Cobertura Reciente en los Medios
Staff Spotlight: Myrna Garcia
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: Myrna Garcia
Position: Family Support Coordinator
Years at Donor Alliance: 15!
Why you chose to work at Donor Alliance: I started out working as a freelance translator for some of the training videos and authorization documents for Donor Alliance. When an Family Support Coordinator position came up I jumped at the chance to work here full time!
Why do you like working at Donor Alliance: I am constantly impressed with the dedication and teamwork shown by my colleagues. Never a dull moment in this work! In addition, we get amazing benefits, scheduling, and other considerations. It’s no wonder that Donor Alliance continues to win the Top 100 Workplaces award and we are well on our way to Baldrige recognition!
What does donation and transplantation mean to you: We quite literally and directly save lives every day. Not many people can say that about their jobs. It’s an honor to work with our donor families.
Any direct connection to donation and transplantation: Our family had two experiences with donation and the process was fascinating to me. The first one was with the loss of my mother; someone from Donor Alliance came to us to explain that she was not a candidate for donation due to medical issues. A few years later we lost my uncle and he was worked up as an organ and tissue donor. Most people never have the opportunity to see the donation process and I was overwhelmed with the professionalism and compassion that my family experienced during our time of loss.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working (hobbies and such): I have three teenagers, three dogs and two cats. Not much “free” time with all of that going on, but I love doing home improvement projects and learning skills like tiling, installing wood floors and landscaping. Our family goes to Comic Con every year and we enjoy geeking out together!
Eric Studesville Partners with Donor Alliance to Raise Awareness for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
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Eric Studesville, a coach for the Denver Broncos[/caption]
Eric Studesville, a coach for the Denver Broncos, has partnered with Donor Alliance to honor organ, eye and tissue donors, candidates, recipients and their families while also raising awareness for the cause. We are thrilled to have Eric’s support along with all of our advocates and volunteers that have been touched by donation.
Eric's Story:
A passionate advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation – and a registered donor himself – Eric witnessed first-hand the impact of a lifesaving organ transplant when his mother gave the gift of life to a close family friend through a living kidney donation. While Eric realizes that not everyone can be a living organ donor, he hopes that by joining forces with Donor Alliance he can inspire and encourage all residents to say ‘yes’ to being an organ, eye and tissue donor at the time of their death.
Join Eric at the Donor Dash:
Join Eric and thousands of other Coloradans touched by organ, eye and tissue donation at the 17th annual Donor Dash 5k run/walk this Sunday, July 17 at Washington Park at 8 a.m. Eric will be signing autographs, posing for pictures and meeting with participants in the expo area from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Register for the Donor Dash, today!
Volunteers Walk to Represent The Nearly 200 Wyomingites In Need of a Lifesaving Transplant
On July 12th, Donor Alliance will participate in the Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo Parade to raise awareness for Donate Life Wyoming - the Wyoming organ, eye and tissue registry. Donor families, organ recipients, living donors, and friends will all walk to represent the nearly 200 Wyomingites that are currently on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant.
In honor of this year’s parade theme “Find Your Adventure”, parade walkers will receive commemorative “Treasure Life’s Journey” t-shirts and carry a special banner along with Donate Life balloons. We'll have giveaways and plenty of candy for the thousands of parade goers that will gather in downtown Casper for this annual tradition.
All are welcome to join in the fun as we encourage and inspire Wyomingites to register as organ, eye and tissue donors to save and heal lives! More information can be found here.
Inspiring Colorado and Wyoming Residents to Say “Yes” Through Advocates For Life
At Donor Alliance, our mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation, and our volunteers are a vital component in fulfilling that mission. The Donor Alliance Volunteer program, Advocates for Life, is made up of nearly three hundred donor family members, transplant recipients, transplant candidates and others who have been touched by donation and transplantation.
The program begins with a training session, in which advocates are given a full introduction to Donor Alliance, the Donate Life brand and the donor registry process, among other important areas prior to volunteering for a community event. Advocates assist Donor Alliance in taking action towards registering organ and tissue donors throughout Colorado and Wyoming, typically at community and large events across both states.
We view our Advocates for Life as essential partners in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Donor Alliance and help share the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor and sharing their decision with their family and friends.
To learn more about the Advocates for Life Program and how to become a volunteer, visit our volunteer page.
Cayde – Lung Recipient – Cheyenne, WY
HOSA Awards ‘Partner of the Year’ to Transplantation Science Program
Jason – Heart Recipient – Casper, WY
In 2009 Jason’s world was turned upside down when he went from a healthy, active life to nearly dying in just a month. He began experiencing symptoms of a cold that got progressively worse. Upon visiting a doctor, he was diagnosed with an unusual strain of pneumonia. Just four weeks later he had congestive heart failure, a condition that threatened his life.
A left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, was implanted in Jason’s chest to help his heart pump blood throughout his body and keep him alive. He was also placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant.
Jason waited 9 long months using the LVAD, which required him to carry around an attached computer and replace batteries frequently. During that time, he received one false alarm from the transplant center when they believed they had a heart for him, which later fell through. Finally, in February of 2010, Jason received word from his doctors that a heart was ready. Twelve hours later, Jason was in surgery.
Within a matter of weeks, Jason was on the road to a full recovery. In the years that followed Jason resumed full-time work and an active life with his wife, including hiking, camping, seeing live music and more. He has also completed his Business Degree in Human Resources.
“Five years ago, I was dead. Because of my transplant, I am alive. And I couldn’t be alive without my donor,” Jason said. “I am thankful for every day that I wake up and can honor my donor family by continuing to keep their loved one’s memory alive by being strong and helping others whenever I can.”
Commemorating National Donate Life Month 2016
For National Donate Life Month last month, Colorado and Wyoming joined celebrations across the country to help encourage residents in both states to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Trees were planted and dedicated across the two-state area by transplant recipients honoring their donors, living donors celebrating the life of their recipients and families of donors memorializing their loved ones who gave the gift of life.
Colorado and Wyoming residents and businesses were also invited to join in on the month’s celebrations on National Blue & Green Day, Friday, April 15. Many local news anchors joined residents and organizations across the region in wearing blue or green to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation and the need for registered donors.
Thank you to those who planted and dedicated trees last month, and to all of the Colorado and Wyoming residents and organizations that helped make National Donate Life Month 2016 a huge success!
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Do you know what the heart on your driver license means?
Celebrating National Donate Life Month in Wyoming
National Donate Life Month was a huge success in the state of Wyoming this year! Natrona County DA and heart recipient, Mike Blonigen, helped us kick off the month with a flag raising ceremony at Wyoming Medical Center. Elsewhere across the state, there were celebrations and tributes recognizing the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. National Donate Life Month Banners could be seen flying high over Cody and Powell, and in Buffalo, high school students participated in our Transplantation Science program where they learned first-hand about the science behind the transplantable organs and how they function.
In Casper, we partnered with Keep Casper Beautiful, to plant 10 trees in Meadow Park in honor of organ, eye and tissue donors. We had a great turnout with several dozen people showing up to lend a hand, including heart recipients Mike Blonigen and Jason Wynia, and their friends and family. Participants noted that it was a wonderful way for them to give back and honor the generous gifts of organ, eye and tissue donors.
We rounded out the month with the Wyoming Donor Dash in Casper. Despite the cold, snowy weather, nearly 130 people gathered to run or walk in honor of organ, eye and tissue donors and recipients. Before the race, participants heard from donor and recipient families, and released green and blue balloons in memory of their loved ones.
To close out the festivities, we were joined by several donor families at the Wyoming Medical Center to lower the Donate Life flag and reflect on the mission of Donate Life Wyoming. In all, April presented many opportunities to inspire others and bring awareness to the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. We would like to sincerely thank everyone that helped to make National Donate Life Month such a success. We couldn't do it without you!
Día del Nino: Celebrate the lives of children saved by organ, eye and tissue donation
Día del Niño (Children’s day), a Mexican observance celebrated on April 30th, is dedicated to honoring and appreciating children. At Donor Alliance, we are celebrating the lives of the more than 47 thousand children in the U.S. who have received a second chance at life through organ, eye and tissue donation. In our community alone, the lives of 50 children were saved or healed in 2015 thanks to the generosity of the donors who said yes to organ, eye and tissue donation.
Lella, from Delta, CO is one of the children whose life was saved thanks to a liver transplant she received in 2008. At two months old, baby Lella was diagnosed with Biliary Artresia, a rare condition that closes the tube that drains the bile from the liver into the intestine. Doctors told Lella’s parents that her case was particularly rare. After enduring a five-hour surgery – that did not fix the problem – and several additional complications, at just six months old, Lella was put on the transplant waiting list.
In August of 2008, her parents received the call that they had been waiting for. A liver was available for Lella. After undergoing a 10-hour transplant surgery, Lella was finally on the road to recovery. Initially, Lella was required to take 16 medications following her transplant. Now, seven years later, she is down to only taking one. Lella is now the picture of health; an exceptionally happy and active child. She plays t-ball, swims competitively and loves reading. Her mother Lyndall jokes that you wouldn’t even know that Lella had had a transplant unless you saw her in a swimsuit.
Today, we also remember the 17 children in our community and the more than 1,900 children around the country who are still waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Registering to become an organ, eye and tissue donor could help save the lives of children like Lella. Talk with your family about organ, eye and tissue donation, and register today at DonateLifeColorado.org.
Connor – Two Time Heart Recipient
Connor was diagnosed with a deadly heart disease that required 2 life-saving heart transplants by the time he was 11 years old. Today Connor is an active 24-year-old studying economics and politics. He’s also a musician and plays drums in a punk band. “I hope my story helps people understand that members of their community can and do live long and healthy lives through the miracle of organ donation,” Connor says. “Every day I am profoundly grateful to be alive, and I am powerfully aware that I am because of the generosity of two donors and their families.”