Six years ago, Shaun was waiting for a heart transplant.  His condition had become fairly critical when his friends organized a motorcycle rally in his honor.  They planned the route to go right past the hospital so that Shaun could be a part of the festivities.  Shaun has continued to carry on the tradition and is in the process of organizing the 6^th annual Gift of Life Rally for Transplants.  This year’s event has something for everyone.  For non-bikers, he has planned a 5K poker walk that will take place at the same time as the ride.  Following the ride/walk, there will be music, food, and shopping at the park.  There will also be a classic car/bike show, stunt riders and a variety of other activities. 

Funds raised at this event will be used to provide additional education about organ donation and transplantation.  There will be information about organ, eye and tissue donation at the rally.  Anyone who has questions or concerns can pick up some information or log on to www.yesutah.org.     

Adam passed away as a result of an automobile accident in 1995.  He was only 9 years old.  Adam’s parents, though they had never discussed donation, made the decision to donate Adam’s organs and help others who were in need.  They also made another difficult decision.  They decided to share Adam’s story in an effort to help others faced with a similar choice.  A 1996 newspaper article credits their willingness to share Adam’s story with, “helping to increase the number of organ donations in Utah to its highest rate in four years.”  It is amazing the impact one person can have. 

A Salt Lake man who heard Adam’s story wrote a poem and mailed it anonymously to Adam’s father.  That poem can still be found on the University of Michigan Transplant Center Website. 

That incredible poem reads:

To Dad and Mother

I am looking down on earth from here
And I see what you have done
You helped a lot of people
I am proud to be your son
It took a lot of moxie
To give up part of me
But my heart now beats for someone
And someone else can see
I would like to spend a lot of time
Just watching what they do
And if they did some splendid thing
I’d think I did it too
I still don’t know if this was planned
I kinda think it was
I surely hope that that’s the case
And my life was for that cause
I would love to be with you again
To ease your sorrowing
But if it meant retrieve my parts
I wouldn’t change a thing

Your loving son,

Adam
December 19, 1985 – May 22, 1995

 
By,
RBG

It has been almost 16 years.  They have had contact with many of Adam’s recipients and one of the recipients even named his son Adam in honor of the boy who saved his life.  Adam’s family still finds comfort in knowing that Adam was able to save lives.  Adam’s grandma told me, “Every time I read in the newspaper that someone was a donor, I know someone else will live because of that decision.”

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.

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.

            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).

A posting on a bulletin board I saw recently caused me to stop and reflect on the significance of our heart driven traditions.  On the board, there was a picture of a human heart next to a traditional valentine’s heart.  The caption underneath read, “Which one would you rather receive for Valentine’s Day?”  Interesting question!

The traditional valentine’s heart was definitely more attractive and would be more appetizing with a box of chocolates, but what about the over 3,000 people in this country who are currently waiting for a heart transplant?  That healthy human heart is probably the most beautiful thing in the world to them.  A box of chocolates and a pretty card hold little value when you are fighting for your own life. 

Show your love this Valentine’s Day.  Make sure you get registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor.  Log on to the Yes! Utah Donor Registry website  and click the “Register Now” button.

I opened the first attachment and saw Damon standing next to a man in a large hat with his face mostly shaded.  I thought, “You’re right.  I will never guess who you ran into!”

I opened the next picture and in this picture both men had their wives standing next to them and the man in the hat’s face was more visible.  “Oh my gosh,” I thought.  “He ran into Greg.”  Greg had gone into heart failure in late April and was put on a full artificial heart on May 1.  After spending four months living in the hospital, Greg received a heart transplant about 6 weeks ago.

I hadn’t seen Greg since his transplant.  He looked so healthy and happy.  His wife also had a huge smile on her face.  Damon and Greg met each other at a press conference on July 1.  Now, a few months later, they actually recognized each other.   I hope organ donors and their families truly understand what an incredible difference their act of love and kindness mean to the recipient and their families.