I read an interesting article the other day in the Salt Lake Tribune.  It was titled, “The Adrenaline Rush of a Haunted House.”  The article talked about how our bodies have a real, physiological response to fear, even when we know the thing causing fear is not real.  It is that adrenaline rush that draws people to haunted houses.  Reading about our response to fear reminded me of an editorial that Alex McDonald, Public Relations Director at Intermountain Donor Services, wrote last year.  The editorial was titled, “Organ Donation Isn’t Scary” and it debunked many of the myths that people have heard about organ donation.  It also got me thinking about what is scary. 

Organ donation isn’t scary; waiting for a transplant is scary.  Right now there are almost 109,000 people on the national waiting list.  Each one of those people knows the wait might be long and there is no guarantee that they will even get the transplant in time.  Years ago, I was at a meeting where a man told about his transplant.  He was a young man whose heart, very unexpectedly, began to fail.  As he became sicker, he had to be hospitalized for an extended period of time.  While in the hospital, he met another patient who was also waiting for a heart transplant.  Unfortunately, that patient passed away without getting a transplant.  The speaker expressed how it is always difficult to get the news that someone you know has passed away.  Added to this was the very real fear that it could be him.

Saying yes to organ donation is easy.  Getting the facts is also easy.  Log on to www.yesutah.org and make life a little less scary for someone this Halloween.

I spent the evening yesterday at Cottonwood Creek Retirement and Assisted Living. It was their 27th anniversary celebration and they chose to promote organ donation as part of their celebration!!

We provided a program for the residents as they ate dinner. A few of the contestants for Miss Murray donated their time and talents to help with the program. A sweet 90 year old woman then told me she was from Holland and had once been Miss Holland. Meeting her was a real treat for all of us.

Paul Cardall spoke of his heart transplant and then played the piano. The music was incredible. There were also copies of Paul’s new book “Before My Heart Stops” available for sale.

The program ended with a jazz duo playing some very relaxing and easy listening music as people finished eating their desserts. One member of the jazz duo is waiting for a liver transplant and spoke a little about what it is like waiting. It was the perfect ending to a great program.

This letter was written by a mother to her son’s kidney recipient.  With her permission, we have chosen to share this letter in our blog.

My name is Cynthia and I am the mother of Tyrando, whom you received the kidney from.  Although the tragic loss of my son is so heartbreaking, and it still seems so unreal that he is no longer with me in this life, but I know in my heart he is with me in spirit.  I am truly honored on his behalf to have been able to give life to others that are in need.  My son left this life on June 3^rd at the age of 19, and I miss him dearly.  God has blessed you and your family, and that gives me hope and comfort that parts of my son still lives in other people.  I pray that your recovery is successful and you are able to get back in the yard and do the things that you used to do, because being on dialysis isn’t fun for anyone.  In exchange for the gift that was given to you, all I ask is for you to pray for strength for me, his father, and his 2 sisters (age 20 and 8).  God is granting me strength every day so I can take care of some of my son’s unfinished business and bring those things to closure before I return back to work on July 28^th.  He served proudly in the United States Air Force and they have made this whole transition painless by being so accommodating to us because of the pain that we already endure.  The organ that you have received is truly anointed because my son was a True child of God.  May God continue to bless you and your family as you venture on with your new found life that my son has given you.  Take care and get well soon!  I am responding to the letter that was forwarded to me from the Donor Services.

Cynthia

After being on display for two months at Whitmore Library in Sandy, Utah, two panels of the Intermountain Donor Services Donor Quilt are now at the Magna Library at 8330 West 3500 South. The quilt is dedicated to the memory of all those who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, or tissue donation.

Since its beginning in 1997, families have been invited to honor their loved one by creating a quilt square in their memory. Each square of the quilt represents a life and tells a story,  made with love and special details such as a photograph, quote, or symbol of their loved one’s life. Every spring, new squares are added and the quilt is displayed at the annual Donor Recognition Ceremony. As of May 2010, there are seven panels and more than 350 squares. The quilt is a work in progress, and will continue to be a legacy of the lives lived and lives blessed by the donors.

Many thanks to Susan, Scott, Tracy, Jamie, and Trish at Salt Lake County Library Services for their support in the display of the quilt and distribution of mousepads, posters, and table cards that you can see at your favorite Salt Lake County Library! Next stop for the quilt will be at Columbus Library this fall!

Sunday is Father’s Day.  For some of us, that will conjure up images of a tie, for others it reminds us of good times shared with our fathers.  In my job, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many fathers who have found themselves trying to beat difficult odds.  Just the other day, a father came in to my office with his son who is working on an Eagle Scout project.  The young man chose to raise awareness about the need for people to register as organ donors because his father received a heart transplant and he knows firsthand what that can mean to a recipient’s family.

I also know a father who suddenly found himself as the primary caretaker when his wife went into heart failure and learned that she would need a heart transplant.  Another father sat nervously in a hospital waiting room while two of his adult children underwent surgery.  His daughter was donating a kidney to her older brother.  I have also met a couple of fathers, who during the most difficult time in their lives, looked beyond their own grief over the death of a child and allowed their child’s organs to save the lives of others.

My own father would sacrifice anything for his family and my life is better because of his unselfish dedication.  These fathers have taken what life has offered and used it to make life better for their own families and others.  To all the fathers out there, “Happy Father’s Day.”

Yesterday, KSL and the Salt Lake Tribune reported on the fifteenth anniversary of the Kurt Oscarson Children’s Organ Transplant Fund.  This fund was created in response to the challenges two Utah families faced when their children needed liver transplants.  Both families were struggling to raise enough money to cover the transplants.  A fifth grade class at Crescent Elementary in Sandy decided to help.  They contacted State Representative, Kurt Oscarson and ultimately this fund was created.

At a press conference, both of the mothers involved spoke about what it was like to face the challenges of a very sick child and lack of finances.  At the time, pediatric liver transplants were not done in Utah, so they both needed to travel to Wisconsin.  Their children, now adults, then spoke.

Talysa was only ten months old when she received her liver transplant and she says she feels lucky that she doesn’t remember the transplant or how sick she became.  She has met others who remember how hard and scary it is to need a transplant.  It has been 20 years since her transplant and she is doing great.  She expressed gratitude to her family, neighbors and everyone who makes this fund work.

Caleb was four years old when he had his transplant, but says he doesn’t remember much more about it than Talysa remembers about her transplant.  He is now a healthy 23 year old.  His gratitude was evident as he stated, “I’m grateful to the people who were selfless enough to allow themselves to become donors to give someone else a second chance and I wish to express my gratitude to everyone who has made that choice on their driver license.”   

Donations to the Kurt Oscarson Children’s Organ Transplant Fund can be made on your Utah State Tax Return.  Register as a donor at www.yesutah.org.

The human heart beats, on average, 100,000 times per day.  It does not go on vacation, nor does it take a break.  It knows to speed up when you are exercising and slow down again when you are resting.  But what happens when this magnificent muscle becomes damaged?

            Kirk knows only too well how vital the heart is.  Throughout the years, Kirk had a few serious problems with blood clots, but at age 53, he was feeling great.  He was following an exercise plan and feeling strong.  He had no reason to suspect that on a beautiful summer afternoon, while playing tennis, he would experience a life-threatening heart attack.  Doctors didn’t expect him to survive the night, but somehow he pulled through.  His love of life helped him continue to get through each day as he slowly worked to regain his health and finally become well enough to return to work.

            After a few years, he found himself getting tired easily.  Doctors discovered the damage caused by his heart attack was putting additional strain on his heart and it was beginning to fail.  When his condition worsened, doctors decided to install a heart pump to assist the left side of his heart.  They quickly realized he needed another heart pump to assist the right side of his heart.  The second surgery was done only two days later, on December 23, 2009, and Kirk was told he would not be able to leave the hospital until he received a new heart.

            January 7, 2010, Kirk got his “pass” out of the hospital – a family had said yes to donation and he was able to get a heart transplant.  When he awoke the next day, even with post- surgery pain, and medications, he felt happier than he ever remembers feeling.  The blood circulated in his body in a way it had not done for years; he felt warmer and his feet were back to a healthy color.  “It is an indescribable feeling, knowing I will be with my family for many more years,” says Kirk. 

            Every day approximately 18 people die, waiting for a transplant.  To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and to register on the “Yes” Utah Donor Registry, go to www.yesutah.org or call 1.866.YES.UTAH (1.866.937.8824).

High school seniors everywhere are looking forward to graduation and making plans for jobs, college, and dozens of other options that are open to them.  Hali, a high school senior, found out how quickly those plans can be sidetracked.

Last year, Hali was very involved in school and other activities.  She ran every day, played on her high school tennis team, and played the cello in a Youth Symphony.  When it came time to register for her senior year, she elected to take 5 Advanced Placement (AP) classes to give her a head start on her college education. 

Toward the end of her junior year, Hali became sick.  A trip to the doctor reassured her that it was most likely a bad case of the flu and she just needed some rest.  However, the flu-like symptoms worsened and then she had a seizure.  Tests to determine the cause of her seizure showed signs of kidney failure.  Ironically, on the July 4 weekend, when most of us are celebrating our freedom, Hali started her dialysis treatments.

For Hali, dialysis is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and each dialysis session lasts about three hours.  On those days, she attends her first two classes and works with her teachers in her other two classes to get her assignments.  Often the treatments leave her too tired to complete assignments, making more work on the days she doesn’t go to dialysis.

She also discovered the unusual side effects of kidney disease.  She began her senior year with what she describes as ‘chipmunk cheeks’ because of the new medications she was taking.  She is no longer able to eat chocolate, peanut butter, or a whole list of other items.  She is also very limited on fluid intake, being allowed only about 40 ounces of anything liquid (including things that can melt, like Jell-O or ice cream) each day.

Hali’s family began considering living kidney donation as soon as they learned she would need a transplant.  No one in her immediate family was a match, but a cousin was tested and will be able to donate to her.  She hopes to have the transplant after her high school graduation and be able to recover in time to start college in January. 

On the national waiting there are over 80,000 people who are waiting for a kidney transplant.  For information about kidney donation, log on to www.yesutah.org or call 1.866.YES.UTAH.

As a health major at the University of Utah, I needed to do an internship at any healthcare related business. I had a lot of options, ranging from working in a hospital to shadowing a health teacher. I got a referral to contact Alex McDonald at Intermountain Donor Services, and that sounded very interesting.   I met with Alex and Dixie at the end of January, and started my internship Feb 4th. I have a busy schedule with a full time job and being a full time student, so we worked out a schedule where I could come in just once a week, which was every Thursday. I didn’t know much about organ/tissue donation when I first started my internship, but I was a registered donor and supported it.   I had taken a class in college that briefly discussed donation and the process, but didn’t really get into it much. I have learned so much about this company and organ/tissue donation.

When I first started the internship I went to presentations on organ/tissue donation in the mornings at high schools and junior high schools. Those were a big help and I learned a lot from them. I also got involved in the 5K race that is put on every summer by IDS. I’ve called many businesses and discussed the race and asked for donations of gifts and prizes. I put together a number of poster presentation boards that go around to different events and health fairs. One of my favorite experiences was the opportunity to go with Alex and Dixie to Twin Falls, ID. We met with Mike Parke who is a funeral home owner and also a liver recipient. His story is great. Mr. Parke was not a big supporter of organ and tissue donation. About 3-4 years ago, he began to get sick. Eventually he needed to get a liver transplant in order to live. Mr. Parke was on the waiting list for 3 years before he got his transplant. He also got a whole new view on organ and tissue donation, and is now a huge supporter with many ideas about how to raise awareness about donation. The transplant he received really did change his life.

Working here has been great. The people are great. Everyone is very friendly and easy going. They have helped me out a lot by working with my schedule. They always had work for me to do so I was never just sitting around. If you want to learn more about IDS, or have any questions regarding organ and tissue donation I recommend going to the website www.yesutah.org.

A few months ago, I contacted several people and asked them if they would share their donation or transplant story with me. I want to share some of those stories starting with a little girl named Abbigail.

Abbigail’s father described her as a little girl with a big heart.  Like many four-year-old girls, she simply adored the Disney princesses, so she was in total bliss when her family was able to visit Disneyland during a trip to California for her uncle’s wedding.  It was a fantastic trip, and they enjoyed the time they were able to spend together as a family, laughing, taking pictures, and just being together.  At the time, they had no idea how treasured those memories in California and Disneyland would be.

 The day after they returned home, their lives drastically changed.  Abbigail’s dad, Marcus, left for his shift as an officer with a County Sheriff’s office. While Marcus was on patrol, a call came over his radio stating emergency crews were being sent to respond to a 911 call about a four-year-old who was not breathing and his address was given as the location.  

By the time Marcus reached his home, paramedics were already on the scene. Marcus learned that Abbigail had put a bouncy ball in her mouth and it had become lodged in her throat.  The emergency crew was able to dislodge the ball and had begun CPR but the situation was serious.  Abbigail was flown to Primary Children’s Medical Center where they would be better equipped to deal with this type of emergency. 

Upon arriving at Primary Children’s Medical Center, the medical staff determined that Abbigail was brain dead.  Marcus and Deborah were devastated. They were asked whether or not they wanted to consider organ donation.  “My wife and I discussed organ donation.  The thought of Abbigail being able to continue to help others through organ donation became somewhat of a comfort to us and we decided to give our consent,” said Marcus.  “The biggest thing about Abbigail was her heart, which she gave to anyone and everyone. There was comfort in knowing, that in the face of tragedy, our child was able to help others.”  

Considering her ‘big heart,’ it seemed fitting that Abbigail was able to donate her heart valves to someone in need.  Her kidneys and liver were also donated. 

If you are not already signed up on the Utah Donor Registry, please consider doing so at www.yesutah.org.