Social media does work (Man uses twitter to find a living kidney donor)

In an age that people are talking about the power of social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, blogs and so on, here is an example of a positive outcome. The story is based locally in the Minneapolis/St Paul Area and out of the City Pages, a local newspaper. It is about how Chris Strouth used Twitter to get the word out that he needed a kidney and what the response was. It has been on a couple of different venues television and print but this one is a pretty good summary, find the link to the article here.

Check it out and tell us what you think.

John

A story about Jack

Here is the story about a boy named Jack and his mom. Through the tragedy of Jack’s death lives were changed. A little girl that received his heart valve and his mom, Jennifer who had been given a mission.

Jack and Jennifer Van Hecke photo taken from the Monticello Times article

Check it out here at the Monticello Times community paper

The Challenge: Number One in Saving Lives

Let’s go, North Dakota!

Coverage of yesterday’s press conference has been fantastic and we are so thrilled that the life-saving message of donation has been shared throughout the state.  Loren Kersting’s challenge to the state of North Dakota to become “number one in saving lives” is a goal I know its citizens are ready to embrace.  Wouldn’t it be great if we were to host another news conference in January to share that we have exceeded our own expectations in registering North Dakotans as donors?

Check out the links to news coverage below and forward to your family and friends.  Encourage them to make a decision about donation and to document it online at www.donor.nd.gov. 

NBC  - “Organ Donor Registry”

CBS  – “Organ and Tissue Donor Registry”

Bismarck Tribune  – “Organ donation registry up and running”

Jamestown Sun – “N.D. launches online organ registry”

Fall Donor Family Gathering, Saturday, November 21st.

As with life sometimes a detail or two slips through the care taken to get everything correct. This one is fairly important there is a discrepancy between the dates listed on the rvsp and invitation for the Fall Donor Family Gathering. The correct day for the event is Saturday, Nov 21st. Below is the information from the invitation sent out.

Special guest speaker, Ted Bowman, Grief Educator, will be talking about the

stories we have to tell – stories of loss and stories of hope.

We invite you to remember your loved one during our candle-lighting

ceremony, commemorative photo presentation and sharing session.

A tribute table will be provided for families to display pictures or special

keepsake items during the event. The LifeSource Donor Family Quilt will also

be present. For information on making a quilt square, please visit

www.life-source.org.

We hope this day offers your family the opportunity to reflect on your loved

one’s life, celebrate the gifts they gave, and gather with others who have

traveled a similar path.

dates & locations

Saturday, November 21st • Chaska, MN

AM Program • Registration 9:00 a.m. • Program begins 9:30 a.m.

PM Program • Registration 1:00 p.m. • Program begins 1:30 p.m.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum • 3675 Arboretum Drive • 952-443-1411

(Please inform parking attendant that you are attending the LifeSource

program)

Light refreshments will be served.

contact

Jill Halimi or John LeMay • LifeSource Family Services Coordinators

651-603-7800 or 1-888-536-6283 • familyservices@life-source.org

LifeSource invites your family to join us in remembering those who have given the Gift of Life. Special guest speaker, Ted Bowman, Grief Educator, will be talking about the stories we have to tell stories of loss and stories of hope. We invite you to remember your loved one during our candle-lighting ceremony, commemorative photo presentation and sharing session.

A tribute table will be provided for families to display pictures or special keepsake items during the event. The LifeSource Donor Family Quilt will also be present. For information on making a quilt square, please visit www.life-source.org.

We hope this day offers your family the opportunity to reflect on your loved one’s life, celebrate the gifts they gave, and gather with others who have traveled a similar path.

Dates & Locations

Saturday, November 21st • Chaska, MN

AM Program • Registration 9:00 a.m. • Program begins 9:30 a.m.

PM Program • Registration 1:00 p.m. • Program begins 1:30 p.m.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum • 3675 Arboretum Drive • 952-443-1411

(Please inform parking attendant that you are

attending the LifeSource program)

Light refreshments will be served.

contact

Jill Halimi or John LeMay • LifeSource Family Services Coordinators

651-603-7800 or 1-888-536-6283 • familyservices@life-source.org

Wanda Sykes is a donor. Are you?

Funny woman Wanda Sykes shared with the audience during her HBO special last weekend that she thinks everyone should be an organ donor.  We agree, Wanda! 

Take a look at this video posted by our friends at Donate Life California and get ready to laugh.

Running for life

TJ Hedeen was a 36 year old man who lived in Farmington, MN with his wife and two children.  After years waiting for a liver transplant, TJ got the call in April of 2008 that he thought would save his life.  But the wait for his transplant had decimated his health.  He died during transplant surgery on April 15, 2008.

This past Sunday, TJ’s family and friends ran the Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile Race to remember him and to encourage others to register to donate. In the words of TJ’s Cousin, John Hagebock, who organized the team:

TJ’s runners reached the finish line with great times and lots of positive energy. This event had a purpose – our primary goal was to help people become organ donors and help share the gift of life. Through our actions we can bring this cause to the surface and create a positive environment full of hope. This year our 5 runners carried TJ’s name with DonateLifeMN.org on their race day jersey. These small efforts generate the energy and momentum that will lead to greater things.

Thank you TJ’s runners for your life-affirming run!

Heart of a Hero

Many of us at LifeSource just got back from a conference in Dallas, Texas focused on learning and sharing ideas to increase the number of people who give the gift of life through donation and transplantation.  We were thrilled to be joined by more than a dozen hospital and transplant center partners who are on this journey with us.

And then there was a surprise.

A donor mom from Minnesota was there to share her story, along with the woman who receive the gift of her son’s heart just two months ago.  They told their story in front of nearly 1,000 people yesterday morning, concluding to a well-deserved standing ovation not just for their stories but for having the courage to share them with all of us.

Just 15 hours earlier they had met in person for the first time.  The CBS station from Dallas was there to get it on tape, and shared it with WCCO in the Twin Cities.  Here is there incredible story:

Click to watch “Woman Receives Heart from Soldier Killed in War“

Sturgis Day 5 “What do you mean your not a donor?!?”

I think that is my favorite response I get. A couple will walk up and I will ask “Do you have donor on your license?” and most likely the man says “No, I’m keeping my parts.” The significant other at the same time says “Yes, I am” and follow up quickly with “What do you mean you are not a donor?”

It is obvious that both of them had taken their decision for granted and could not understand the other. This is why we ask the question hundreds of times a day, to start the conversation so people know what each other believes so the situation arises. We can also answer the questions that might open the door to a longer conversation.

As that particular couple walked away the woman looked at me and said “Don’t worry, I will fix that.”

I am pretty confident she will.

Ride Safe,

John

Dinner on Thursday in Sioux Falls

It’s the first Thursday of the month!  Everyone with a connection to donation or transplantation is invited to share their stories and share a meal.

Join donor mom Charlene Myers and friends at the Fry’n Pan, 5:30 pm this Thursday, August 6th.  The Fry’n Pan is located at 1720 W 12^th Street, Sioux Falls, SD and tables are reserved in Charlene’s name.  Please rsvp to Charlene at curlymom@sio.midco.net.

Sturgis Day 2 con’t

a very thankful recipient

(editor’s note the blog posts will be dated in regards to the day they took place)

I was able to have a conversation with a gentleman. His appearance was that of a typical sturgis attendee. He walked up to me and said I like your shirt. I said thanks and asked his connection to organ and tissue donation. He said that he was a recipient of a transplant 6 years ago. The Sturgis rally following his transplant he asked his doctor if he could go to Sturgis that year an they said no, but he was able to come the next year.  As we talked, he shared with me how amazing it was that he was able to come back to Sturgis the year after and ever since. One donor gave this man a second chance at life and he is living it to the best he can and telling others about it,  another story from Sturgis.

Ride Safe,

John