a donor mother’s story - lifesharecarolinas.org · winter 2013 in this issue: 1a donor mother’s...
TRANSCRIPT
A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The Carolinas
VOLUME 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ISSUE 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WINTER 2013
IN THIS ISSUE:
1 A Donor Mother’s Story
2 Remembering Andy atChristmas
4 We Remember Them:Organ, Eye and TissueDonor Recognition
6 LifeShare Has a NewMedical Director
6 LifeShare TranslatesWeb Site
7 Donor Statistics byHospital
8 Season’s Greetings
A Donate Life Organization
A Donor Mother’s StoryBY JALETTA ALBRIGHT DESMOND
This article was beautifully written by Jocelyn’s mother for a newspaper column
published in April. With her permission, it is has been edited for space considerations.
JOCELYN MADE BOTH GOOD AND BAD CHOICES IN HER LIFE. AND TO BE BLUNT, SHE
MADE ONE REALLY STUPID DECISION. BUT SHE ALSO MADE AT LEAST ONE BRILLIANT
CHOICE. TWICE, IN FACT.
Jocelyn marked Organ Donor on both her NC driver’s learning permit and her
provisional driver’s license. And there was no discussion the day she was happily,
finally, getting her driver license only a couple of months before she turned 17. She
just marked it matter-of-factly and the red heart icon appeared next to her beautiful
face when the license arrived in the mail.
It was simply understood in our home. If
something horrible happened, we didn’t need
this body and the accompanying accessories. We
should leave them for someone who did. We
could save lives.
When we faced the terrible fact the day after
Jocelyn attempted suicide and a machine was
breathing for her—the fact that her brain was no
longer living and we had to let her go—the very
first thing my husband said to the medical team
was that we wanted something good to come out
of it. We wanted to donate her organs and give life
to others who, unlike her, were fighting to stay here.
I can’t explain the incomprehensible mix of
heartache and honor that choice provided. I
can’t explain the wrenching loss our family felt,
except to say that it was a humble privilege to
provide hope and joy to a crowded handful of
other families. Jocelyn saved other parents,
siblings and children from losing a loved one.
The afternoon of Jocelyn’s operation, the lead
nurse on the surgical team approached me in
the hallway and looked into my soul with her big
blue eyes. “I want you to know that I will treat
your child like she is my child,” she said.
Continued on page 3
2 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
LifeShareOf The Carolinas
Remembering Andy at ChristmasA TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT, SPECIAL BROTHER AND LIFESHARE VOLUNTEER
BY TRACYE GILLELAND
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Tracye—one of
Andy’s sisters. I called him Brother Brother. He called me
Seester Seester. Not sure why...just happened.
He was born in 1953. I was born in 1958. I’m not sure
how the five-year delay between deliveries happened but
trust me we are twins.
Andy and I shared many things—our faith, our love of
mankind, our value of honesty and integrity, yes and
even our kidneys.
Throughout life, Andy ALWAYS looked out for me. He showed me the ropes...what
to do and more importantly what not to do. I have several fond memories of
Christmas time.
I recall one Christmas Eve when he hurried me over to my bedroom window—
pointed out a light sweeping across the sky, told me it was Rudolph leading Santa’s
sleigh and that I needed to hurry to bed/sleep as I didn’t want to be awake when
Santa arrived as he wouldn’t stop. It was an airplane, but in my mind it was indeed
Santa. I believed in and trusted my Brother Brother.
Then there was the year that our Mom and Dad went to a party on Christmas Eve.
Shortly after midnight, after they were in bed and asleep, Andy and I went through
the house and advanced the clocks to 7 am. We then went screaming through the
house “Santa’s been here! Santa’s been here!” Thinking it was Christmas morning,
they got up and we opened gifts. You can imagine their surprise when we giggled
and told them it was really only 1 am.
My brother was an incredibly special man with so many gifts. He sang. He wrote
poetry. He drew. He was incredibly giving. He loved completely. He was kind. He was
thankful for his many blessings. He was passionate—about the people he loved,
about God’s creations, about Organ Donation Awareness.
Andy had a liver transplant in January, 1995 and a kidney transplant in 2012. Andy
was extremely grateful for the gift of life he was given...twice. Andy participated in
the US, Canadian and World transplant games. He earned medals in table tennis. He
gave them ALL away to donor families he had never met...all except for three. They
were being held for HIS liver donor family.
Continued on page 3
Andy was finally going to get to expresshis gratitude to the family who had sograciously granted him the gift of life.
1-800-932-GIVE
www.lifesharecarolinas.org
Editor
Debbie Gibbs
Associate Editor
Gary Burris
. . . . . . . . . . . .
OU R M I S S I O N
Improving lives through organ,
eye and tissue donation.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
OU R V I S I O N
We envision a day when everyone
who needs a transplant will be
able to get one.
3
Number of Candidates on theNational Transplant Waiting List
Kidney 98,881
Liver 15,863
Pancreas 1,182
Kidney-Pancreas 2,006
Heart 3,685
Lung 1,610
Heart-Lung 48
Intestine 262
NATIONAL TOTAL 120,783
North Carolina 3,395
South Carolina 942
Based on OPTN data as of November 29, 2013.
W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
CALENDARof events
January 1, 2014Donate Life Float
Rose Parade
TV Stations Nationwide
Check your local TV listings
February 14, 2014National Donor Day
Nationwide
April 2014National Donate Life Month
Nationwide
July 15–17, 2014Transplant Games
Houston, Texas
Remembering Andy at Christmas continued
Approximately six weeks ago, Andy
received word that his donor family would
be amenable to contact from him. Andy
was ECSTATIC! After almost 20 years,
Andy was finally going to get to express his
gratitude to the family who had so gra-
ciously granted him the gift of life.
He asked LifeShare to please hold the
medals until he could write a letter to
them. LifeShare still has the medals. The
letter remains unwritten.
In Andy’s honor and memory, I challenge each of you to become organ donors.
Without Andy’s donor family, we would have been deprived of a relationship with an
incredible human being. See you again soon brother…
This story was written for Andy’s funeral. Tracye did write the letter and it was
delivered to Andy’s donor family along with his precious medals.
A Donor Mother’s Story continued
Everyone from the doctors, to the nurses, to the people who handle the paperwork at
LifeShare Of The Carolinas, treated us with great tenderness and respect.
They treat you not with pity but with benevolence, as if you are bequeathing a
priceless gift—because you are.
We had a chance to say goodbye to Jocelyn in the operating room and she left us
peacefully. It was clear to me in that moment that she didn’t need the shell she left
behind. She didn’t need her liver or kidneys, but there were other people waiting
who did. And we knew how grateful their families would be to have potentially 20
more years with them.
“It is very hard to put into words what your family has done for us,” wrote the
man who received Jocelyn’s liver. “You have given the greatest gift of life to us. Your
loved one will never be forgotten by us.” “If it hadn’t been for your family, I would
probably still be on the waiting list for a transplant,” wrote one of the kidney
recipients.
I haven’t yet responded to these kind letters but I look forward to one day telling
them about who Jocelyn is, about the good and the bad, and about the stupid
choice and the brilliant one that saved their lives. And I will tell them that I truly
believe the pain and loss from death doesn’t need to overshadow the potential for
life-saving joy.
4 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
Donation makes Abe Abraham Albert Alexander Alice Allan Allen Allison A
Autumn Barbara Barry Baxter Beckett Belinda Benjamin Benny
Bradley Brady Brenda Brent Brian Bruce Caitlyn Caleb Calvi
Catherine Cathy Cedric Channing Charles Charlie Cheryl C
Crystal Dache Dale Daniel Danny David Davion Deborah Deb
Douglas Edward Eleanor Elizabeth Ellen Emma Erica Ernest
Gabriella Gail Gale Garrett Gary Gathel Gayle Gaylene Georg
Haze Homer Hoyt Hugo Ida Isaac Jackie Jacqueline James
Jennifer Jerry Jessica Jessie Jewel Jimmie Jimmy Joe Joel
Judy Julio Justin Justin Karen Katherine Kay Kayla Ken Ke
LeeAnn Lenda Leona Leonard Lesa Lewis Linda Lisa Lonnie
Marco Marcus Margaret Marilyn Mark Markece Marshall M
Michelle Mike Mildred Monica Nancy Natalie Nayyira Nels
Ophelia Otha Ova Pamela Patricia Patrick Patrick Patsy
Rebecca Richard Rickey Robert Roger Ronald Ronnie Ron
Scott Sergio Shakia Shantilal Sharlene Sheila Sherecee Sher
Sylvia Taylor Ted Teddy Teresa Terrance Terrence Terry
Travis Trudy Tump Van Verlie Vickie Vinson Wade W
WE REMEMBER THEM: THE ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DO
* The names listed here are from November 1, 2012 through October 31, 2013. Donors after this date will be included in next year’s Winter newsletter.
5W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
s it all possible! Anbre Andrew Angela Anthony April Arnold Ashley Aubrey
Bernhard Bette Beverly Billie Billy Blondie Bob Bobbie Bobby
n Carl Carla Carlos Carol Caroline Carolyn Carseenya Caryl
hhean Christina Christopher Clarice Claude Corey Courtney
ra Denise Dennis Deslyn Devonte Diane Dinah Donald Donna
Evelyn Faye Flemming Frank Fred Freddie Frederick Freida
ge Georgia Gerald Gina Glenda Glenn Gordon Harold Harvey
Jane Janet Janice Jared Jason Javonya Jay Jeffrey Jeffrey
John Johnny Joleesa Jonathan Joni Jordan Joseph Joyce
enneth Lanaysiah Lance Larry Latasha Laura Laurie Lavonia
Lori Louis Lu Lucinda Lynn Mackenzie Mandy Marc Marcia
artha Marvin Mary Matthew Megan Melissa Melvin Michael
son Nikita Noah Noel Norman Octavius Olin Olivia Omer
Paul Paula Peggy Pennell Rachel Ralph Randy Raymond
nie Rosalind Rose Roy Ruben Samuel Sandra Sara Sarah
rry Shirla Shirley Sona Stanley Stephen Steve Steven Susan
Theresa Thomas Thomas Thorton Timothy Tony Tracey
allace Wanda Wayne Wilburn William Willie Mae Zed
ONORS OF 2013*. THEY ARE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN…
6
PLANNING A PROGRAM?
As your organization plans its meeting
calendar for the year, please think of
LifeShare. Speakers from your community
whose lives have been touched by
organ or tissue donation are available
to talk to local groups.
If you would like to schedule a
free, informative presentation tailored
to the needs of your organization,
call the LifeShare office nearest you
at (704) 512-3303 or (828) 665-0107.
If you are interested in joining our
Speaker’s Bureau, we’d also like to
hear from you.
Lots of opportunities are available
to help in the office, to staff a booth
at a health fair or to make presentations
to community groups. Call us.
PLEASE CONSIDERMAKING A FINANCIALCONTRIBUTION
By making a donation to LifeShare,
you can help to save lives by raising
organ and tissue donation awareness.
You may contribute in several ways.
In lieu of flowers, LifeShare may
be designated as the organization to
receive memorials for funerals.
Contributions may also be made in
the name of a transplant recipient,
donor or other loved one. Each person
who makes a contribution to LifeShare
receives a thank you letter. A separate
letter is sent to the family or person in
whose honor the donation was made.
Please mail your check, payable to
LifeShare, to the address on the back
of the newsletter. All contributions
are tax-deductible and are used for
public education purposes.
L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
LifeShare is proud to announce that Dr. Michael Haley
has joined our team as Medical Director. He is an
Intensivist and Attending Physician in the Internal
Medicine Department at Carolinas Medical Center.
Dr. Haley has been involved with LifeShare for several
years as a physician champion and a partner in organ
donor management. As Medical Director, Dr. Haley will
take a more active role in our quality initiatives, policy
development, and leadership.
He meets regularly with the clinical staff to review
cases and provide education for the team to help insure
optimal outcomes. He assists our Hospital Development staff in providing educational
opportunities for other physicians across our service area.
Dr. Haley attended Clemson University before obtaining his medical degree from
the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Chere are the proud parents of
three children: Tyler, Kimber, and Hudson.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Haley to our family.
LifeShare Has a New Medical Director
In recognition of the changing demographics of the nation and the region, LifeShare
will soon offer a Spanish-language translation of our web site. The site is scheduled
to go live in January, 2014.
From the beginning, our web site was designed to appeal to people of all ages and
ethnicities. Maribel, a donor family member and LifeShare Family Support Staffer, is
pictured on the site. One of the Stories of Hope also features Dawn, a LifeShare
volunteer and donor family member from Puerto Rico.
There are approximately 22,000 individuals of Spanish descent on the waiting list
for an organ transplant in the United States. Community groups who would like to
learn more about organ and tissue donation or to request paper enrollment forms in
Spanish are encouraged to contact us at (704) 512-3303.
Information will also be available on our new Spanish-language web site at
www.espanol.lifesharecarolinas.org.
LifeShare Translates Web Site Into Spanish
DoneVida
W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
LifeShare is pleased to offer
donor family members a
special way to remember
their loved ones—through
our memorial quilts, the
Quilts of Life.
We display the quilts in our
office and at special events
designed to promote organ
and tissue donation. Squares
are added to the quilts at
least once a year, usually in
the spring in time for
National Organ and Tissue
Donation Awareness Month.
If you would like to add a
square in memory of your
loved one, visit our web site
at lifesharecarolinas.org for
size dimensions, a release
form and other details. You
may also call us for additional
information at (704) 512-3303.
We look forward to receiving
additional squares and to
sharing the memory of your
loved one with others.
LifeShare gratefully acknowledges the commitment of all nurses and other medicalpersonnel who help to further the ideals of organ and tissue donation. It is throughtheir efforts and the generosity of donor family members that donation occurs. Whencomparing statistics, please note that not all hospitals have the same donor potential.
DONOR S TAT I S T I C S BY HOSP I TA L
July–September 2013
Hospital Eye Organ Tissue
Angel 1 0 0
Anson 2 0 1
CaroMont Health 16 3 11
Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) 30 20 18
CMC - Blue Ridge Grace 4 0 1
CMC - Lincoln 4 0 3
CMC - Mercy 0 0 0
CMC - NorthEast 11 0 8
CMC - Pineville 2 0 0
CMC - Union 4 1 3
CMC - University 0 0 0
CMC - Valdese 1 0 0
Cherokee 1 0 1
Cleveland 5 0 3
Harris 0 0 1
Haywood 3 0 4
Highlands-Cashiers 0 0 0
Kings Mountain 1 0 1
Lake Norman 1 0 0
Mission 21 3 10
Murphy 2 0 2
NH - Ortho 0 0 0
NH - Huntersville 2 0 2
NH - Matthews 2 0 3
NH - Presbyterian 7 0 1
Pardee 4 0 1
Park Ridge 0 0 0
Rutherford 3 0 1
St. Luke’s 2 0 2
Stanly 5 0 4
Steele Creek 1 0 1
Swain 1 0 1
Transylvania 0 0 0
VA Medical 5 0 2
7
Quiltof Life