Cobertura Reciente en los Medios
Meet NASCAR Driver Joey Gase at the Denver Auto Show!
Donate Life Colorado is proud to partner with NASCAR driver, and organ, eye and tissue donation advocate, Joey Gase, to encourage Colorado residents to Show Your Heart for National Donate Life Month this April. Visit the Donate Life Colorado booth at the Denver Auto Show from April 5-9 to Show Your Heart for organ, eye and tissue donation by painting a heart on Joey’s car. Gase himself will be on hand on the evening of Wednesday, April 5th to show his appreciation for registered organ, eye and tissue donors.
Gase was only 18 when his mother, Mary Jo, died of a brain aneurysm in 2011, and he made the decision to donate her organs and tissues. He races in her honor and is now as passionate about promoting organ, eye and tissue donation as he is about racing.
Here in Colorado, there are more than 2,500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and thousands more that could benefit from eye and tissue donations. You can Show Your Heart in support of organ, eye and tissue donation during National Donate Life Month. Register to be a donor at the Denver Auto Show or visit DonateLifeColorado.org to sign-up anytime. #ShowYourHeartCO
Advocate Spotlight: Allison McKissen
[caption id="attachment_10782" align="alignright" width="300"]
Allison McKissen - 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 Allison McKissen, a Donor Mother from Grand Junction, CO.
What has been your favorite memory volunteering for Donor Alliance?
I chose to volunteer with Donor Alliance because I am a donor mom. My son, Tanner, was very passionate about organ donation and was a successful donor. I want to carry that passion forward by advocating for, and educating others, on this wonderful cause.
If you could go on an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go and why?
If I could go on an all-expenses paid vacation, I would take my daughter on a Caribbean cruise. We have been through a lot together, and going on a cruise is her dream vacation...although I wouldn't mind it much myself!
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose?
If I could have lunch with anyone it would be Abraham Lincoln.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
If I won the lottery, the first thing I would do is buy a house outright!
What is your favorite season and why?
My favorite season is spring because it is a time of new growth and renewed beauty. Spring has a beautiful energy to it!
What is the last great book you read or movie you saw? Would you recommend it?
The last book I read was "Homer's Odyssey". It was a wonderful story about a blind cat and his journey through life. I would definitely recommend it.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The best piece of advice I ever received came in the form of this quote, "Stand like mountain, flow like water." For me, this is my reminder to flex, learn, live, experience, and grow while standing up for what I believe in and always staying true to myself.
Not Moving
National Kidney Month: 98 Thousand Americans Wait for Kidney Transplants
March is National Kidney Month. There are currently more than 98 thousand Americans waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant, nearly two thousand of which are in Colorado and Wyoming. The average time a patient spends on the waiting list is 3-5 years.
Dean Bicknese, of Casper, WY, had been on the transplant waiting list for a kidney for nearly five years when his wait came to an end thanks to his step-daughter, Shea. After waking up one morning and finding that she could not stop thinking about it, Shea surprised Dean with her decision to donate one of her own kidneys to him. After undergoing all of the necessary testing to determine that Shea was a match, Dean finally got his lifesaving kidney. He is now able to enjoy spending his time fishing and camping instead of having to go to dialysis.
“Donating my kidney was not only a gift to my dad, but to myself as well,” said Shea. “I was able to experience some really beautiful moments and really wonderful people. Through this experience, I have found a new appreciation for life and all of the people in it.”
Dean was fortunate to have found a living kidney donor in Shea. However, not everyone can make the incredible commitment to become a living donor. This month, we urge Colorado and Wyoming residents to consider registering to become organ, eye and tissue donors at the time of their deaths. This is quick and easy to do by saying “yes” at the driver license office or Driver Services, or anytime at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming. Deciding to register as a deceased donor could help save the lives of patients waiting for kidney transplants.
Also, for residents interested in learning more about living donation, please contact one of the local transplant centers listed on our Living Donation resource page.
8 Truths of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
In Colorado and Wyoming, more than 2,500 are waiting for lifesaving transplants, but many misconceptions and myths about organ, eye and tissue donation have prevented people from registering to be donors. Here are eight lesser-known truths about organ donation:
One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save or heal more than 75 through eye and tissue donation. To learn more, or to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, visit DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
IN THE NEWS: February’s top organ, eye and tissue donation stories from around the nation
February’s biggest organ, eye and tissue donation news and stories from around the US:
AP Exclusive: Twin tragedies give survivor a new face
After disfiguring his face over a decade ago, Andy Sandness is now adapting to a new face. Sandness underwent a complex 56-hour surgery that grafted him a new nose, bones, teeth and lips. Read more.
Valentine's Day is also National Donor Day
Andrea Smith from Donor Alliance and Kelly Lang, the mother of an organ donor, joined us on 9NEWS Mornings to talk more about National Donor Day. Read more.
Hall of Famer Rod Carew returns home after heart, kidney transplant surgery
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew returned home during the weekend, seven weeks after heart and kidney transplant surgery. Read more.
Black History Month and Raising Awareness for the Need for Minority Donors
As the achievements by black Americans and recognition of the important role of African Americans in our country’s history are celebrated during Black History month, more than 34 thousand people from the African-American community around the nation are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. In Colorado and Wyoming alone, there are nearly 250 (245) African Americans waiting for an organ transplant.
African Americans are the largest group of minorities in need of an organ transplant. In the U.S., 30 percent of those currently waiting on an organ transplant are African American, and almost 35 percent of people waiting for a kidney transplant are African American. While organs are not matched according to race or ethnicity, transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be more compatible. That is one of the reasons why it is important for people in minority communities to register their decision to be donors.
Just one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save or heal more than 75 through eye and tissue donation. Colorado and Wyoming residents can register as an organ, eye and tissue donor anytime at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Celebrate National Donor Day on February 14th
Observed annually on February 14th, National Donor Day aims to raise awareness of the lifesaving benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation while reminding us of the importance of discussing the topic with loved ones.
Here in Colorado and Wyoming there are over 2,500 patients on the waiting list to receive a lifesaving organ transplant, and thousands more could benefit from lifesaving and healing eye and tissue donations.
Donate Life Colorado and Donate Life Wyoming are encouraging individuals to set aside some time this National Donor Day to discuss organ, eye and tissue donation with their families. Sharing your decision to be a donor is one of the most important conversations you can have with your family. When you join the organ, eye and tissue registry in Colorado or Wyoming, your decision to be a donor ultimately takes priority over your family’s preferences.
Your family will be informed of your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at your time of death, and asked to provide information about your medical and social history. Making the decision for yourself in advance, and then sharing it with your family will make it easier for them during a very difficult time.
Don't wait. Start the conversation with your family now. They'll be glad you did.
You can learn more about the need for donation and how individuals can take action by visiting DonateLifeColorado.org or www.DonateLifeWyoming.org.
Donor Alliance 2016 Year in Review
Last year was another remarkable year for organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Colorado and Wyoming with 139 generous organ donors making 424 lifesaving transplants possible. Donor Alliance, the federally designated non-profit organization that facilitates organ and tissue donation in Colorado and most of Wyoming, also worked with the families of a record 1,710 tissue donors to recover lifesaving and healing tissue to provide bone and skin grafts to thousands of recipients in need.
The organization, which educates the public on organ and tissue donation and manages the state donor registries in Colorado and Wyoming, also announced that 971,982 names in Colorado and 89,111 names in Wyoming were added to the registries in 2016. The donor designation rate, or percentage of individuals joining the state donor registry, was at an all-time high this past year in Colorado with 69.32 percent of the state’s licensed drivers and ID card holders on the registry and 57.64 percent in Wyoming. The two states maintained some of the highest donor designation rates in the country.
“In reflecting on 2016, we continue to be incredibly thankful for our partnerships with the hospitals and transplant centers in our service area, as well as the Division of Motor Vehicles, whose 53 driver license offices continue to offer residents the chance to save lives through organ and tissue donation to the thousands of people they serve in both Colorado and Wyoming. Most importantly, we are grateful to the many Colorado and Wyoming residents that have made the decision to register as organ, eye and tissue donors,” said Sue Dunn, Donor Alliance president and CEO. “While we are encouraged by the strong donor designation rates that we have enjoyed in Colorado and Wyoming for a number of years, we are reminded that there are still more than 2,500 people in Colorado and Wyoming that continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. As always, we will remain dedicated to our mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation, and look forward to another impactful year in 2017.”
2016 was another landmark year for tissue donation and transplantation, including bone, skin, heart valve and joint donations. Topping 2015’s record year of 1,674, Donor Alliance worked with the families of 1,710 generous tissue donors in 2016 and recovered enough tissue to heal or save the lives of tens of thousands in need. As medical technology advances and eligibility criteria expand it has become possible to utilize more types of tissue, which has allowed more people to give the gift of life through tissue donation. Additionally, Colorado and Wyoming’s increasing number of registered donors has translated into more tissue available for transplant.
In addition to the increase in tissue donors, Donor Alliance, which educates about organ and tissue donation and manages the recovery of tissue and organs, facilitated organ recoveries from 139 donors in 2016, helping make 424 lifesaving transplants possible.
Despite the generosity of donor family members and the efforts of Donor Alliance staff and partner organizations, just over 2,500 people in the area continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. To register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
| ORGAN Donation | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Local Organ Donors | 126 | 148 | 109 | 134 | 139 |
| Kidney Transplants | 203 | 241 | 176 | 226 | 233 |
| Liver Transplants | 84 | 109 | 72 | 79 | 84 |
| Heart Transplants | 47 | 43 | 37 | 54 | 54 |
| Lung Transplants | 34 | 45 | 42 | 59 | 44 |
| Pancreas Transplants | 21 | 24 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Small Intestine Transplant | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Local Organs Transplanted | 390 | 463 | 337 | 428 | 424 |
| TISSUE Donation | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Local Tissue Donors | 1017 | 1,177 | 1,590 | 1,674 | 1710 |
| Bone Donors | 555 | 660 | 830 | 911 | 822 |
| Skin Donors | 934 | 1076 | 1,386 | 1401 | 1320 |
| Heart Valve Donors | 105 | 111 | 114 | 117 | 168 |
| Joint Restoration Donors | 83 | 106 | 112 | 119 | 89 |
| Donor Designation Rate | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Colorado | 66.53% | 67.27% | 67.70% | 67.82% | 69.32% |
| Wyoming | 59.11% | 59.35% | 59.58% | 58.56% | 57.64% |
Hospital 101: Donation Ambassador Workshop
By Kim Robuck, Hospital Development Manager
Last year, 151 critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, and other professionals key to the donation process attended a Donor Alliance ambassador training workshop. Hospital ambassadors are provided with in depth education on all aspects of the organ donation process, from the referral through organ & tissue recovery. Following the workshop, they facilitate communication and serve as a resource to their peers. Last year, Donor Alliance collaborated with ambassadors and other healthcare professionals to facilitate 139 organ donations in order to provide 424 lifesaving organs for transplantation.
Coroner’s Corner: Emma Hall, Boulder County Coroner
[caption id="attachment_10303" align="alignright" width="190"]
Emma Hall, Boulder County Coroner[/caption]
Q&A with Boulder County Coroner, Emma Hall
When did you know you wanted to become coroner?
When I was a young child, only four years old, there was a murder that occurred near my home. At the time this incident left me with so many unanswered questions; however, one question always remained with me. Were the family’s questions answered? That question and this case inspired me to take an interest in becoming a coroner.
Do you have a personal tie to organ and/or tissue donation?
I have a cousin whose daughter was hit and killed by a car just one week prior to Christmas many years ago. She was only sixteen at the time; she passed away several days later in the hospital. Multiple discussions were had with many mixed emotions and opinions amongst various family members; although, in the end the final wishes of her parents were to proceed with donation. Her gift to other children helped her parents have some closure in their great loss. These are the types of cases that remind me how important the gift of donation can be to the family.
Tell us about the first time your work involved organ and/or tissue donation.
When I first started working in this field, donation was a high priority for the Coroner’s Office where I was employed. That exposure provided a great opportunity for a lot of education and experience with families and decedents who went through the donation process. There are too many cases to select just one or even a first. They have all left a lasting impression on me and will continue to do just that.
What about organ and/or tissue donation makes you committed to helping facilitate the donation?
I think in this field it’s important to find the positive things when we can. One of the areas that I find very rewarding is working with families to help facilitate the last wishes of their loved ones. I believe, anytime we can ensure their wishes are met we should do just that. When those include donation, I am always committed to help facilitate the donation while still balancing the responsibility to determine manner and cause of death. Although I know we could never heal a loss, I know we can make the interaction less impacting by assisting the families in any way we possibly can.
What is the one thing you would want others to know about your work?
I would want them to know just how rewarding this role can be. I wouldn’t define it as work. Although it may seem odd to some, I find the role of a coroner extremely rewarding. It takes special people with passion to fit into that role, and it’s a very important role. We definitely meet people at the most difficult times of their lives, this is inevitable. However, knowing that we can fulfil the role of assisting families through the process of losing a loved one is extremely rewarding. That’s why it is so much more than just work that I do or a job I currently have.
What are you most proud of?
I am very honored to be able to serve my community as the Boulder County Coroner. As a child it was one of my dreams to make a difference in my community, and I truly feel with my role as a Coroner I have accomplished that. I am proud of the service that I have provided for the community and the improvements I have been able to make to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office as a whole.
What book is on your nightstand?
Live Happy! A book of inspirational thoughts on love, life and laughter.
Staff Spotlight: Alison Gillum
[caption id="attachment_10279" align="alignright" width="300"]
Alison Gillum, Wyoming Community Relations 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: Alison Gillum
Position: Community Relations Coordinator - WY
Years at Donor Alliance: 9 months
Why you chose to work at Donor Alliance: It is very important for me to know that the work I do every day makes a positive impact in the lives of others. I knew that coming to DA would allow me the opportunity to do just that. My job provides me with the privilege of getting to know the most amazing donor families and recipients, all while working alongside some of the most talented, passionate, dedicated people I’ve ever met.
What does donation and transplantation mean to you: Donation and transplantation represents hope and possibility to me. Donation provides hope to donor families at one of the hardest times of their lives, and every time someone new joins the organ, eye and tissue registry, it brings hope to someone in need of a lifesaving transplant. Donation and transplantation provides people with so much possibility through a second chance at life. There is no greater gift that anyone could give or receive.
Any direct connection to donation and transplantation: I don't have a direct connection, but donation and transplantation is a cause I'm very passionate about.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working (hobbies and such): I enjoy spending time with my husband getting out and exploring Wyoming! There is so much natural beauty to appreciate here. We’re still discovering all the hiking trails and parks. Additionally, I’m kind of history nerd, so I really enjoy visiting all of the great historic sites around the state as well.