Song composed in memory of donor son

Stacey Davis of Monticello, Arkansas sent me this touching story and a link to a video they posted on You Tube. I am pleased to share it with my readers.

"I wrote this song and put this video together in memory of my 26 year old son. He was a police officer and left behind "angel wings" on October 4, 2006. This song is my story ---

View video Angel Wings
"My son was the police officer in the video. He was a tissue donor and we were told there were several recipients. In the video, there are also a couple of pictures of a friend of mine who lost both her sons within a short period of time. They were about my son's age. They were donors. The picture on the video of the woman listening to the man's heart with a stethoscope is my friend and the recipient of her son's heart. She has the stethoscope to the recipient's chest listening to her son's heart!. In one of the pictures, she is sitting with several people and there is a young child in the front who received her son's kidney. I wrote this song several months ago but it took me awhile to decide to share it because it is so personal. I posted it on Facebook just to share with my family and friends and got such an overwhelming response, I decided to send it to you. Maybe it will comfort and bless someone else.
Stacey Davis."

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario at beadonor.ca
For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at organdonor.gov (Go to top right to select your state)

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save or enhance the lives of up to fifty people with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You

Organ transplants can extend a patient's life by years; donors are always needed

This is an excellent overview of organ and tissue donation and transplantation that answers questions about how organs are matched and allocated as well as how to become a donor.

Cleveland Plain Dealer guest columnist Dr. Robert Schilz

Organ transplantation is the act of taking an organ from a living or deceased donor and using it to replace a dysfunctional or damaged organ in a recipient's body. The surgical techniques required for this procedure have been around for a long time, however the problem has always been rejection of the new organ by the body receiving it.

The first successful organ transplant was in 1954, and it involved a kidney between living twin brothers. After drugs that help the body not reject the new organ (immunosuppressants) were developed, a large number of transplantations occurred, all having much more success than their earlier counterparts. Now transplantations can extend a patient's life by several years with proper immunosuppressive (drug) therapy.

Some other interesting facts about organ transplantation:
• Hearts, intestines, kidneys, livers, lungs, and pancreata can all be transplanted. Other promising initial transplants have included trachea and face transplantation.
• About 81 people receive an organ transplant every day in the U.S.
• In 2008, more than 28,000 patients began new lives thanks to an organ transplant.
• Living donors can donate a kidney or parts of their liver or lung.
Matching donated organs to patients

When a potential organ donor is identified a transplant coordinator from an organ procurement organization enters medical information about the donor into the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) computer system. The system then matches the donor’s medical characteristics with the medical information of candidates awaiting a transplant. The computer generated a ranked list of patients for each organ recovered from the donor. These “matches” are based on many things which may include:

• Level of illness
• Medical urgency of the transplant candidate
• Time spent on the waiting list for some organs
• Biological similarities between the donor and the candidates (such as organ size, blood type, and genetic makeup)
• Candidate’s availability to be transplanted immediately

Waiting for an organ – How long does it take? Patients added to the national organ transplant waiting list may receive an organ that day, or they may wait years. Factors affecting waiting time include:

• How well the donor and recipient “match”
• How ill the patient is
• Availability of donors compared to the number of patients waiting
To gauge waiting time, UNOS publishes waiting time statistics by geographic region, sex, age, blood type and ethnicity.

Can a patient from another country receive a transplant in the U.S.?

Yes. Patients can travel from other countries to the U.S. to receive transplants. Once accepted by a transplant center, international patients receive organs based on the same policies as those that apply to U.S. citizens. These types of transplants are limited in number.

How to become an organ, eye and tissue donor

There is an urgent need for registered organ, eye and tissue donors in Ohio and across the United States. One organ donor can save eight lives, while one tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 people. Unfortunately, 107,000+ men, women and children nationwide are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Thousands on that waiting list live in Ohio.

To become a registered organ, eye and tissue donor, do one of the following:

• Say yes to donation at the BMV when renewing your driver license
• Register online at LifeBanc.org or call for a registration form at 216-752-5433
• Include donation in your living will
• Inform your family about your decision

For more information about organ donation, please contact:
LifeBanc.org
Donate Life Ohio
Donate Life America

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help 75 to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You

Expert defines ‘brain dead’ for organ transplant

It's good to see that more and more jurisdictions are embracing organ transplantation as society changes with advances in organ and tissue transplantation. Here we see that The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved a law establishing guidelines for multi-organ donation after death that requires that close family members have to agree on the donation even though the donor has given his or her pre-approval prior to death. This will only be superseded by a will clearly stating that donor wishes to donate his or her organ upon death.

By Olivia Olarte Khaleej Times online

The definition of ‘brain dead’ for donors of cadaveric organ transplantation is a critical point and should consider all social, legal and religious aspects, said a member of the National Organ Transplant Committee.

Dr Mohammed Al Zaabi defined a brain-dead patient as one whose brain stem is dead.

“The brain stem is located between the higher brain center and the spinal cord. It controls breathing and heart function and consciousness,” explained Dr Al Zaabi, a liver transplant consultant at the Zayed Military 
Hospital and the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).

“A brain dead patient is one who cannot survive without life support 
machines or medical ventilation to keep the circulation going and the heart pumping. We have to make sure that this patient is not going back to life, and this should be confirmed by a team of three doctors, one of them a neurologist,” added the specialist.

Last month, the Ministry of Health (MoH) approved the guidelines on 
the organ transplantation law that 
allows multi-organ donation - including kidney, liver, lung, pancreas and heart - after death.

Dr Al Zaabi said details of the 
guidelines or the ‘executive list’ will be drawn up at the committee’s upcoming meetings.

Some of those being considered include a donor pre-approval to appear on either the health card, driving license or the national ID card, or a separate donor ID system.

The law requires that close family members have to agree on the donation even though the donor has given his or her pre-approval prior to death.

This will only be superseded by a will clearly stating that donor wishes to donate his or her organ upon death.

As this is a new concept in the UAE, Dr Al Zaabi said a nationwide survey may be required to gauge the public’s view on the matter.

“Public awareness is very important. They need to understand that it is probably more rewarding to donate organs to those in need that refusing to do that based on cultural and religious belief. I think we are very much on the legal and religious parameter on this,” said the Emirati doctor.

“The neighboring countries have been performing cadaveric organ transplantation for the past 25 years, (and) we are lagging behind,” stressed the specialist.

He noted that a public awareness campaign will be launched as soon 
as the executive list is up and running and not in conflict with any of the 
UAE’s laws.

“We need to clarify what cadaveric organ transplantation is and to make sure that it is not in conflict with any law,” said Dr Al Zaabi adding that a conflict with any existing law would mean redefining the guidelines once again.

He noted that the guidelines are based on the development of the 
transplantation field and changes in 
the society.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help 75 to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You

Southern California's Largest Event to Inspire Organ and Tissue Donation

April is Donate Life Month across America and there are hundreds of events planned in an effort to increase the rate of organ and tissue donation and Southern California is taking a leading role with some very ambitious initiatives, as the press release below details.

As of today there were 107,042 waiting list candidates in the U.S. with the largest majority being for kidney transplants with 84,455 waiting for their gift of life. 18 people die each day in the U.S. waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. For a complete listing of all transplant candidates go to OPTN waiting list candidates.

More than 7,000 Expected at Eighth Annual Donate Life Run/Walk
Slated for May 1 at Cal State Fullerton;
7am to 1pm

LOS ANGELES, Calif., More than 7,000 people from across Southern California will join on Sat., May 1, from 7am to 1pm for the Donate Life Run/Walk at Cal State Fullerton. Now in its eighth year, the event inspires Californians to donate life by becoming organ, eye and tissue donors. Each year, the Donate Life Run/Walk serves to culminate DMV/Donate Life California Month with a broad spectrum of support from dozens of local mayors, major businesses, and broadcast media, including seven radio stations and local news anchor Phillip Palmer, a living kidney donor.

The family festival atmosphere includes a special performance by Grammy award-winning pop/R&B group All-4-One, whose latest CD includes a song inspired in part by the founders of the Donate Life Run/Walk, Kathleen and Craig Hostert. The Fullerton couple became active participants in promoting organ donation when Kathleen donated her kidney to Craig more than 11 years ago. The Hosterts now work professionally in the field of organ and tissue donation.

Among the event’s sponsors are Moss Adams LLP, the 11th-largest accounting and consulting firm in the U.S., which has made a multi-year commitment to the event; W.L. Butler Construction, Inc., recently held a dinner to educate and inspire their employees and clients, raising nearly $17,000; Vons, whose store manager Keith Walton became a donor following a massive stroke at age 42; and St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, a longtime supporter and transplant center.

A number of radio stations are playing a major role in support of the Donate Life Run/Walk, including94.7 The Wave, 97.1 AMP Radio, 93.1 Jack FM, KROQ 106.7 FM, K-EARTH 101, KFWB News Talk 980, KNX 1070, and KJLH 102.3 FM. These stations are also playing radio spots featuring ten Southland Donate Life Ambassador volunteers, each of whom is either a donor family member or a recipient of a life-saving organ or tissue.

“Events like the Donate Life Run/Walk serve to galvanize our community to affirm life by inspiring Californians to sign up on the Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry,” noted Tom Mone, chief executive officer and executive vice president of OneLegacy, the non-profit organ and tissue recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area and the largest such agency in the country. “The need for donors is disproportionate in California, which has more than 20,000 people awaiting life-saving organ transplants. Although our registry is the largest in the country, our 6.4 million registered donors only represent a quarter of those who have had the opportunity to enroll at the DMV. The seconds it takes to check ‘yes’ when renewing your driver’s license or ID card, or just the few minutes to sign up online, could mean a lifetime for someone in need.”

A new element is being introduced this year with the “Flame of Life” that represents the three elements of donation: the donor, the recipient, and the transplant candidate on the waiting list. The Flame of Life, which will debut the week prior to the event at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, is symbolic of the act of donation and is intended to both honor the memories of donors and inspire others to donate life.

More than 3,000 people are participating in one of 155 teams honoring donors who gave life in their passing. Among the largest donor family teams are:

• Celebrating Scott 2010 (Huntington Beach) – More than 230 people honor former Mater Dei student and donor Scott Davis;
·
• Team Eric (Chino Hills) – Nearly 90 people honor 37-year-old donor Eric Acosta;
·
• Team Roc Star (San Bernardino) – Honors 19-year-old donor Vincent Atkins;
·
• Team Tiffany (Murrieta) – Honors 14-year-old donor Tiffany Breslin, whose death in a jet ski accident was widely reported;
·
• Team J.A.M (Anaheim) – Honors seven-year-old donor Tony Martinez; and
·
• Team Eddie (Wilmington) – Honors the donor brother of OneLegacy’s Family Services staff member Ana Arellano

The morning-long event, which starts with an opening ceremony at 8:15 a.m., also features a “Circle of Life Garden” with more than 100 photograph-bearing signs honoring donors and recipients. Before runners and walkers begin, eight baskets of doves will be opened in memory of loved ones, including the Virginia family of three-month-old Katie Field and the family of Linda de Beaumont, a longtime Orange County Donate Life Ambassador and two-time heart recipient who passed away this year.

Registration fees for Donate Life Run/Walk participants are $30 for runners and walkers, $20 per living donor or recipient, $20 per person for families of four or more, and $20 per person for teams of 10 or more. There is no charge to attend the post-walk Family Festival. More information is available at www.donateliferunwalk.org.

OneLegacy is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. With 200 hospitals, 12 transplant centers and a diverse population of 19 million, OneLegacy is the largest of the 58 federally designated organ recovery organizations in the U.S. The agency is also the world’s largest tissue recovery organization.

Those wishing to make the commitment to donate may register online at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or its Spanish-language counterpart, www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org. For more information, call OneLegacy at (800) 786-4077 or visit www.onelegacy.org.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.