New Ways to Celebrate: Coloradans and Wyomingites Celebrate National Donate Life Month Virtually

In response to COVID-19, we encouraged the community to celebrate National Donate Life Month (NDLM) virtually this April. National Donate Life Month is an important time to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and celebrate those who have given the ultimate gift, the gift of life. Instead of postponing our National Donate Life Month activities, we adapted and moved forward with virtual initiatives!

We invited communities across our region to #ShowYourHeart with an act of kindness from home! Our volunteers and the two-state community stepped up to show kindness during a time when we all need it the most, and to raise awareness for donation. This is so vital, because the need for lifesaving transplants has not slowed down amid the pandemic. Waitlist candidates continue to need transplants as their illnesses do not pause.

National Donate Life Month Highlights:

Tips on Staying Sane During Quarantine from a Two-time Heart Transplant Recipient

For his act of kindness, our volunteer Rob Fettner shared tips on staying safe and sane during quarantine via an interview with Denver’s FOX 31.

Rob spent 185 days in the hospital under quarantine while waiting for a heart transplant, so he is no stranger to sheltering in place. During his interview, Rob reminded viewers to keep a sense of humor, take things just one day at a time and try not to over-analyze things.

Check out Rob’s full interview with FOX 31.

Celebrating Organ Donation from Safe Distances

Almost a year ago, 2-year-old Kennedie from Parker, CO received a lifesaving liver transplant. To celebrate her one year “liverversary” and raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation, the Parker Police Department, the American Liver Foundation Rocky Mountain Division, Donate Life Colorado and members of the community all joined together for a drive-by parade to celebrate.

http://www.facebook.com/katelyn.roth.777/videos/pcb.950073615453133/950073102119851/?type=3&theater

#ShowYourHeart with Acts of Kindness Were Shared all over Facebook

We loved seeing all the unique and creative ways our community showed support on our Donate Life Wyoming and Donate Life Colorado Facebook pages using #ShowYourHeart. Our community performed many acts of kindness from rock painting, picking up trash, feeding frontline workers, making masks, dropping off groceries for neighbors to decorating windows and homes with Donate Life hearts in support.

In all, 35 hashtags were shared during April. Thank you to everyone who participated.

A Virtual ‘Thank You’ to Our Healthcare Workers

Some of our amazing Advocates for Life volunteers joined together to recognize our staff members who continue to work tirelessly in the hospitals to fulfill our mission of saving lives. Their messages of encouragement and personal stories of being impacted by donation and transplantation remind our staff why their hard work is so important.

http://www.facebook.com/DonateLifeColorado/videos/279009239898609/

Our first ever virtual National Donate Life Month would not have been a success without the help from our volunteers, the Colorado and Wyoming communities, and our dedicated staff who has flexibly responded to change plans amid the pandemic. Thank you to all who showed up virtually and from safe distances to #ShowYourHeart.

Keep the Kindness Going:

1. Sign Up: Since organ, eye and tissue donation is the ultimate act of kindness, be sure to sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor online at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org, any time!
2. Volunteer: Have a connection to organ, eye and tissue donation or maybe you’re passionate about the cause? Join our 200 active volunteers in our Advocate for Life program! We’re still holding virtual trainings so learn how you can get started!
3. Contribute to the Conversation: Follow us on social, share your story and interact with our posts! By sharing our posts, you can help raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation. Follow our Donate Life Colorado Facebook and/or our Donate Life Wyoming Facebook.