Fund Raiser

2016 TRANSPLANT GAMES OF AMERICA

 

I am looking forward to participating in the 2016 Transplant Games of America which will be hosted by Cleveland, Ohio beginning in June 2016.  The Games provide an opportunity for members of the transplant community, including organ donor families, organ recipients, members of the medical community, and supporters, to celebrate life, to honor organ donors and donor families, and to reach out to the nation and the world to increase awareness of the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation.  In order to defray the cost of participating in the Transplant Games, I invite my supporters to purchase gifts from Yankee Candle for themselves, family and friends. Your purchase will not only help me participate in this important event, but it will serve to give hope to the thousands that are on the waiting list for organ transplants.  Click on the link below and visit my fundraising site. Thank you for your support!

https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/store.htm

Celebrity Organ Transplants

CELEBRITIES AND ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

 

One of the myths concerning organ donation is that the wealthy, famous, and influential will be given preference when it comes to receiving organ transplants. The fact is that patients income, celebrity status, and race or ethnic background play no role in determining allocation of organs. The National Transplant Act of 1984 established the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) to assure fairness in the allocation of organs for transplant.

http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-have-received-organ-transplants/celebrity-lists?utm_expid=16418821-157.KzX0YuO8RXOC1yjYBgr_2A.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fr.search.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAwrTHQ3nRTFWBmsAiVpXNyoA%3B_ylu%3DX3oDMTEyOTdyMmtnBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjAzNDFfMQRzZWMDc3I-%2FRV%3D2%2FRE%3D1446098536%2FRO%3D10%2FRU%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.ranker.com%252flist%252fcelebrities-who-have-received-organ-transplants%252fcelebrity-lists%2FRK%3D0%2FRS%3D0BH49rod.2ED49bmhxG94aMtJbo-

 

The following link provides an overview, by the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) to help understand the organ transplant waiting list:

 

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

Halloween

WELCOME THE FALL SEASON

Care Givers

CARE GIVERS ~ ANGELS IN DISGUISE

 

Those of us who have waited for and received organ transplants understand the profound importance of the caretakers who take care of us and go through the transplant experience with us from pre to post transplant. There is little doubt that most of us would not have survived without the care and support of these compassionate people.  The following link shares some insight into the role of the caregiver in the transplant experience.

 

http://www.giftoflifefamilyhouse.org/resources/caregiverlifeline/transplantstages/

Fund Raiser

Transplant Games of America Fund Raiser

The Transplant Games of America is held every two years to provide an opportunity for members of the transplant community, organ donors and donor families, transplant recipients, members of the medical community, supporting organizations and more, to come together to celebrate the gift of life and second chances, and to raise awareness across the nation and throughout the world of the facts about organ donation and transplantation.  In 2016 the Transplant Games of America will be held in Cleveland, Ohio beginning in June.  I plan to join my Team SoCal in participating in the event and I am raising funds to help defray the costs of attending and participating in the games. I would appreciate all the support I can get so I offer this opportunity to purchase one of these gifts for yourself or a loved one, and your purchase will help sponsor my participation in the Transplant Games and advance the effort to increase awareness and give hope to those on the waiting list for organ transplants. Click  on the link below and choose one of the very charming gifts.

https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com/scripts/ycfwcgi.exe?_V4=Process&_Func=genWebPage&page=sellerdash&frComp=ycf#

Organ Donor Advocacy

ADVOCATING FOR ORGAN DONATION

As the number of people on the national waiting list for organ transplant steadily increases, the number of available organs falls far short of the demand. To help address this critical shortage, advocates from every state in the U.S. work hard to increase awareness of the need for organ donation. We go into our communities and share our stories and to dispel the myths that cause some to have concerns about organ donation, we utilize the media to get the word out, and we participate in any number of events like the Transplant Games of America, the World Transplant Games, annual Liver Life Walks and Kidney Walks, and more. We do this as a show of appreciation to our organ donors for giving us a second chance at life, and to give hope to the thousands on the waiting list for life saving transplants. I just completed a 25 mile bike ride at the Victor Valley Bicycle Tour to bring attention to the need for organ donation. At 72 years old, the ride was a challenge, but one I was happy to meet.

Pediatric transplantation

CHILDREN IN NEED OF TRANSPLANTS

 

Bike Tour

CYCLING TO INCREASE AWARENESS

On Saturday, October 24th I will ride 25 miles in the Victor Valley Bicycle Tour representing Team SoCal and to help increase awareness of the need for organ donation. At 72 years old this is somewhat of a challenge, but I look forward to it. Since my liver transplant in 2008 I promised God that I would use the second chance at life to honor my donor family by doing all I can to help save the lives of others in need of organ transplants by telling my story and educating communities about organ donation and transplantation. This cycling event is just one more opportunity to fulfill that promise. 

http://victorvalleybicycletour.com/wp/

 

Live Life, Give Life

Hero is not a title, it is an Honor

Food Safety

FOOD SAFETY FOR TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Transplant Challenges

POST TRANSPLANT EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES

I dealt with a number of physical and emotional challenges while waiting for my liver transplant, but after the transplant there are new challenges, including feelings of guilt, depression, and feeling unworthy of such a powerful gift. I have sought to meet these challenges in a number of ways, including volunteering as an advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation, participating in events that draw attention to the critical need for organ donation, and using social media as a means to share information and encourage people to register to be organ donors. The following is an interesting article about coping with these challenges:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/life-after-transplant-coping-emotionally?page=2#1

Organ Transplant

TRANSPLANTS

https://www.unos.org/transplantation/

Liver Transplantation

OCTOBER IS LIVER AWARENESS MONTH

Hear Transplant News

RECOVERING FROM A HEART TRANSPLANT

http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/how-stay-healthy-after-heart-transplant/?xid=fb_EH_sf

Liver Transplant

SURVIVING A LIVER TRANSPLANT

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Help-a-Loved-One-Recover-From-a-Liver-Transplant

Religion

RELIGION AND ORGAN DONATION

http://www.organtransplants.org/understanding/religion/

Transplant Teams

TRANSPLANT TEAMS: Compassion & Professionalism

Successful organ transplantation entails many factors. At the top of the list, in my opinion, is the grace of God. Then there is the compassionate decision of organ donors and their families to donate life saving organs, often to complete strangers. Last, but certainly not least, is the organ transplant team. This team includes surgeons, nurses, chaplains, psychologists, coordinators, and a number of other professional and compassionate people dedicated to saving lives through organ transplantation. As a liver transplant recipient, I am a beneficiary of the powerful work that they do, and I consider them as part of my family.