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

It’s not too late for July’s dinner in Sioux Falls!

You are invited to join Charlene Myers and friends in Sioux Falls tomorrow night (July 2nd) for dinner at the Rollin’ Pin.  All people with a connection to donation or transplantation are welcome.

July 2nd, 5:30 pm

The Rollin’ Pin

3015 W Russell Street

Sioux Falls, SD

Please let Charlene know if you are planning to attend!  You can reach her at curlymom@sio.midco.net.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game…

On Saturday, May 23 I had the pleasure of attending the EMS Recognition Day at the Minnesota Twins. This event is sponsored by the National Marrow Donor Program – Be the Match. This is a very nice event which takes place in the parking lot just before the game. The goal is to recognize the emergency services professionals for their service to our community. 

Ross Chavez is pictured with Secretary of State Mark Ritchie

 

The highlight of the event from was hearing Ross Chavez speak. Ross works in LifeSource tissue donation and is an EMT with Hennepin County. Ross spoke about the importance of the work of the emergency services professionals in helping people and saving lives. He then shared a very personal story of a time when he was unable to save a patient and then that patient went on to help others through tissue donation.  Ross spoke with great compassion and dedication to his work in both areas of his profession. As I listened to Ross I thought first about how fortunate we are to have someone like Ross working at LifeSource. I was then struck by how interconnected all of our work is – National Marrow Donor Program, Emergency Medical Technicians, and LifeSource. Each organization has a specific and important mission and together we truly do contribute to a stronger and healthier community.

 After the event we all went to the Twins Game where the EMS Hero of the Year threw out the first pitch. It was a great evening which was made all the sweeter when the Twins were triumphant over the Milwaukee Brewers.

After the donation: Continuing the legacy

This morning I was going through the mail at my desk when I opened a letter from a donor mom.  Enclosed was a program from a ceremony at which the donor’s family awarded the first of an annual scholarship in honor of their son.  As I looked through the newspaper clippings, the program, and read a copy of the speech, I was very impressed with their commitment to continuing the legacy of their son and their family.  This family is able to share the positive traits of their son with a much larger group on an annual basis as they give scholarships to high school students who will, hopefully, go on to pursue their dreams. 

Many times we talk about the gift of life given at the time of donation – the gift of organs or tissues that saves lives of those waiting for a transplant  And this is a critical message to share. Over 100,000 people are waiting for a life saving transplant and  that is just organ alone.  Many more people will require a tissue transplant at some point in their lives. 

To me, though, the amazing thing about our donor families is that they do not stop with the donation.  They do not say, “my family has given enough.”  Our donor families find ways to continue to give, to further the legacy of the beloved person that has died. This is done through a variety of ways: establishing scholarships, softball touranments, telling their story to high school students in driver’s ed. These are people that understand what it means to give – to give life, to give hope, to give possibilities.  I am constantly encouraged by knowing, caring for, and serving this group as they try to do the same for their community and continue the legacy of their loved one.

 

John LeMay