Cobertura Reciente en los Medios
Transplant recipient letter to the editor: Celebrate National Donate Life Month
We thank Nieves, of Alamosa, for sharing her heartfelt advocacy for the cause of organ, eye and tissue donation with her hometown newspaper, The Valley Courier, earlier this month. Nieves is a liver transplant recipient; read her message:
Letter: Celebrate National Donate Life Month this April at Alamosa Tree Planting
After being diagnosed with kidney disease, I was on dialysis for four years when my sister offered to be a living donor and give me one of her kidneys. She was a match, but about a year after testing, due to other health complications was no longer a viable donor.
After hearing the bad news, I decided to ask my doctor if I could get placed on the transplant waiting list. After being on the list for a year, I received the call that a kidney had become available. In October 2013, my daughter and son-in-law drove me from Alamosa to the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, but when we got there, I was told there was something wrong with the kidney and it was no longer viable for a transplant. We were on our way back to Alamosa, after hearing the bad news, when I got another call from the transplant center. Another kidney had become available and seemed to be a perfect match. We returned to the hospital and my long-awaited transplant finally took place.
It has been almost three years since my transplant and I am doing really well. I am now able to enjoy time with my family, go to church and care for my grandchildren. My new kidney has given me a second chance to enjoy life. So, this April, in celebration of National Donate Life Month and in memory of my donor, I will be giving life by planting a tree in Carroll Park at 10AM on Saturday, April 30.
I invite my community of Alamosa residents to help me raise awareness for this important cause by attending my tree dedication or joining in on the month’s other celebrations, especially National Blue & Green Day, which takes place on Friday, April 15. On this day, the public is encouraged to wear blue and green in an effort to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation and the need for registered donors.
Saying yes to organ, eye and tissue donation saves lives. Transplants offer patients a new chance at healthy and productive lives, returning them to their families, friends and communities. At the time of their death, just one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save or heal more than 50 lives through eye and tissue donation.
Colorado residents can register their decision to be organ, eye and tissue donors at the time of death by saying ‘yes’ each time they obtain or renew a driver’s license or state ID, or at www.DonateLifeColorado.org. Anyone can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, regardless of age, race, medical history, religion or income. Even those with chronic conditions, such as hepatitis and diabetes, can register to give the gift of life at any age.
Natrona County DA speaks about his heart transplant
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Natrona County DA and heart recipient Mike Blonigen. Photo courtesy of Casper Star Tribune[/caption]
Natrona County, Wyoming District Attorney Michael Blonigen is ready to speak about the life-saving gift he received last fall. Suffering from multiple heart complications after undergoing bypass surgery, stints and even a pacemaker, Blonigen was told by his doctors that his heart was only working at 10% capacity and that he would need a life-saving heart transplant. In October, 2015 Mike was airlifted to the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora where he received the gift that saved his life. “Somewhere out there … is a young man’s family and they did a remarkable thing and I’m trying to repay that a little bit,” Blonigen told the Casper Star Tribune. “If you’ve been lucky enough as I have to be on the receiving end, I think you really owe it to those people to speak up and encourage organ donation.” Blonigen will be taking part in a special tree planting ceremony to honor his donor in Casper on April 29th. Click here to read the full interview from the Casper Star Tribune.
Colorado Springs organ donor’s family honored at “National Donate Life Month” ceremony
Every year, countless lives in Southern Colorado are saved and improved through the gift of life: organ, eye and tissue donation. Penrose-St. Francis Health Services held their flag raising ceremony on Thursday, April 21st to honor organ, eye and tissue donors, families and recipients and observe April as National Donate Life Month. Among the crowd at the hospital was Sheryl Marlor, an R.N. with Penrose-St. Francis Health System. Sheryl knows just how life-saving and healing donation can be. The gift of life has touched Sheryl personally. Last year when her husband Dave passed away, he made it clear that he wanted to be someone's hero. Dave said yes to donation. Click here to watch the story from KRDO-13 in Colorado Springs.
Paint the Town Blue and Green
Did you notice a your neighborhood dressing more colorful than usual last week? On April 15th, people all over the country celebrated Blue and Green Day by breaking out their best blue and green outfits to show their support for and bring awareness to organ, eye and tissue donation. Colorado and Wyoming were no exception, with thousands of people wearing their colors in support. From babies and puppies to news anchors, hospitals and offices, we were flooded with photos from people eager to show what donation and transplantation means to them!
On behalf of all of us at Donor Alliance, we want to thank everyone who made Blue and Green Day so special this year. But it doesn't have to stop in April! We encourage everyone to wear your pins, shirts and other Donate Life apparel anytime to help bring awareness to the 2,400+ people in Colorado and Wyoming who are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. Thank you for all of your support!
Step-Daughter Gives Step-Dad the Gift of Life
April is National Donate Life Month, a celebration of those who have saved lives through the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation. It's also a reminder that there are nearly 200 people in Wyoming waiting for a life-saving transplant. One Casper man was on the list, waiting for a kidney for nearly five years. But his wait was cut short when his step-daughter surprised him with an unexpected gift.
Dean Bicknese adopted Shea when she was four years old. Little did he know then about the blood bond he and his adopted daughter would share someday. "I literally woke up one morning, and it was the first thing on my mind. And throughout the day, i would just kind of notice that it was my go-to thought. And that could be nothing other than god putting it on my heart to do it,” says Shea Bicknese. Dean's kidneys shut down. He was in need of a kidney. After four-and-a-half years on the transplant wait list, Shea decided to donate one of her own kidneys. Click here to watch the story from KCWY 13 in Casper, WY.
Donor Alliance Named a 2016 Top Workplace In Colorado By The Denver Post
Donor Alliance has been awarded a 2016 Top Workplaces honor by The Denver Post for the third consecutive year. The notable list is ranked solely on employee feedback in a survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. Several aspects of workplace culture were measured, including Alignment, Execution, and Connection, just to name a few.
We are incredibly proud of this three-time distinction, a testament to our fantastic team and the rewarding, mission-driven culture we strive towards fostering every day.
One hundred companies were selected for the 2016 Top Workplaces award, which The Denver Post published a complete list of on April 10th.
Wyoming Heart Recipient Raises Flag for National Donate Life Month
For over 30 year, Natrona County District Attorney Mike Blonigen has done his part to keep the streets of Casper safe. The prosecutor is known for his strong and eloquent demeanor in the courtroom. What many people don't know, is that Blonigen faced the biggest battle of his life not in a courtroom, but in a hospital bed. In late 2015, he received a badly needed heart transplant. On April 1st, the DA took the time to reflect on his transplant during a flag raising event at the Wyoming Medical Center to kick off National Donate Life Month. Click here to read the story from the Wyoming Medical Center.
Donor Alliance Motored to the 2016 Denver Auto Show!
Donor Alliance had a great presence as an exhibitor at the Denver Auto Show – and this year Donor Alliance was surrounded by Camp Jeep to one side, and luxury marquees (with at least two one-million dollar cars on display) on the other. The new booth area helped to increase awareness of and dialogue around donation as we talked to upwards of 18,000 people from March 16th to the 20th! We had one of the most popular booths at the show with a line almost the whole time to talk to our dedicated Advocates for Life! Donor Alliance once again partnered with the DMV, who encouraged the public to renew their driver licenses and plates online (where people can say ‘yes’ to being an organ, eye and tissue donor).
The Denver Auto Show is one of the largest events in Colorado. This allows Donor Alliance Advocates and staff at the booth to answer the public’s questions about donation, share inspirational stories and relay the correct facts about donation and how it impacts our local community – currently, there are nearly 2,700 people in Colorado waiting for a lifesaving transplant and many more in need of lifesaving and healing tissue. And knowing that everybody likes give-aways, there was plenty of items to spin-and-win – t-shirts, foam ‘stress’ cars, litter bags and more.
Coroner’s Corner: Jill Romann, Douglas County
Elected in November 2014, Jill Romann is serving her first term as Douglas County Coroner. Prior to being elected, she served as Chief Deputy Coroner under the previous Douglas County Coroner.
What about organ and/or tissue donation makes you committed to helping facilitate the donation? I can provide the opportunity of hope in that their loved one will not only live on in their hearts and the hearts of friends and other family, but they will literally live on through organ and tissue donation. I promote a way in which their giving and loving spirit in life can be recognized even in death.
What is the one thing you would want others to know about your work? I’ve been knocking on doors for 25-almost 26 years, and it is time to stop and say Thank you Donor Alliance and thank you to your supporters; Thank you Lion’s Clubs, Lion’s Eye Banks and all other donor agencies. There will be more doors and more parents, but there will never be a more important tool in my professional tool-belt than providing the opportunity for my patients to continue to give in death as they did in life.
What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of saying the right things at the right time, to the right person, all while recognizing and accepting, their terror, anguish, and inability to comprehend or communicate. I’m proud of providing immediate and eventual answers. I’m most proud of them knowing that I too, cherish the lost life of their loved one and I will do everything possible to help them live on.
What book is on your nightstand? The Bible rests on my nightstand along with “Middle East for Dummies.”
Donation 101: Innovation & Teamwork
INNOVATION & TEAMWORK
By Kim Robuck, Hospital Development Manager
Frosting-covered fingers, overloaded carts bearing donation booth items, blue and green day outfits, and sore feet! Hospitals may notice a whirlwind of activity from our Donation Consultants this month as we facilitate donation displays, cake and flag ceremonies, tree plantings, and other events in recognition of National Donate Life Month in our hospitals. While this provides a great opportunity to share stories about the importance of donation, it is only a small part of the work of Donor Alliance's hospital development team.
A typical day for a Donation Consultant starts with a morning conference call to discuss case activity. This communication is critical to ensure that the team works together to coordinate follow-up calls, onsite evaluations, and to provide the appropriate level of support for hospitals.
Nurses, chaplains, physicians, social workers, respiratory therapists, and other key hospital staff fulfill a crucial role in the donation process. Donation would not be possible without this teamwork and we are so appreciative of the support! To strengthen these relationships, you will often find our Donation Consultants rounding in hospitals to provide education, case outcome information, and assess needs.
When we are not following up on cases, you may find us assisting with medical record reviews, providing donation related data to donor teams and quality departments, training hospital designated tissue requestors, or sharing best practices with other organ procurement organizations and re
covery agencies.
One of the messages we have heard from managers, educators, and key hospital staff is that dedicated time for donation education can be a challenge. As a result, our team has worked hard to find innovative ways to share information. This has resulted in quick online quizzes to assess donation knowledge, collaborative coffee cart education rounds, skills day competencies, and newsletter articles. We are now also able to provide CEPTCs at formal educational events, including our Donation Summit and, most recently, our Ambassador Training Workshops. These new workshops provide an in-depth clinical focus on the organ donation process and highlight the importance of working together to maximize the number of lives saved through organ and tissue donation.
Our May Ambassador Training is full, but if you are a medical professional interested in continuing education on organ and tissue donation check DonorAlliance.org/programs/hospital-development-programs for more information on our October Northern Colorado Workshop and others coming soon.
Advocate Spotlight: Warren Wells
After about 30 years of diabetes, Warren's mother’s kidneys started to shut down and she began dialysis. He knew he had to do something to help. After a few months of extensive testing, Warren gave his mother the ultimate gift when donated a kidney to her on Valentines Day of 2003. All of this happened while he was on active duty in the Army in a unit preparing to deploy to Iraq. Thanks to some understanding leadership, Warren was allowed to donate and recuperate before deploying and meeting my unit later on. Now Warren is one of Our Advocates for Life and volunteers to help spread awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. Help us in thanking this hero!
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Staff Spotlight: Kristina Gleason
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: Kristina Gleason
Position: Medical Record Review Coordinator
Years at Donor Alliance: Ten fantastic years!
Why did you choose to work at Donor Alliance? Gratifying and noble work.
Why do you like working at Donor Alliance? I have an impact on people’s lives and am surrounded by people who work hard and care about the work they do. It is an opportunity to help people.
What does donation and transplantation mean to you? Simple, saving and enhancing someone’s life.
Do you have a direct connection to donation and transplantation? Yes. Many years ago, my best friend’s father needed a liver transplant to continue living. Fortunately he received the gift of life, a liver transplant, that has been successful for over a decade, coming up on two decades. I personally witnessed the anxiety and stress of a family in desperate need of a lifesaving organ transplant. My best friend has been able to enjoy many additional years with her father, thanks to the generosity of a donor family.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? I enjoy reading non-fiction, specifically about health, history and science. I enjoy time with my two daughters and am a certified scuba diver.