Thursday, April 01, 2010

Seven recipients given gifts of life

Today marks the start of National Donate Life Month in the U.S. and many other jurisdictions have monthly or weekly promotions in April to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. This story from British Columbia, Canada exemplifies the importance of organ donation and the number of lives that one donor can save.

From the Summerland Review

By registering as an organ donor, Dale Brown was able to help seven people when she died in an accident last month.

Brown died following a vehicle accident on Highway 97 south of Summerland on the morning of Feb 24, but because she was registered as an organ donor, others were able to benefit.

One person with a heart failure received a heart transplant, two with lung failure received single lung transplants, one with liver failure received a liver transplant, two with kidney failure received kidney transplants and one person with diabetes will receive a pancreas islet cell transplant.

“Please take consolation in the knowledge that seven people are alive today because of this gift of life,” said a letter from B.C. Transplant to Brown’s husband Ken.

“We realize that your loved one’s death represents a great loss to you and your family. We are truly grateful to her and her vision to be an organ donor and can only hope that the knowledge you have of how her gift has helped others regain their health will soften the grief.”

Ken said his wife had touched many lives in the community and the area during her lifetime.

She worked at the South Okanagan General Hospital for more than 20 years and also worked in Summerland at Kelly Care Centre and the Extended Care Unit and at Trinity Centre in Penticton.

She was also involved in dragon boating and sang in the Naramata Community Choir.

Ken said his wife’s generous spirit will live on.

“They say a little bit of the personality of the donor carries on to the recipient,” Ken said.

“There are seven lucky people to get a bit of her personality.”

“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. 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.

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