Cobertura Reciente en los Medios

Casper Coyotes Host Donate Life Weekend

Donor Alliance teamed up with the Casper Coyotes hockey team this year for the first ever Donate Life Weekend to promote Donate Life Wyoming - the organ, eye and tissue registry for Wyoming. It was an action packed weekend as the Coyotes took on their rivals from the south, the Colorado Eagles. Fans with hearts on their driver's licenses had the opportunity to enter to win an autographed Coyotes jersey. By the end of the weekend over 150 registered donors were in the running to win the jersey.

The Yotes rolled out the red carpet on Saturday night for Casper native, heart recipient, and Donor Alliance Advocate for Life, Jason Wynia, who started the game out with a ceremonial puck drop. "We are so grateful to be able to partner with the Casper Coyotes to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation. Their support has really enabled us to get the word out about the nearly 200 Wyomingites currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, and why it's so important to register to be a donor," said Donor Alliance Community Relations Coordinator, Alison Gillum. The Coyotes will be promoting Donate Life Wyoming all season long. If you're interested in catching a game, please visit their website for more information: http://www.caspercoyotes.com/.

“Gift of Life” Balloon Dazzles at Parade of Lights

On December 2nd and 3rd, donor families and recipients came together to celebrate the Gift of Life at the 42nd Annual 9News Parade of Lights in Downtown Denver. Donor Alliance's Gift of Life balloon delighted the crowd! Surrounded by donor families, recipients and their families, the Parade of Lights and our balloon is a touching tribute to the gifts that donation and transplantation bring to the community and families. See all of the photos from the parade below!

2016 Cheyenne Christmas Parade – Celebrating the Gift of Life

The Donate Life Wyoming float made its debut in the Cheyenne Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 26, 2016. A festive group of organ recipients, living donors, donor families and friends came together to ring in the holiday season and celebrate organ, eye and tissue donation. Among the group was a heart recipient from Cheyenne and his donor family from Denver. They had the opportunity to share their incredible story with KGWN/CBS-5 in Cheyenne. See the coverage here.

Coloradans Celebrate Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation at 2016 9NEWS Parade of Lights

This holiday season, Coloradans touched by organ, eye and tissue donation will be raising awareness for the cause and trying to inspire others to register at the 9News Parade of Lights. On December 2 and 3, nearly 50 Coloradans that have either had a family member become a donor, or who have received a transplant themselves, will be escorting a “Gift of Life” balloon in Denver’s 9News Parade of Lights. This annual holiday tradition will feature the Donate Life Colorado “Gift of Life” balloon, which is a jumbo balloon in the shape of a gift box, honoring those who have donated and representing the hope made possible by donation. Families of donors and transplant recipients from throughout Colorado will lead the float.

This year marks the 42^nd Annual 9News Parade of Lights. The two-mile parade in Downtown Denver is free to attend and features marching bands, ornate floats and a special appearance by Santa. For more information about the 9News Parade of Lights, including the parade route, visit: http://denverparadeoflights.com/.

Coloradans can register their decision to be donors by saying ‘yes’ each time they obtain or renew a driver license or state ID, or at www.DonateLifeColorado.org anytime.

Advocate Spotlight: Lucy Williamson

[caption id="attachment_10035" align="alignright" width="145"] Lucy Williamson, Liver Recipient[/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 Lucy Williamson, a liver recipient from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

What has been your favorite memory in volunteering for Donor Alliance?

I was honored to be the keynote speaker the the Wyoming Donor Family Tribute in 2010. It also happened to be on my one-year transplant anniversary. Sharing my gratitude with donor families was a powerful moment for my family, friends and I.

What is the last book you read or movie you saw? Would you recommend it?

I got to read a lot this summer vacation. My favorite was the Martian. I highly recommend the book but have not seen the movie. Another great read is Hidden Kitchens by The Kitchen Sisters.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose and why?

Polar Bear. They are strong, beautiful, wild, respected and comfortable in the water and on land.

If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you choose?

Michelle Obama. Awesome, strong, intelligent woman who has made a difference.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Hire smart people. You can teach them what you need them to know.

Staff Spotlight: Cassie Hertert

[caption id="attachment_10031" align="alignright" width="271"] Cassie Hertert, Technology Solutions Engineer[/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: Cassie Hertert

Position: Technology Solutions Engineer

Years at Donor Alliance: Nearing two.

Why you chose to work at Donor Alliance: I’ve had a deep passion for our mission that was born long before I started working here. When my father began the journey toward a bilateral lung transplant, I learned of the widening gap between registered donors and those in need of a lifesaving organ. As he adjusted to his new pair of lungs, I was surprised to discover among my own family and friends a staggering lack of awareness about donation and their ability to participate. Witnessing the tremendous impact of such a sacred gift inspired me. At Donor Alliance, I am proud to have the opportunity to be part of the solution.

What does donation and transplantation mean to you: It means LIFE – the extension of the recipient’s, and the enduring legacy of the donor’s. It is honoring what has ended and celebrating what has begun.

Any direct connection to donation and transplantation: My dad received a lifesaving lung transplant in 2011. Through this profound gift, he met my two children, walked my sister down the aisle at her wedding, and savored every moment of life with his new lungs.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working (hobbies and such): I spend as much time as I can enjoying the outdoors with my husband, two toddlers, and our dog. When the weather forces us inside, I can usually be found knitting, reading, or strumming my dad’s guitar.

Teaching CO and WY Students the Importance of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation

Students throughout Colorado and Wyoming are getting a new perspective on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through Transplantation Science, an award-winning free program for 7^th through 12^th graders. The program gives students a better understanding of what it means to be a registered donor and how transplantation works.

While Colorado and Wyoming have some of the highest donor designation rates in the country, there are still more than 2,500 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. For this reason, early education is crucial - so young people who are getting ready to get their first driver licenses will be educated before getting asked at the driver license office whether they’d like to register as donors.

The 50 to 90-minute workshops are available to schools in the Colorado and Wyoming Donor Alliance service area. Students can expect a typical Transplantation Science workshop to be hands-on with various stations each set up to cover a different topic related to tissue or organ transplantation, including:

• Which organs are transplantable and how they function in the body
• Examining real, plastinated organ and tissue specimens from the human body
• The conditions leading to the need for a transplant
• How organ allocation works, along with exercises to match example donors and recipients

Donor Alliance is a great enhancement to anatomy, health and biology programs. To learn more about Transplantation Science, visit our program page.

Video: Babette – Donor Mother

Even at a young age, Babette's daughter Brianna knew that she wanted to save lives. Because of Brianna and her family's heroic decision, lives have been saved! You can be a hero too. Register as an organ, eye and tissue donor at the driver's license office or online today at DonateLifeColorado.org!

Dia de los Muertos: Honoring those who have saved lives through donation

Last week, Donor Alliance partnered with the Mexican Consulate and the City of Aurora to celebrate Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday celebrated each year on November 1st and 2nd to remember loved ones who have departed.

With ancient roots that bring together Mexican and European customs, Día de los Muertos is a lighthearted and joyful tribute to the memory of family and friends. The tradition is usually celebrated by creating ofrendas, or offerings to place on elaborate displays commemorating loved ones. As part of the celebration in Aurora, a vibrant community altar was built in the atrium of the Aurora City Hall. A portion of the altar was dedicated to honoring those who gave the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. The altar featured decorative elements and the traditional ofrendas for the departed which included: candles, flowers, bread, food, fruit and other memorial objects.

For more information, and to learn how you can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit www.DonateLifeColorado.org.

Video: I’m Registered! Now What?

So many times we speak to people who ask us, "I've registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor on my license. Now what?" There are so many ways you can help spread awareness about donation and transplantation! Here are a few ideas from us!

Vascular Composite Allograft: What is it?

A Vascular Composite Allograft (VCA) is the transplantation of a composite tissue that may include skin, muscle, bone and nerves and that requires blood flow in order to function after the transplant. The VCAs most likely to be transplanted are faces and limbs, like arms, hands, legs and feet. VCAs are currently rare, but have started to become a more common medical intervention of choice for patients suffering severe injury and disfigurement due to cancer, accidents, assaults, war injuries or other life-threatening illness, like double-hand transplant recipient, Zion Harvey. Last year, Zion became the first child to receive a double hand transplant. Today, he is thriving and smiling and recently shared his inspiring story with the Today Show.

Donor Alliance does not currently recover VCAs in Colorado and Wyoming. If we were to begin facilitating these types of transplants, VCA donation would only take place following a special conversation and authorization by the next of kin, as state donor registries do not pertain to VCAs. The VCA donor and potential recipient are first matched by blood and tissue type compatibility. In the case of face and limbs, transplant teams try to match the donor and recipient by skin color, body size, gender, and in some cases, by the age range appropriate for the recipient.

Click here to learn more about the different types of donation, or to learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and the reasons to say “yes” to deceased donation, visit our “Why Donate?” page, and to register to become a donor, visit Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming.

Faith and Donation

Many religions consider organ donation to be a priceless gift and give their full support. Other religions leave the choice to the individual and fully support that decision. In Judaism, it is considered a great mitzvah and an honor to give the gift of life through organ donation. Followers of Islam are not only permitted to give their organs upon death or while living, but are encouraged to do so. The Vatican supports the act of organ donation for all Catholics and considers it an act of charity and love.

In fact, all major faiths support organ, eye and tissue donation. Donor Alliance has provided an online toolkit for you to share with your faith community. This includes: church bulletins, poster, seed packets and Pope cards for order, a sample sermon, talking points and ways to share information about the lifesaving gift of organ, eye and tissue donation.

Share these resources with your faith community at any time throughout the year or encourage your faith community to celebrate National Donor Sabbath in November.