state effectively rules that their body is on loan for as long as they live, but after death it belongs to the state.

Although I am a liver transplant recipient and an advocate for organ donation, I have serious concerns about the presumed consent system of organ donation. I worry about the possibility of abuse as well as the perception of the public, especially families who may feel their rights concerning their loved ones remains may be infringed upon. Still, I think it is a subject worth serious debate. It is possible that thoughtful legislation with all of the necessary safeguards may be a superior system to the current opt-in system and result in increased organ donation. 

What are your thought on this issue? I hope my readers will chime in and share your views on this important issue.

http://debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Organ_donor_opt-out_program

Voice of the Transplant Community

Beside an effort to inform , update and share information relevant to the transplant community, another objective of my blog is to invite and encourage comments, opinions, stories, and information from members of the transplant community and all who visit my blog. Hopefully we can mutually keep each other informed, inspire advocacy, and help save and improve lives. I look forward to your participation.

2015 Liver Life Walk

I am looking forward to participating in the 2015 Liver Life Walk in Santa Monica, California on September 20th to support the life saving efforts of the American Liver Foundation. I hope you can join us in support of this worthy cause.

http://go.liverfoundation.org/site/TR/LiverLifeWalk2015/GreaterLosAngeles?px=1811363&pg=personal&fr_id=4830

Gratitude

It has been 7 years, 4 months and 9 days since I received a life saving liver transplant. As we come to the close of summer I can't help but reflect on the gift of life that my organ donor family made possible by making the decision to donate the organs of their loved one, and once again, express my profound gratitude. But for their compassionate decision I would not be here to see another beautiful summer!

National Waiting List

Today, September 9, 2015, there are 122,539 men, women and children on the national waiting list for organ, eye and tissue transplants according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).  Every ten (10) minutes a new person will be added to that list.

Of those on the national waiting list up to one third of them will not survive long enough to receive an organ transplant due to the critical shortage of available organs.  An average of 20 people die each day while waiting for a transplant.

As a liver transplant recipient, a member of the transplant community, and an advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation, I believe that there is a need for forums that provide opportunities to share experiences, ideas, and information relevant to the organ donation and transplantation experience that we can all benefit from. As such, I decided to launch my blog to encourage readers to actively participate by sharing their experiences, advice, and information relevant to organ donation and transplantation. I hope that broad participation by members of the transplant community and others, will advance the goals of increasing awareness of the need for organ donation, increasing the number of people registering to be organ donors, and helping our readers with the many diverse challenges that we face as organ recipients, donors, and donor families. Pre and post transplant experiences, writing and interacting with donor families, the affects of medications, depression, paying forward as advocates are just a few of the topics that we will discuss. Broad participation by members of the transplant community and others is the key to the success of this blog, so I look forward to your posts.