Cobertura Reciente en los Medios

Staff Spotlight: Diane Bacino

[caption id="attachment_14705" align="alignright" width="299"] Diane Bacino - Hospital Development Coordinator[/caption]

We’re so proud to work with each and every one of our staff members here at Donor Alliance. In our Staff Spotlight, we like to take a minute to let you learn more about who we are and why we work at Donor Alliance.

Name: Diane Bacino

Position: Hospital Development Coordinator

Years at Donor Alliance: 15 years

Why you chose Donor Alliance: While working at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science ‘Hall of Life’ as a Health Educator, I developed the Transplantation Science Outreach Program for high school students obtaining their driver’s license. That program was then adopted by Donor Alliance and has now successfully expanded to reach thousands of young people in our community each year. A Hospital Development position opened at Donor Alliance which turned my love for teaching into rewarding life’s work.

Why do you like working at DA: Working predominantly in a pediatric setting in donation and transplantation, I’m reminded of the fragility of life and how things can change for a family in a split second. Involvement with the courageous families who, in the midst of unspeakable grief, find strength to help others in need has been life-altering for me. My work at Donor Alliance reminds me to never take life and loved ones for granted and to appreciate life’s beauty during times of both tragedy and celebration. The profound realization that one family’s loss becomes another family’s miracle gives new meaning of the ‘circle of life’. Helping to develop relationships within the hospital setting with physicians and the health care team has given me a greater inspiration to share a common collaborative process during end of life care.

What does donation and transplantation mean to you: It’s a privilege to be part of something that is bigger and far reaching than that of my own little world. I am so fortunate to wake up every morning with a passion and a purpose knowing that what I do directly impacts humankind! I have met some of the greatest people who have become like family to me who do such amazing work….it’s all so humbling!

Any direct connection to donation and transplantation?: Yes, my brother was a corneal donor. Knowing he gave sight to two people gave me hope and comfort through my loss. In addition, my 5 year old cousin went into sudden kidney failure and needed an immediate life-saving transplant. His mom gave him the Gift of Life for a second time and became his living donor.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working (hobbies and such): I fix and flip homes, garden, spend time in Steamboat visiting my daughter, bike and hike. When time permits, I’m a dog walker for the neighbors.

Celebrating Wyoming DMV Appreciation and Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week

Governor Matt Mead has signed a proclamation declaring this week, Sept. 25-29, 2017 as DMV Appreciation Week and Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week in the state of Wyoming. As part of the celebration, and to say thank you to the Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs), administrators and licensing partners across the state for their partnership and commitment to asking each customer to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, we have awarded each Wyoming Driver License Office with a copy of the proclamation.

“The Wyoming Division of Motor Vehicles does a great job educating people during the process of obtaining or renewing a Wyoming driver license. A decision to be an organ and tissue donor is reflected on the license,” said Governor Mead. “Being a donor helps save lives—48 Wyomingites received lifesaving organ transplants in 2016. Being a donor is something everyone should consider.”

All week, we will be showing appreciation and saying thank you to staff and leadership of DMVs and driver licensing partners in our community through local events and outreach. Thank you to our DMV partners for helping to save lives every day!

Wyoming Driver Services Employee Shares Personal Connection to Donation

During DMV Appreciation Week, we join our counterparts around the country to honor the staff at Colorado and Wyoming Driver License offices for all of their hard work and efforts towards raising awareness of and increasing registrations for organ, eye and tissue donation. Nearly 200 Wyomingites await a life-saving transplant. Kely Nelson, staff member at Worland, Basin and Thermopolis Driver License offices, has a special connection to donation and that tie motivates her to educate others. To Kely, registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor is what Heroes do!

Kely's Story

"In 1986, my Grandpa was on the waiting list for a kidney for a number of years. As a kid, we made the hour trip with him 3 days a week to the hospital to go to his dialysis treatments. He had numerous surgeries due to his kidney disease and we prayed often for a donor to make life better for him. One day the call came and my Grandpa was air lifted to Minneapolis, MN (4 1/2 hours away by car), my mom and my aunt were allowed to go with. I was ten at the time but it was the most exciting and scary thing ever at that point in my life."

"We then made multiple trips to see my Grandpa, as he was in Minneapolis for recovery for many months after that. I even got to be in Minneapolis to see the party in the streets when the Twins won the 7th game of World Series in 1987. I stood outside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome with my Grandpa, when Kirby Puckett hit the game winning home run...memories I never would have had without that donor!! Because of the selflessness of that person my Grandpa lived another 6 years. I am grateful for every extra day we had with him."

To support organ, eye and tissue donation in Wyoming, please register here. On average, 98% of donor registrations in the U.S. come through the DMV and Driver License partner transactions. We thank all Driver License staff for their continued work towards increasing the number of registered organ, eye and tissue donors.

Celebrating National DMV Appreciation Week

We are taking this week, September 25-29, 2017, to say thank you to Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs), administrators and licensing partners across the region for their partnership and commitment to asking each customer to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

During the one-week celebration, we will be showing appreciation and saying thank you to staff and leadership of DMVs and driver licensing partners in our community through local events and outreach. Thank you to our DMV partners for helping to save lives every day!

Advocate Spotlight: Gaby Landeros

[caption id="attachment_14483" align="alignright" width="277"] Gaby Landeros, Donor Sister[/caption]

Donor Alliance volunteers and advocates are the heart and soul of our efforts to inspire and inform our community about the importance of registering as organ, eye and tissue donors in Colorado and Wyoming. Each of our volunteers and advocates has their own unique and inspiring story to tell. This month, we are featuring Gaby Landeros, a Donor Sister from Denver, CO.

What has been your favorite thing about volunteering with Donor Alliance?

My favorite thing about volunteering is meeting new people and hearing their stories, from living donors to recipients to donor families. We all share a bond and that’s what makes this so special. It also makes me feel closer to my sister which helps me heal.

If you could meet anyone for lunch or coffee, who would you like to meet and why?

If I could meet anyone for lunch it would be Selena Quintanilla. Being Hispanic I grew up listening to her, it made me look up to her. I also love her music.

What kinds of things do you like to do for fun?

For fun I love to do arts and crafts. I also love to go hiking! to many peoples surprise I also enjoy cleaning for fun!

If you could take an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go?

I would definitely take a backpacking trip and explore New Zealand, I think its so beautiful. Going there is one of my goals in life.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest moment was when I graduated from MSU Denver. I was the first one in my family to attend and graduate college.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

“ Be like a sunflower, so that even on the darkest days you can stand tall and find the sunlight.” It’s more like a quote but the quote was my advice.

What song would you sing at karaoke night?

I would sing anything by Beyonce. I am slightly obsessed with her!

Colorado Moves to Yes-Carryover Process for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor Registry

Colorado is adopting the yes-carryover process for the state’s organ, eye and tissue donor registry with changes to the process beginning September 15, 2017. This process ensures that the rights and responsibilities of those who have made their decision to join the Colorado Donor Registry known are in line with current state law. When a Colorado resident registers as a donor, that decision no longer needs to be proactively renewed and will remain in effect unless they change it. Previously, residents were required to confirm the choice to register each time they renewed their license or state ID because prior decisions on organ, eye and tissue donation were not carried over.

The yes-carryover process will ensure that the registry process meets the intent and requirements of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), allowing residents who have made the choice to register as organ, eye and tissue donors to remain on the donor registry, without the hassle of renewing that choice repeatedly throughout their adult lives. The change is also expected to help increase the number of registered donors in Colorado, therefore resulting in more lifesaving transplants, which will be a great public health benefit to all.

The move to yes-carryover designation does not change residents’ ability to remove their names from the donor registry at any time. This can still be done easily by visiting DonateLifeColorado.org or when visiting the driver license office.

We continue to encourage residents to learn the facts and make an educated, lifesaving decision to register as organ, eye and tissue donors, and to discuss that decision with their families. For more information on organ, eye and tissue donation, visit the About Donation section of our website.

Transplantation Science: Frequently Asked Student Questions

Through Transplantation Science, an award-winning, free program for 7^th through 12^th graders, students throughout Colorado and Wyoming are able to get new perspective on organ, eye and tissue donation. The 50-90 minute workshops at schools throughout the region, aim to give students a better understanding of what it means to be a registered organ, eye and tissue donor and how transplantation works.

During and after these sessions, our educators typically receive a number of great questions from students. It is our hope that this page will serve as a frequently updated resource that answers some of the most common questions our educators see. If you have a question about organ and tissue donation that is not answered here, share it with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/DonateLifeColorado, or Facebook.com/DonateLIfeWyoming, or on Twitter @DonateLifeCO or @DonateLifeWY.

Does the family get to meet who they’re donating to?

Sometimes. Soon after donation occurs, the family of a donor will be given general non-identifying information about their loved one’s recipient(s), including age, gender, region of residence, and hobbies/interests. Donor families and recipients may correspond with each other at any time, and this process is facilitated by Donor Alliance and transplant centers in a way that ensures donor and recipient confidentiality. If correspondence continues over time—and both parties agree—they may begin to communicate directly. Some go on to meet each other in person, while others may be more comfortable communicating without direct contact. It is also possible that either party may decline to correspond or meet for various reasons. To learn more about process, visit our corresponding with recipients FAQ.

How does the life of the donor change after donating their organs or tissues?

The majority of transplanted organs are provided by deceased donors. However, about 25 percent of organs provided for transplant in Colorado are provided by living donors, or people who donate one of their kidneys or a piece of their liver to someone else. Although living donation requires major surgery—and all major surgery comes with some risks—the vast majority of living donors go on to live a full and active life, with no complications from surgery. It is important to note that signing up on the Donate Life Colorado/Wyoming Organ & Tissue Donor Registry at the driver license office or online does not pertain to living donation, only to donation after death. Click here, for more information on living donation. You can also learn more about what you are committing to when you say ‘yes’ at the driver license office, here.

How does donation impact the donor’s family?

Every family deals with grief differently. However, many families find that donation creates something positive out of one of the most difficult moments of their lives. To read more about how donation has touched some of the lives of donor family members, visit our Donor Family Stories page.

How do the doctors feel in that situation?

This is a personal question dependent on each doctor, and one that we are not able to answer. What we can tell you is, the doctors who care for a patient in the hospital are not associated with the doctors who perform the recovery and transplant surgeries on donors. Medical professionals always try all lifesaving measures and death is declared prior to and independent of donation.

How can I help besides by being a donor?

There are a number of ways to help beyond registering to be a donor.

• Most importantly, we encourage you to talk to your family about what your decision is regarding donation. Whether someone is a registered donor or not, it is tremendously helpful for the family through their own grief process when they know what their loved one wanted.
• You may also consider volunteering. We have many events that we staff with our volunteer program, Advocates for Life. The focus of this program is to educate the public about what organ and tissue donation is so that they are able to make educated decisions when they are asked about being a donor at the Driver License Office. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit our volunteer page.
• Another way to consider raising awareness for organ and tissue donation every day is by getting a Donate Life license plate at the DMV.
• Last but certainly not least, consider a living donation. For more information on living donation, visit our Living Donation page to find the transplant center closest to you.

What advances have been made through organ transplants?

As in any medical field, there are constant advances and innovation in organ donation and transplantation. We encourage you to do additional research for information on this topic, and choose the sites that come from reputable medical resources, including:

• OrganDonor.gov
• Johns Hopkins Medicine
• UCHealth
• Children’s Hospital
• Porter Adventist Hospital
• Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center

Can you provide any information about the people whose organs students see in Transplantation Science sessions?

In order to protect the families of the donors whose organs are available for our Transplantation Science program, we are given limited information. The information that your educator gave you included all of the details that we have. The important thing to remember is that those donors were people who decided to donate their organs for educational learning.

What happens to the donor after all of the organs and tissues to be donated have been recovered?

Our donors and their families are treated with great care and respect throughout the entire donation process. Following the recovery of organs and tissues from the donor, the donors are returned in a presentable state to their families, often via funeral homes or services. It is the family’s responsibility to make arrangements with a funeral home. Donor Alliance is not involved in the decision-making process when selecting a funeral home, but will work closely with the staff of the funeral home of choice or the coroners to coordinate where the donor will go post recovery.

How do autopsies affect organ and tissue donation?

Autopsies do not prevent organ and tissue donation. Donor Alliance coordinates closely with the coroner’s office to make sure that donation does not interfere with death investigations. If the coroner is aware that it was the wish of the deceased and/or their family to be an organ and tissue donor, they will work to perform an autopsy within a time period that allows for donation.

Thank you to all of the students who continue to share their questions and comments with us! Organ and tissue donation and transplantation can be difficult to understand, but it is important to ask questions when you don’t understand something. We appreciate any and all questions regarding organ and tissue donation, and continue to be grateful to all of the schools and teachers requesting Transplantation Science to help students gain a better understanding of organ, eye and tissue donation.

To learn more about Transplantation Science, visit our program page.

National Minority Donor Awareness Week

Observed annually, National Minority Donor Awareness Week (August 1 – 7) was created to increase awareness of the need for more organ, eye, and tissue donors, especially among minorities. This special observance honors minorities who have been donors, and encourages others to register as donors as organ, eye and tissue donors. In addition, this observance also encourages the public to take better care of their health in order to reduce the number of people needing a transplant.

In our community, there are more than 2,500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Of those waiting, 42% belong to multicultural communities with 58% of them being Hispanics, 25% of them being African Americans and 9% of them being Asians.

Although organ transplant candidates are not matched based on race/ethnicity, transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be more compatible. That is why it is so important for people in minority communities to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and share their decision with their families.[caption id="attachment_14199" align="alignleft" width="449"] Event at Museum of Nature & Science[/caption]

This August, we partnered with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to celebrate this observance by providing interactive, educational activities at the SCFD Community Free Day on August 6. Through this initiative, we were able to reach more than 10,000 museum guests and educate them on the importance of registering as organ, eye and tissue donors.

You can help those waiting for a second chance at life by saying “yes” at the driver license office or Driver Services, or anytime at Donate Life Colorado.

IN THE NEWS: The top organ, eye and tissue donation stories from around the nation in July

July’s biggest organ, eye and tissue donation news and stories from around Colorado, Wyoming and the U.S.:

Donor Alliance’s Donor Dash holds special meaning for Eric Studesville

In partnering with Donor Alliance, which sponsors the Donor Dash, Studesville found an outlet to help their memory live on. “I wanted to do something to continue the legacy of giving and talk about how unselfish that was to do something for somebody else and potentially save a life, which she did,” Studesville said. Read more.

“It’s an affirmation of his gift of life”; deceased Boulder man’s liver saves another’s life

Keith Stampley traveled to Broomfield from Alton, Ill. to show his thanks to the mother of the man whose liver has given him a new lease on life. Read more.

The Pedal For Life founder shares why the campaign was started

For the founder of the organization, Bruce Brockway, the cause is personal. According to Pedal For Life, Bruce's ten year old son helped save the lives of 132 people who needed a transplant after his passing. Read more.

Tennessee woman surprises husband with match for kidney transplant

Steven Winfree has been going through cycles of dialysis to help him survive. He has kidney failure and desperately needs a transplant. When his wife, Heather Winfree, found out she was a match to donate her kidney to him, she decided to tell him in a very special way and captured the moment on video. Read more.

Donor Dash 2017: Thousands Gather at Denver’s Washington Park to Celebrate the Gift of Life

On July 16, Donor Alliance hosted the 18^th annual Donor Dash at Washington Park in Denver. The Donor Dash is a 5K run/walk that honors the lives of organ, eye and tissue donors; celebrates the lives of organ, eye and tissue recipients; and recognizes those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. This year, more than 5,800 registered participants gathered to support and spread awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation.

A big thank you to all of the participants, speakers, volunteers and organizations who helped make this year’s Donor Dash a huge success!

Video: Heart Recipient Writes Children’s Book

Receiving a heart transplant at just 2 years of age, Syriah wanted to give back. Working with her teacher at Northglenn High School, Syriah wrote a children's book to help kids like her who were facing a transplant. Syriah presented that book along with others written by her classmates to the Transplant Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The hopes are that these patients will read these stories and realize that they're not alone in this! This project was a part of our incredible Transplantation Science Program designed for students in middle and high school. Click here to learn more about this FREE course.

Advocate Spotlight: Noel Morris

[caption id="attachment_13955" align="alignright" width="299"] Noel Morris - Donor Mother[/caption]

Donor Alliance volunteers and advocates are the heart and soul of our efforts to inspire and inform our community about the importance of registering as organ, eye and tissue donors in Colorado and Wyoming. Each of our volunteers and advocates has their own unique and inspiring story to tell. This month, we are featuring Noel, a Donor Mother from Centennial, CO.

Favorite memory volunteering with Donor Alliance: My favorite memory so far was getting to do the Christmas parade in Wyoming with my family. It was a wonderful experience.

If you could take an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go: I would go home to California in the Santa Barbara area.

What is the last book you read or movie you saw: Last book or movie would be Wonder woman and I would recommend it. I love superhero movies.

What is your greatest accomplishment: My greatest accomplishment is graduating from college I’m the only one in my family to graduate from a college so it meant a lot to me and it was a good learning experience.

What song would you sing at karaoke night: That’s a hard one I sing all the time and I love so many different types of music but I guess it would be Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do: If I won the lottery I would take a 3 month vacation.

What is one thing you could not go a day without: I could not go a day without My family.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received: Advice, I can spend my days focusing on all the difficult things I’ve been through and the loss of those I’ve loved or I can choose to be happy for what today will bring and find Joy in God and the people who surround me.