A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The Carolinas

VOLUME 18

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ISSUE 3

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WINTER 2015

IN THIS ISSUE:

1 Honoring Each Little Gift

2 2016 Transplant Games

3 LifeShare Quilt of Life,the Common Thread

4 Donation Makes It AllPossible — 2015

6 Donor Wife in New Video

7 Donor Statistics byHospital

8 Season’s Greetings fromLifeShare!

A Donate Life Organization

Honoring Each Little GiftAs is our tradition, this edition of our newsletter is dedicated to donor families

Organ and tissue donors get the best care in a hospital. If you don’t believe it, you

don’t have to look any further than the care and concern our staff provides to our

youngest donors. They are the newborns who die at childbirth and are never able to

leave the hospital, young accident victims and yes, tragically even sometimes child

abuse cases.

Their death is always a parent’s worst nightmare. For our staff, most of whom are

parents themselves, they are the donors that are the most difficult for us emotionally

and the ones that we remember most.

To honor these special little people who give life to others through the donation of

their organs, heart valves and tissue, we keep a supply of onesies, baby caps, prayer

shawls and even diapers. As Mark Noles, a valued member of our tissue recovery

team said, “for some of these babies, these are the only clothes they will ever wear.”

Mark and other members of our clinical staff carefully/lovingly dress each infant

donor and wrap them in blankets before they leave the surgical units. “We do

everything we can to make them look loved and cared for after the donation

process. The funeral home may be the only people to see them after the recovery

but it’s important to us.”

Susan Galbraith and Jesse Roberts, two other LifeShare staffers have taken the

initiative to purchase many of the clothing items but there have been instances when

we didn’t have what we needed. Not too long ago, we didn’t have a large enough size

for a nine-year old so one of our staffers left the hospital and drove to Target to pick

up new pajamas for the child whose own clothes had been damaged in an accident.

We are thankful to Caromont Hospital’s Auxiliary, Sardis Presbyterian and other

churches who have shawl ministries who have provided us with blankets and for the

notes of comfort they write that are shared with the parents. If you would like to

help, we are accepting donations of blankets as

well as pajamas, hats and booties for

children of all ages.

There isn’t a lot we can do to bring

comfort to a grieving parent. In fact,

many don’t even know that we have

taken that extra step but we know it

and we wouldn’t do it any other way.

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

1-800-932-GIVE

www.lifesharecarolinas.org

Editor

Debbie Gibbs

Assistant Editor

Gary Burris

Associate Editor

Ben Martin

O U 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.

Plans are well underway for the 2016 Transplant Games and no one is more excited

about them than the organizing committee for Team North Carolina. The Olympic-

style celebration of life is scheduled for June 10 to 15, 2016 in Cleveland OH.

Transplant recipients from across North Carolina have been meeting since this past

summer in hopes of fielding the largest team ever from the Tar Heel state. Approximately

5,000 people nationwide are expected to the attend the Games in 2016 to draw attention

to the success of transplantation and the healing power of donation.

Eye, organ, tissue and bone marrow transplant recipients will compete in various

sports events that are broken down by age. They include traditional track and field

sports. There are also less traditional sports like bowling and golf. A new Junior

Olympiad for children age 10 and under will be offered for the first time next year.

The next team meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2016 in Winston Salem. For

information on Team North Carolina, contact Jess Newport at nu6586@gmail.com.

For a complete list of the competitions, details on housing, etc., visit

www.transplantgamesofamerica.org.

The Donate Life Transplant Games

LifeShare staff and volunteers were out in full force to support the second annual Save a LifeGolf Tournament in October. They are from left to right: Julie Allred, Neal Neil Vroom, YolandaMoore, Jennifer Dills, Anita Erwin, Tracy Barker and Ben Martin. We would like to thank all ofthe volunteers, golfers and especially the sponsors who made the event successful.

The Run the Forest 5K and One Mile Walkheld in Asheville in September benefittedLifeShare Of The Carolinas. Special thanksto Asheville Eye Associates, sponsor of theevent, for all of the added touches thatmade the day so special.

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Number of Candidates on theNational Transplant Waiting List

Kidney 101,171

Liver 15,064

Pancreas 1,040

Kidney-Pancreas 1,963

Heart 4,229

Lung 1,558

Heart-Lung 49

Intestine 265

NATIONAL TOTAL 122,445

North Carolina 3,067

South Carolina 917

Based on OPTN data as of November 27, 2015.

LIFESHARE QUILT OF LIFE

Memories are the Common Thread

Every stitch and every square is symbolic.

Each one tells the story about the life that

is portrayed, the organ, eye or tissue

donor who generously gave so that others

might live.

Each year since 1996, LifeShare has

been collecting quilt squares that are later

assembled into a quilt for that year by a

professional quilter. The squares are

mailed to us from around the country

with one common thread—the love the

families put into telling their loved ones

stories.

Our quilts are always on display in our

offices. On occasion, we take them to

community and hospital events. They are

a regular at our annual donor ceremony

where they have been viewed by thousands

of people throughout southwestern North

Carolina. We know that a lot of love and

time goes into making each quilt and they

are always treated with the reverence with

which they were made.

There is the young man who needle-

pointed a square in honor of his mother

who died on a Christmas morning. It is

as perfect on the back as it is on the front.

Chris Henry, the former NFL player has a

square in his team colors with his trademark

photo looking up.

Donor family members who would like

to make a square in honor of their loved

ones may submit a square at any time.

Instructions on size requirements, etc.

are available on our website at

http://quilt.lifesharecarolinas.org/.

The Quilts of Life, along with a brief

profile of the donor the square represents,

may be viewed on our site. We are sorry

we didn’t have the technology to post

quilts earlier than 2006.

W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 5

CALENDARof events

January 1, 2016Donate Life Float

at Annual Rose Parade

Check your local TV listings

January 16, 2016UNC Charlotte Basketball Game

Halton Arena, UNCC Campus

Charlotte, NC

April 2016 National Donate Life Month

April 17, 2016National Blue and Green Day

Donation makes REMEMBERING THE ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR

4 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S

Aaron Adam Addie Ahmari Alan Albert Alice Allan Allen Almeco

Antoine April Arlene Ashley Audrey Aundree Austin Autumn Aye

Billie Billy Bonnie Boyd Bradley Brandon Brenda Brett Brian Bruc

Cassandra Cathy Cedric Celeste Charles Chase Chelsea Christina

Daisy Damien Daniel Danny Darrell Dave David Dawn Debra Den

Diana Don Dorothy Douglas Dubert Dustin Dwight Earl Eddie Edg

Ervin Ethan Ethelyn Evan Everette Fabena Flynn Frances Francis Fra

George Gerald Gilbert Gloria Graham Grayson Gretchen Gwendolyn

Jake Jamel James Jamie Jane Janet Janice Janie Janis Jason Jea

Jessica Jimmy Joel John Johnathan Johnetta Johnny Jonathon Jos

Kathy Keith Kelly Kenneth Kevin Kimberly Kitty LaDarious Lana Lar

Louis Luke Mae Maenomia Marcia Marcus Margaret Marian Marily

Matthew Mattie Melinda Michael Michelle Mona Myra Nancie N

Patrick Patrina Paul Paula Perry Peter Phillip Quincey Rafael Ralph

Reid Rhonda Richard Rickey Ricky Rita Roaul Robbie Robert Rob

Salvador Samuel Sandra Sara Scott Scotty Shannon Shareka Sharon

Steve Steven Stevie Sue Sue Ann Susan Sylvia Tassawar Terence T

Tony Tracy Trevor Tyrone Van Veronica Vicki Walter Wendy Wi

* The names listed here are from November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015. Donors after this date will be included in next year’s Winter newsletter.

s it all possible! S OF 2015*. THEY ARE GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN...

5W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 5

Alonzo Althea Alvin Amanda Amie Amita Andrea Angela Anthony

Barbara Barry Benjamin Bennett Bernard Bertha Beth Betty Beverly

ce Bryan Burnett Caleb Carl Carla Carmen Carol Carolyn Carrol

Christine Christopher Clarence Claude Clifford Clyde Cory Cynthia

nise Dennis Denvil Derald Derinda Destiny Devin Dewayne Dewitt

ar Edmund Edward Eleanor Elizabeth Ellen Ellis Eloise Emily Ernest

ank Franklin Freddie Frederic Frederick Gabriel Garren Gary Gee-mel

Hailey Hank Harold Harry Heather Heaven Herbert Herman Jacob

nette Jeannine Jeff Jeffery Jennie Jennifer Jerel Jeremy Jerri Jerry

e Joshua Juanita Judith Judy Julie Julien Julio June Kaley Karen

rry Laura Leah Lena Lester Linda Lisa Logan Lora Loretta Lothario

yn Mark Marletta Marquita Marsha Martha Marty Mary Mary Ann

Nancy Nelly Neman Nicholas Nolen Ophelia Oscar Owen Patricia

Randall Randle Randolph Randy Ra'shonda Raymond Reba Rebecca

berta Rocky Roddelle Roderick Rodney Ronald Roque Roy Ruben

Shawnessa Shelby Shirley Sonya Stacey Starling Stephanie Stephen

Teresa Teri Terry Thelma Theodore Theresa Thomas Timothy Tommy

lber William Willis Wilma Wilson Xavier Yonsis Yvonne Zachary

@

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STAY UP TO DATE

It’s our desire to stay in touch with you

and to help save the environment too!

If you would like to get our newsletter

in your in-box instead of your mail-box,

you can read it online at

www.lifesharecarolinas.org/resources.

To unsubscribe to the print version in

favor of the online one, contact

ben.martin@lifesharecarolinas.org.

Let us know the best way to

communicate with you!

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

SANDY PHIFER OF MOORESVILLE, NC JOINED A CLUB IN 2011 NO ONE WANTS TO

BELONG TO. THAT IS THE YEAR THAT HER HUSBAND, JOE, DIED OF A STROKE.

HE WAS 66.

On Sandy’s worse day, three other families got a reason to celebrate. The organs they

desperately needed to live had been found. They didn’t know Joe but their lives have

been connected ever since.

Joe’s death was a shock. He had always been athletic and baseball was his favorite

sport. A man with strong values, he had a heart of gold. Because of his age, he was

not what some would consider a traditional organ donor. Interestingly, the recipients

of Joe’s organs were also “mature” adults ages 49, 60 and 66 respectively.

It is based on the misconception that older adults aren’t suitable as donors that

the Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) created a new video targeted at

older adults featuring Joe’s wife, Sandy, and the families of several other older adults.

The short video was released late this fall on the agencies website at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Y2UCXqaoQ. A longer version where Sandy

gets to tell more of her story will be available early next year.

In it, she shares a letter she received from one of Joe’s kidneys. The person wrote:

“Special people like you make the world a brighter place. My life and my children

have improved by your act of kindness. They have seen the improvement in me and I

cannot thank you enough.”

We would like to thank Sandy for her willingness to share her story. We’d also like

to thank HRSA’s Division of Transplantation for bringing it to life. It reminds us this

holiday season that the greatest gift of all is the gift of life!

Local Donor Wife Featured inNew Video Aimed at Older Adults

W I N T E R I S S U E – 2 0 1 5

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

June –September 2015

Hospital Eye Organ Tissue

Angel 0 0 2

Anson 1 0 2

Asheville Specialty 0 0 0

Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) 37 17 17

CMC - Huntersville 2 0 2

CMC - Lincoln 7 0 5

CMC - Mercy 0 0 0

CMC - NorthEast 12 1 8

CMC - Pineville 11 1 9

CMC - Union 9 0 6

CMC - University 1 0 2

CMC - Valdese 0 0 0

CMC - Waxhaw 1 0 1

Caromont 22 2 14

Cherokee 1 0 0

Cleveland 3 0 2

Harris 0 0 0

Haywood 3 0 3

Highlands-Cashiers 0 0 0

Kings Mountain 1 0 1

Lake Norman 1 0 1

Mission 22 1 15

Morganton 2 0 1

Murphy 1 0 1

NHP - Huntersville 1 0 0

NHP - Matthews 8 0 2

Novant 7 3 4

Pardee 6 0 4

Park Ridge 2 0 2

Rehab NE 0 0 1

Rutherford 9 0 4

St. Luke’s 0 0 0

Stanly 5 0 5

Swain 0 0 0

Transylvania 3 0 0

VA Medical 1 0 0

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Quiltof Life

LifeShareOf The Carolinas

5000-D Airport Center ParkwayCharlotte, NC 28208

However you celebrate, we wish you peace and joy.

Season’s Greetings fromLifeShare Of The Carolinas