of Hope
2015 C A L EN DA R • 2014 A N N UA L R EP O RT
Of the many images that stand out from this past year, the gathering of thousands of transplant recipients, living donors and donor families in Houston, Texas, for the Donate Life Transplant Games of America is one that will forever be etched in our memories. In the backdrop, the Donate Life Texas Registry continued to grow at record pace, reaching 6 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors, and offering hope to the thousands who wait. And we continued our quest to make LifeGift both a smart and healthy place to work. Dedicated to our core values of passion, compassion and professionalism, we developed improved training for LifeGift staff at all levels, so that our expertise continues to shine. We have also invested in upgrading our technology infrastructure to help propel us into the future so we can help more people in need of transplantation. These pictures could not be developed without the generosity of donors and donor families and the leadership of our Board of Directors, talented staff, dedicated volunteers, hospital and transplant program partners, and our wonderful communities across Texas. All were aligned this past year with the expectation that good can come from any situation. We invite you to enjoy the “Snapshots of Hope� that follow. With warm regards, Kevin A. Myer, MSHA President and CEO
Roberta Schwartz, PhD, MHS Chair, Board of Directors
SION
ATE
Professional
Throughout 2014, we captured many snapshots of offering hope to patients in need of organ, eye and tissue transplants, while at the same time being present for families experiencing the loss of a loved one.
PAS COMPASSIONATE
Dear Friends,
977
0 1000
Number of lives saved across LifeGift:
71
%
1,061 TOTAL ORGANS RECOVERED
of people in LifeGift’s service area said “YES” to donation when asked.
Organ donors 292
2014 2013
276
Tissue donors 2014 2013
From Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 each year
948 1,025
Number of organs shared
1 1
1
16
194
2
5
5
3 851*
Organ transplants performed Kidney
5
2
5
1
1 4 4 6
Patients waiting for organ transplants
2,531 97
Heart/Lung
4
4
9
National LifeGift
Heart
2
2
16
1
80
*Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock and Amarillo
2
7
1
with patients outside LifeGift’s service area:*
4
23 6
16,896 463
Kidney/Pancreas 762
34
National
Heart
4,043 249
Heart/Lung Kidney
LifeGift
54 5
109,525
Kidney/Pancreas 2,102
3,835 68
Liver
6,455 222
Liver
Lung
1,923 134
Lung
1,684 79 1,199 22
Pancreas
256 3
Pancreas
Small Intestine
109
Small Intestine
LifeGift and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS percentages for Calendar Year 2013)
0
16,301 1,042
258
1
Based on a snapshot of LifeGift and UNOS waiting lists as of Oct. 6, 2014 Numbers include those awaiting multiple organs
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The big picture: A shout-out to the Texas Department of Public Safety
32
%
The Donate Life Texas Registry continued its growth trend in SIGN UP 2014, topping 6 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors. SAVE LIVES With each registration, increasing numbers of Texans offer hope to the more than 123,000 people awaiting transplants across the country. In August 2014, four months ahead of our year-end goal, the registry has enrolled 30 percent of the adult population in Texas and has risen steadily since then. This upward climb could not be possible without our friends at the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS). The leadership has embraced the mission and has allowed Donate Life Texas the opportunity to teach and inspire TxDPS personnel about how impactful the simple question, “Would you like to register as an organ donor?� can really be. Blue PMS 278 U 39c14m
Green PMS 367 U 32c 59y
of Texans are registered organ, eye and tissue donors* DonateLifeTexas.org
As our relationship with the TxDPS continues to evolve, we look forward to future collaborations that bring even more Texans to the registry, saving more lives than ever before. AN UPWARD CLIMB 6M 5M 4M 3M
6 million*
2M 1M
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
*as of October 2014
A close-up on multicultural affairs LifeGift hosted the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) annual meeting, “A New Landscape: The Art of Working with Multicultural Communities,” Sept. 16-19 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. Nearly 100 donation and transplant professionals, ranging from physicians to executives to community outreach coordinators, gathered in the Bayou City to learn about the most recent industry updates that affect multicultural communities. “It is increasingly difficult to characterize our multicultural communities with broad brush terms and generalizations,” said Kevin Myer, president and CEO of LifeGift. “Understanding how to ‘know’ our communities, where people of various ethnicities live and what is effective in helping these communities donate, are all very important topics every donation and transplant organization should be thinking and learning about.” Special thanks to the AMAT planning committee for the hard work it put toward coordinating the conference, as well as Reginald C. Adams, Houston artist, for allowing us to use his work in the conference materials. His artistic expression captures the essence of the ‘art of working with multicultural communities.’ Reginald, along with LifeGift volunteers and staff, designed a mural that hangs in the training room at LifeGift. Volunteers and staff gathered to paint the canvases that collectively created one work of art. The mural is proudly displayed in the Houston office, inspiring staff and volunteers alike.
We look forward to next year’s AMAT meeting, which will take place in Detroit, Michigan.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. R. Patrick Wood Joins LifeGift Full Time Effective Jan. 1, 2015, LifeGift Chief Medical Officer R. Patrick Wood, M.D., F.A.C.S., will join the organization full time. Chief medical officer since 2012, Dr. Wood will continue to serve LifeGift’s communities in his new full-time role. “Dr. Wood brings a wealth of clinical experience in both donation and transplantation, and he is wellconnected with many of the transplant clinicians in LifeGift’s donation service area,” said Kevin Myer, president and CEO of LifeGift. “His clinical expertise and leadership are critical to the organization’s future as we improve our ability to offer more hope, maximizing and optimizing every organ, eye and tissue donation opportunity. I look forward to his full-time presence at LifeGift and the many talents he brings to our lifesaving work day in and day out.” Dr. Wood is no stranger to LifeGift. He joined the organization as regional medical director in 1991 and has served on the Board of Directors for the past decade. In addition to being a former president of the Texas Transplantation Society, he has served on a number of United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) committees. Dr. Wood established the liver transplant programs at the University of Texas, Memorial Hermann Health System, Texas Children’s Hospital and CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and performed the first living related liver and split liver transplants in Houston.
Robert & paul Boudwin
Advocate and Recipient’s Son (Robert) Double-lung Recipient (Paul), Feb. 15, 2012 Houston Methodist Hospital Houston, Texas
As “Clutch,” the Hall-of-Fame mascot for the Houston Rockets, Robert Boudwin lives to make other people laugh. But things got serious for the giant teddy bear in 2012 when his father, Paul, needed a double-lung transplant. Paul received the lifesaving gift on Feb. 15 from Ian Heidemann, 22. It inspired Robert to promote the cause every way he can, from getting an “organ donor” tattoo to running a half marathon in full costume. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/BoudwinFamily
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 • National Blood Donor Month • National Thank You Month
New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade (Donate Life Rose Parade Float)
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Chevron Houston Marathon/ Aramco Houston Half-Marathon
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Wayne & Sharon Battles
Heart Recipient (Wayne), June 23, 1997 St. Paul University Hospital (UT Southwestern) Dallas, Texas
In October 1995, Wayne Battles, 55, went in for a routine physical, only to learn he had congestive heart failure. He would need a new heart to live. But on a warm day in June 1997, Wayne got that heart, thanks to the selfless gift of a family grieving for their 16-year-old daughter, Lindsay. Today at 73, Wayne enjoys spending time with his wife of 52 years, Sharon, watching their six grandchildren grow into adults, and spreading hope by visiting other patients who are waiting for transplants. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/WayneBattles
Sun Mon
Tue Wed
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Groundhog Day
National Wear Red Day
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Lincoln’s Birthday
Valentine’s Day National Organ Donor Day Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Presidents’ Day
Ash Wednesday
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Washington’s Birthday
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• Black History Month • National Heart Month • Feb. 9-15 – Random Acts of Kindness Week
Harley Green
Harley Green was born on May 14, 2013. Soon after, he was on the waiting list for a liver. Harley’s family prayed for a miracle. On Oct. 15, Harley received his new liver from the child of an anonymous, grieving family. Today, the healthy 22-month-old loves music, dancing and playing with his big sister, Zoi. The Greens now honor Harley’s donor angel by living life to the fullest.
(pictured with sister, Zoi) Liver Recipient, Oct. 15, 2013 Texas Children’s Hospital Houston, Texas
Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/HarleyGreen
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Daylight Saving Time Begins
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 St. Patrick’s Day
Spring Begins
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 American Diabetes Alert Day
Palm Sunday
Doctors’ Day
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• National Kidney Month • National Eye Donor Month • National Social Worker Month
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Tyrone, Joylanda & Jerome Valentine, Latisha & Lakisha Rhodes (not pictured: Lakisha) Kidney Recipients, 2003-2010 Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center Houston, Texas
Twin brothers Jerome and Tyrone Valentine, 47, their sister Joylanda Valentine, 40, and their twin cousins Latisha and Lakisha Rhodes, 37, all had end-stage renal disease and would need new kidneys to survive. The chances of just one finding a matching kidney were one in 100,000; the chances all five would find kidneys were astronomical. Yet every one received a miracle. Now, they are counting their blessings and giving back in any way they can. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/ValentineRhodes
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1 2 3 4 • NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH • April 6-12 – National Public Health Week • April 12-18 – National Volunteer Week
April Fools’ Day
Good Friday Passover Begins
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Easter
World Health Day
Passover Ends
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Orthodox Easter
National Blue and Green Day
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run
Earth Day Administrative Professionals’ Day
in Houston
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Yolanda “YoYo” Johnson Liver Recipient, May 1, 2001 Baylor Medical Center Dallas, Texas
Yolanda “YoYo” Johnson isn’t wasting a single moment since receiving a lifesaving liver transplant at age 30 in 2001. Now 44, she’s committed to helping others get healthy and stay healthy with her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree and certification as a health and wellness coach. “I often educate other recipients on the importance of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles, as it is vital to take impeccable care of your donated gift, your gift of life!” Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/YolandaJohnson
Sun Mon
Tue Wed
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1 2 • National Fitness Month • Cystic Fibrosis Month • National High Blood Pressure Education Month
• May 6-12 – National Nurses Week • May 10-15 – National Police Week • May 17-23 – National EMS Week
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cinco de Mayo
National Nurses Day
National Day of Prayer
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run
Mother’s Day
in Fort Worth Armed Forces Day
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
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Memorial Day
Roger Franco Advocate and Journalist Richmond, Texas
Michael Leon
Two-time Heart Recipient Oct. 15, 2013
Roger Franco, 44, has covered many stories in nearly 20 years as a journalist for Houston’s Telemundo – most memorably one about Michael Leon. Roger got to know the Kingwood teen as he received his second heart transplant in January 2012 and grew healthy enough to finish high school. Tragically, unrelated complications took Michael’s life in 2013. But Roger’s story about Michael served to inspire many people to consider organ donation when it won an Emmy in 2012. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/RogerFranco
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Flag Day World Blood Donor Day
Ramadan Begins
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Father’s Day Summer Begins
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Peggy Smith
(pictured with Ja’Nya’s mother, Tanishia (left) and sister, Aariana) Donor Grandmother Houston, Texas
Ja’Nya Antoine-Smith Kidney and Liver Donor Jan. 6, 2013
Peggy Smith, 58, will never stop missing her granddaughter, Ja’Nya “Sweet November” Antoine-Smith. Nicknamed for her November birthday, Ja’Nya truly lived up to the sweet moniker in her brief 9 years; she had a smile for everyone she met. When a tragic asthma attack took Ja’Nya on Jan. 6, 2013, her family decided to honor her generous spirit by donating her organs. “My granddaughter brought hope by giving life to three people,” Peggy said. “What a blessing that was.” Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/JaNyaSmith
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 4 Independence Day
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Ramadan Ends
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
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26 27 28 29 30 31
Cindy Higbee Ems Advocate and Donor Daughter Houston, Texas
Gerald Higbee Registered Donor Aug. 9, 1997
Cindy Higbee Ems’ father, Gerald Higbee, was a hero in many ways – as a Naval officer, high school teacher and registered organ and tissue donor. But when Gerald died in 1997 at age 61, a clerical mishap meant that none of his organs were donated. Fortunately, Cindy vowed she would not let her father down. She became a powerful advocate for donation – and Gerald and Cindy’s story has ultimately saved countless lives. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/CindyEms
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Friendship Day
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
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23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Michael & Kim Garcia
Kim and Michael Garcia learned halfway through their first pregnancy that their son would not survive. Despite this, they brought him into the world on June 28, 2013. Simon Garcia only lived for one hour, but his legacy will last much longer. The Garcias donated his heart valves, which saved a little girl in Dallas. “The moment you are made aware that your donation has helped someone else live, you will be given strength,” Kim said.
Donor Parents Springtown, Texas
Simon Garcia Heart Valve Donor June 28, 2013
Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/SimonGarcia
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Labor Day
National Day of Service and Remembrance
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Grandparents’ Day Rosh Hashanah Begins
Hispanic Heritage Month Begins Rosh Hashanah Ends
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Yom Kippur Fall Begins
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27 28 29 30
Tina “Wonderlung” Rueles
Tina Rueles, 49, spent 20 years crafting custom eyeglasses – but the work in this field ruined her lungs. Without a double-lung transplant, Tina would only survive about two years. Twice, infections bumped Tina off the transplant waiting list. But despair turned to joy on Feb. 27, 2013, when she received new lungs. Now, Tina volunteers at every opportunity and plays darts in a league. She even picked up three medals at the 2014 Donate Life Transplant Games of America.
Double-lung Recipient, Feb. 27, 2013 UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/TinaRueles
Sun Mon
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1 2 3 • Liver Cancer Awareness Month • Family Health Month
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Columbus Day
Hispanic Heritage Month Ends
National Bosses Day
Sweetest Day
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 National Make a Difference Day
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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Halloween
Alicia & Serapio Parraz, & Ernesto Castro (pictured left to right) Donor Family Loving, New Mexico
Joshua Castro Organ and Tissue Donor April 23, 2012
Joshua Castro, 17, was from a uniquely close family. His parents, Ernesto Castro and Alicia Parraz, and his stepfather, Serapio Parraz, have supported each other through good times and bad. While Joshua’s tragic death in April 2012 threatened to pull them apart, this family became even stronger – and bigger. In May 2014, Joshua’s family met three of his organ recipients, and, in a tearful moment, four families who had been strangers became one family through shared grief and joy. Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/JoshuaCastro
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 All Saints’ Day Daylight Saving Time Ends
All Souls’ Day
Election Day
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Veterans Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Thanksgiving
29 30
• Nov. 13-15 – National Donor Sabbath National Diabetes Month National Hospice Palliative Care Month Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month National Marrow Awareness Month
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Advent Begins
• • • •
Rebuilding a life
Teresa Jester
Teresa Jester, 50, lost her whole world on Dec. 9, 2006 – the day her only child, Cody, died after a truck accident at age 21. Known primarily as “Cody’s mom,” Teresa now had to rebuild her identity. She dedicated herself to making her son proud, and started by donating Cody’s organs and tissues to people who desperately needed them. Teresa says it has helped her to know that Cody is living on in others.
(pictured with Cody’s dog, Nolan) Donor Mother Fort Worth, Texas
Justin “Cody” Looper Liver, Kidney and Tissue Donor Dec. 9, 2006
Read the full story at: LifeGift.org/CodyLooper
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1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hanukkah Begins
13
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Hanukkah Ends
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Winter Begins
Christmas Eve
27 28 29 30 31
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New Year’s Eve
Christmas Day
Kwanzaa Begins
Grants and Contributions LifeGift’s Board of Directors and staff wish to express sincere appreciation to the following individuals and organizations that generously contributed to our programs in 2014. (As of October 2014)
AlloSource Anonymous Donor Families The Barnes Family Robert Boudwin and Friends Denise Breeden Community Tissue Services Cytonet Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation The Dubose Family Berni and Mike Elder Cindy Ems and Friends ExxonMobil Foundation The Ironman Foundation, Inc. Luby’s Organ Recovery Systems State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Program Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth TEXR Foundation Todd Krampitz Foundation The Van der Linden Family Foundation
Snapshots
of hope We are proud to share with you these snapshots of hope. Please make sure to visit our website, LifeGift.org, for a more in-depth look at this year’s calendar participants. There you will find fun outtakes of the photo shoots and will learn what “hope” means to the participants.
Share your story Do you have a story of hope that you would like to share on our website? Please visit www.ShareYourLifeGiftStory.com to submit the details, along with a photograph of you or your loved one.
2014 Board of Directors
Executive Leadership Team
Roberta Schwartz, PhD, MHS
Kevin A. Myer, MSHA
Ron Ehrle, RN, BSN, CPTC
President and Chief Executive Officer
Managing Director, North Region
Patricia Rubin, CPA
Justin Johnson, RN, BSN, CPTC Managing Director, West Region
Joseph DeLeon, MPA
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Past Chair
R. Patrick Wood, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Managing Director of Facilities and Purchasing
Sharyn Ivory, FACHE
Chief Medical Officer
Chair-Elect
Laura Cavazos, MHR, PHR
Matthew Girotto, MHA, MHR Treasurer
Kristen Turner, RN, MBA Secretary
Nancy Cychol John Graham, M.D., D. Min. Jenifer Jarriel, MBA Edward Kuntz Brenda Lyon, RN, MS, NEA-BC George Mallory Jr., M.D. Edward K. Massin, M.D. Kevin Myer, MSHA Steve Sanders, MS Adriana Valencia, CPRC Emeritus
Barclay Berden, FACHE Lawrence Schkade, PhD, CSP, FAAAS Ruth Schiermeyer LifeGift thanks RALPH LAUER for his generous contribution of photography throughout the 2015 calendar. Special thanks also to DONNA ESPOSITO for her Transplant Games photography.
Director of Human Resources
Kimberly Davis, RN, CPTC, CTBS Managing Director of Donation Systems
Laura Frnka-Davis, BS, APR Director of Communications
Jessica C. Leibold Carolyn Olivarez, LVN, CPTC Director of Quality Systems
Brian Roe, MS, CTBS, SSLBBP Managing Director of Tissue and Donor Resource Operations
SchawntĂŠ Williams-Taylor, RN, BSN, CCRN, CPTC Managing Director of Clinical Operations,
Jerry Dunn, Six Sigma Green Belt Southeast Region Managing Director of Information Systems
Thanks
Chair
to all our donor families and supporters, from the bottom of our hearts.
Snapshots of Hope 800.633.6562 North 1701 River Run, Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76107 817-870-0060 817-870-2073 fax Southeast 2510 Westridge Street Houston, Texas 77054 713-523-4438 713-737-8100 fax West 5812 64th Street Lubbock, Texas 79424 806-798-5568 806-798-5572 fax 1200 Wallace Boulevard Amarillo, Texas 79106 806-351-5890 806-351-5891 fax
Register to become a donor at DonateLifeTexas.org