Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Transplant Headlines

Selected headlines

Organ donor advocate announced WA Young Australian of the Year 2008
This Press Release from Australia announces that organ donor advocate Simone McMahon ( 25 ) was named the 2008 WA Young Australian of the Year last night.

Born with poor kidney function and suffering chronic renal failure at age nine, Simone knows first-hand how priceless the gift of an organ can be. Before her kidney transplant at age 11, Simone was on dialysis for 10 hours a day. She has been passionately promoting organ and tissue donation ever since. Read the full press release.

Organ center honors founder
The The Honolulu Advertiser has a story about Dr. Livingston Wong, who will be honored for his lifelong achievements in organ transplantation in Hawai'i. Hundreds of people owe their lives to this pioneer of transplant surgery in the Islands, who also founded the Organ Donor Center of Hawai'i and helped set up the 911 system on O'ahu. Read the article.

Rainbow Day to honour Zaidee
The Star News Group in Australia reports that ORGAN donation is not often the topic of conversation for young kids but at the Craigieburn Little Athletics Centre they’re all ears. A group of The club’s 100-odd members are gearing up to participate in a special track-and-field competition day to highlight the importance of donating organs.

Kids from five to 16 years of age will don colourful tops and rainbow shoelaces this Saturday in honour of former Little Athletics member Zaidee Turner, who died in 2004.

Zaidee’s parents agreed to donate the seven-year-old Shepparton girl’s organs, making her the youngest organ donor in 2004. She was one of only six children in Australia whose organs were donated that year.

As a result, Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation was set up to encourage more people to consider donating their organs.

A number of sporting clubs throughout Australia support the foundation, including Little Athletics Centres like Craigieburn.

Craigieburn Little Athletics Centre secretary Trudi Wakefield said the club recently sold rainbow shoelaces to raise money for the foundation and have been encouraging families to talk to their kids about organ donation. Read the full story.

Organ Donor Saves 7 Lives Including Mother
KFSN TV in California did a story about the family of 18 year old Ashley Sala who died following a car accident that also injured her mother. Ashley's organs were donated and the story tells of the emotional time the family went through during the decision making and the organ donation process. Read the story.


“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network

Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

No comments: