LifeGift 2018 Calendar (English)

THE POWER OF

YES

2O18 CALENDAR / 2O17 ANNUAL REPORT

YES

MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.

Dear Friends of LifeGift: Welcome to our 2017 annual report and 2018 calendar, “The Power of YES.” This compilation of generosity, which has been in production for more than 20 years now, is so much more than a calendar – it’s truly a motivational piece to inspire people to support organ, eye and tissue donation.

What’s more, each story of “YES” has an accompanying video that brings the participants’ stories to life, which adds another dimension to this award-winning publication.

Donation, as I say, is “all about the YES.” It’s a small word that holds so much promise, so much hope, so much LIFE. When someone agrees to organ, eye and tissue donation, either through the Donate Life Texas Registry as an individual or by a family experiencing a time of darkness and despair, so many lives are saved and transformed. We thank our donor families – those who on the worst day of their lives help us offer hope to the thousands waiting on a second chance to live and enjoy life.

When people say “YES,” they make things happen. In 2017, the Donate Life Texas Registry reached 10 million – a number unimaginable just a few short years ago. We thank our neighbors and friends for making this lifesaving decision.

This past year, LifeGift transplanted 1,419 organ recipients, allowing them to return to their lives, their families and their friends. And 1,010 individuals donated the gifts of tissue, saving countless lives and restoring sight to many more.

Tireless dedication and perseverance continued to move LifeGift forward in 2017 as we emerged among the top performing organ procurement organizations in the country.

And it was this commitment that motivated LifeGift staff and leadership to stay operational in the midst of Hurricane Harvey, one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history, allowing us to stay focused on our lifesaving mission. We offer hope around the clock, every day, all the time. We are there for the “YES.” As we look forward to 2018, we will channel the “Power of YES” to increase our impact in the community by growing and improving. We will work harder than ever to expand our critical relationships with our hospital and health care professional partners. We will build and expand our physical and leadership infrastructure needed to extend our ability to offer hope. We will be working together as a team to further develop our culture, striving to create one of high reliability so that all of us, and those we serve, can count on LifeGift to be the best we can be all the time.

It is the “Power of YES” that makes offering hope real. We thank our talented and dedicated LifeGift staff, our board of directors, our hospital and transplant partners, caregivers, Ambassadors of Hope, friends, community leaders and so many others who help turn “YES” into amazing stories and lives transformed each and every day.

With warm regards, Kevin A. Myer, MSHA President and CEO of LifeGift

These numbers reflect the power of “YES.�

Organ Donors

2017

Tissue Donors

2017

Organs Transplanted

395

2016

397

1,010

2016

1,158

1,576

2017

331

Imported*

1,404

2016

Lives Saved

1,419

2017

294

Imported** 2016

1,310

0 Fiscal Year 2017: Oct. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2017 *Organs transplanted outside of our direct service area. **Patients transplanted outside of our direct service area.

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

397

Many lives saved.

Countless lives touched.

468

TISSUE DONORS

87

ORGAN & TISSUE DONORS

712 Registered people became donors in 2017

PERFUSED KIDNEYS

157

ORGAN DONORS

Perfusion helps preserve the function of the kidney between recovery and transplantation.

266 FLYOUTS

LifeGift occasionally flies out to accept lifesaving organs from donors within and outside our service area.

National Donate Life Month

201

Here are just a few glimpses of the inspiring moments we shared in 2017.

Ambassadors of Hope in Action

Texas Department of Public Safety Visits

Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run

The Art of Saving Lives

Second Annual Hispanic Transplant Symposium

YES

GIVES

HOPE

SATURDAY

Lubbock Community Shows Support for First-Ever 2nd Chance Run 08/05/17 Save the The spirit of West Texas shined brightly When this race da the morning of Aug. 5, 2017 at Mackenzie Park in Lubbock when nearly 300 runners and walkers showed up for the inaugural Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run hosted by LifeGift and the South Plains Kidney Foundation.

In the peak of summer when August can bring a blistering heat, the weather was as cool and breezy as an early fall day.

It made for a perfect scenario for donor families, transplant recipients and others running for a cause near and dear to their hearts.

Sav

te.

e lives. started more than Donate Lif 1st An e Texas 2n d Chance nual Run 15 years ago, it was strung together by a few volunteers on a shoestring budget. No one imagined it would grow so much in size and spread across all regions of LifeGift. Now it’s an annual tradition in Fort Worth, Houston and Lubbock.

LUBBOCK hosted by LifeGift and South Plain s Kidney Foun dation

STD Lubboc

k 7x5.indd

1

1/23/17

Stay connected with us on social media and through the race website, 2ndChanceRun.org for more information about our 2018 races.

10:02 AM

A lifesaving transplant starts with a donor or donor family’s decision to say “YES” to donation, and the outcome produces many opportunities for recipients to say “YES” to life, to hope and to making their own impact on the world.

Learn more about the power of the word “YES” through the inspiring stories of this year’s calendar participants by visiting LifeGift.org. There you will find more in-depth stories and videos detailing their incredible journeys.

New Address, Same Mission Last February, LifeGift held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Fort Worth office, which is located at 1000 12th Avenue. The new 14,000-square-foot facility will include tissue recovery suites and an organ perfusion lab. It is strategically located in close proximity to several hospitals in Fort Worth’s expanding Medical District.

The construction of the new Fort Worth building is a huge milestone for LifeGift.

The capabilities of this building and ideal location in the Medical District will help us offer more hope to organ, eye and tissue donor families, transplant recipients and those waiting on the gift of life.

Hurricane Harvey Tests More Than Business Continuity Plans On Thursday, Aug. 24, the LifeGift Executive Leadership Team mobilized its business continuity plan as what was then a tropical storm churned in the Gulf of Mexico, headed for Southeast Texas as a Category 3 hurricane. By the time it made landfall the evening of Friday, Aug. 25, in Rockport, south of Houston, it was a Category 4 storm, which dumped 51 inches of rain on the Greater Houston area in a period of three days.

Hurricane Harvey made roads impassable, flooding out cars and entire homes.

But through the brunt of the storm and its subsequent aftermath, LifeGift remained operational, focused on its critical mission of saving lives.

While the storm did not interrupt LifeGift’s operations, it did disrupt the lives of more than 35 of our staff members, who lost homes, vehicles or both. The Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team swiftly put into place the LifeGift Disaster Relief Fund to help staff recover from Harvey’s havoc. LifeGift raised more than $245,000 specifically for staff impacted by the storm, surpassing all goals and expectations.

“We were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the donation and transplantation community and beyond,” said Kevin Myer. “Hurricane Harvey not only tested our business continuity and crisis plans; it also tested our hearts and souls. And I’m proud to say that we endured and have become stronger from this experience.”

YES

MEANS WE’VE BECOME FAMILY.

TAMMY EKRUT

Mike Pettijohn needed a new liver. The Corpus Christi engineer, a former enlisted Marine, had a rare autoimmune disease. He was afraid his wife and kids would lose him. “My biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be around long enough to shape my children’s lives,” he said. His best chance would be a living donor. Enter Tammy Ekrut, a wife and mother of two from Fort Worth, who saw a plea for a liver from a mutual friend on Facebook. She didn’t know Mike, but she filled out an application. “I knew God was inviting me into something He was doing,” she said. She was a match. Mike received 64 percent of Tammy’s liver on Dec. 8, 2015. The two families have been close ever since. “Tammy said ‘YES’ to a stranger’s future and to his family’s future also,” Mike said. “I just don’t know how you could begin to measure that.”

Living Donor Dec. 8, 2015, University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas

MICHAEL PETTIJOHN Liver Recipient Dec. 8, 2015, University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas

See the full story at LifeGift.org/TammyandMichael

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1 2 3 4 5 6 New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade (Donate Life Rose Parade Float)

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH NATIONAL THANK YOU MONTH

JAN

2018

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YES

MEANS I’M FREE.

MANNY GARCIA Kidney Recipient April 18, 2014, Miami Transplant Institute, Miami, Florida

Cardiomyopathy and high blood pressure led to kidney failure for Manny Garcia at age 23. He was on dialysis for 10 years. “It makes you a slave physically and emotionally,” Manny said. When he started seeing his fellow patients pass away, he knew he had to see about receiving a kidney transplant. But first, Manny had to lose 170 pounds to qualify – and he did. Next, he discovered his sister, Brenda Garcia, was a match. Then she, too, went through the difficult process of losing 150 pounds. Finally, on April 18, 2014, Brenda gave Manny her right kidney. Today, Manny is a DJ for a Houston radio station. And in yet another miracle, he and his wife Nidia had a son. “By saying ‘YES’ to organ and tissue donation, you’re giving someone a chance at life they otherwise would not receive,” Manny said. “A kidney transplant freed me from the chains.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/MannyGarcia

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1 2 3 BLACK HISTORY MONTH NATIONAL HEART MONTH Feb. 11-17 – Random Acts of Kindness Week

Groundhog Day National Wear Red Day

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Lincoln’s Birthday

Ash Wednesday

National Random Acts of Kindness Day

Valentine’s Day Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day National Donor Day

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Washington’s Birthday Presidents Day

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FEB

2018

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YES

MEANS CREATING MY MESSAGE.

REGINALD C. ADAMS

Reginald C. Adams, a public artist, “artrepreneur” and community developer, is known for his awardwinning mosaic murals and art installations, inspired by his travels to more than 30 countries across the globe. Immersed in art and travel, Reginald hadn’t given much thought to organ and tissue donation until he became involved with LifeGift. In 2013 and 2016, he led two art workshops for LifeGift staff and volunteers that resulted in inspirational pieces of art that now hang in the Houston office. During the 2016 workshop, Reginald had a conversation with a man who owed his daughter’s life to an organ transplant. It was then that Reginald realized organ donation isn’t someone else’s responsibility. “Saving lives is everyone’s responsibility,” he said. Reginald registered as an organ and tissue donor, so he can now say that he not only makes life beautiful for others – he helps make it possible.

Registered Organ and Tissue Donor Houston, Texas

See the full story at LifeGift.org/ReginaldAdams

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1 2 3 NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH NATIONAL EYE DONOR MONTH NATIONAL SOCIAL WORKER MONTH

Texas Independence Day

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Daylight Saving Time Begins

St. Patrick’s Day

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Spring Begins

MAR

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Palm Sunday

American Diabetes Alert Day

Good Friday Passover Begins National Doctors’ Day

2018

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YES

MEANS I CAN CATCH UP ON LIVING.

MADELINE “MADDIE” SMITH Kidney and Liver Recipient Aug. 31, 2016, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

Maddie Smith was born with a rare condition called methylmalonic acidemia. Unable to break down certain amino acids, she would need a new liver and kidney. At age 12, and for two and a half years, she spent four hours a day, three days a week, enduring exhausting dialysis treatments with a smile – until her family got the call. Maddie’s parents, Jessica and Trey, sat down with Maddie and her younger brother, Ryder, and told them the news. The siblings hugged and celebrated, and then Maddie rushed to the hospital to get her new organs. Now, Maddie is 16, and catching up on everything she missed during dialysis – especially swimming and going to theaters such as Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. The Smiths recently had the rare opportunity to meet with the family of Maddie’s donor, Branden, who was just 8 years old. “He is our forever hero,” Jessica said.

See the full story at LifeGift.org/MaddieSmith

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Passover Ends World Health Day

Easter

Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run

National Healthcare Decisions Day

in Houston

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 National Donate Life Blue and Green Day

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Transplant Nurses Day

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Administrative Professionals’ Day

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APR

NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH Apr. 2-8 – National Public Health Week Apr. 15-22 – National Volunteer Week

2018

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YES

MEANS I’M HERE FOR MY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

GROVER “GARY” FICKES Liver Recipient Feb. 17, 2008 Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

In February 2008, Gary Fickes, Tarrant County commissioner for Precinct 3, was too sick to go to his son’s wedding. Without a new liver, he only had 6 to 18 months to live. The doctors let him out of the hospital early so he could spend time with his family near the wedding – but he couldn’t attend the ceremony. That morning, the phone rang. Gary was concentrating on breakfast, when his family got the call. Then, suddenly, Gary’s sons were telling him he couldn’t eat, because he was going to receive a new liver that day. About 10 hours after his son and new daughter-in-law said their vows, Gary had his transplant. “They started their new life,” Gary said. “And I started mine.”

Now, he speaks about donation to the many civic organizations he is connected to, and enjoys playing with the grandchildren he never would have met without a transplant.

See the full story at LifeGift.org/GaryFickes

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1 2 3 4 5 NATIONAL FITNESS MONTH CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH NATIONAL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE EDUCATION MONTH OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

National Day of Prayer

Cinco de Mayo

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 National Nurses Day

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Mother’s Day

Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run

Ramadan Begins

in Fort Worth

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MAY

27 28 29 30 31 Memorial Day

May 6-12 – National Nurses Week May 13-19 – National Police Week May 20-26 – National EMS Week

2018

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YES

MEANS BRIDGING CULTURES.

FLOR DIMASSI Registered Donor, Co-founder/CEO, GlobalSpeak Translations, Houston, Texas

THOMAS LACOMBE Donor Father, Co-founder/President, GlobalSpeak Translations, Bellaire, Texas

EVAN LACOMBE Tissue Donor June 30, 1988 – Nov. 2, 2016

S

For the last few years, Flor Dimassi and Thomas Lacombe, co-founders of GlobalSpeak Translations, have translated the LifeGift annual report and calendar into Spanish. The cause became personal for them in 2016, when Thomas’ son Evan, 28, tragically passed away. Evan was a registered donor. Evan loved fixing things, and naturally would have wanted to help restore health for others. Amid his grief, Thomas was inspired to ride in the 2017 Lone Star Circle of Life Bike Tour to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. “I now look at people in a different light, knowing they may have been impacted by my son’s gift,” he said. Flor and Thomas also donate part of GlobalSpeak’s revenue to LifeGift, believing in the power of organ and tissue donation to bridge cultures. “‘YES’ means donating life to someone else, making us all one true human race,” Flor said. “No distinctions of race, color or age.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/ThomasandFlor

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Flag Day World Blood Donor Day Ramadan Ends

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Father’s Day

Summer Begins

JUN

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

2018

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YES

MEANS HOPE IN THE MIDST OF LOSS.

THE ROBERTS FAMILY Jack, Julie, Jackson, Ryann, Kate and Ella Donor Family Fairview, Texas

JENNIFER “JEN” ROBERTS Organ and Tissue Donor Sept. 16, 2011 – July 10, 2016

Jennifer Roberts touched lives at an early age. The fourth of five children, she was born with special needs. But Jen’s parents, Jack and Julie, say unequivocally that it was a gift for their family.

“Because of Jen, we love more deeply,” Julie said. “Seeing life through her eyes shaped our family in a way we are forever grateful for. We encouraged her, we saw her rise to every challenge, and with consistent joy she shined bright.” Tragically, Jen passed away at age 4 on July 10, 2016, at a family outing in Lubbock, Texas. The Roberts family didn’t hesitate to donate her organs and tissues. Knowing that Jen’s heart, kidneys and eyes saved others has helped in their healing process.

“Saying ‘YES’ brought purpose and hope for our family in the midst of great loss,” Julie said.

“Saying ‘YES’ was God’s plan for our family and for theirs.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/RobertsFamily

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Independence Day

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JUL

July 8-21 – Every Community Has Opportunity (ECHO)

2018

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YES

MEANS GIVING SOMEONE ELSE MORE TIME .

THERESA & ELENA CASTRUITA

Jesse and Theresa raised three children in 27 years of marriage. Jesse was Theresa’s hero. “He would give you the shirt off his back,” she said. On Nov. 9, 2014, after a seemingly normal day, Jesse had a brain aneurysm and passed away. A registered organ and tissue donor, he saved three lives with his kidneys and liver. “A piece of me died with him,” said Theresa, “but it has helped in our grieving process to know because of his selfless act, someone else had extra time with their family.” Today, Theresa is a unit secretary at Cook Children’s Medical Center. She loves playing with her granddaughter, Elena, and volunteers for LifeGift, inspiring people in their marriages, faith and decision to donate. “Our hero’s death was not in vain,” Theresa said. “He will be remembered for all the good he has done here on Earth.”

Donor Family Fort Worth, Texas

JESSE CASTRUITA Organ and Tissue Donor May 10, 1969 – Nov. 9, 2014

See the full story at LifeGift.org/CastruitaFamily

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Aug. 1-7 – National Minority Donor Awareness Week

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Aug. 2-8 - Donate Life Transplant Games of America

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Donate Life Texas 2nd Chance Run

International Friendship Day

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YES

MEANS LIVING HANNAH’S FAVORITE SONG.

STACEY & KIM PITZER; CJ DRIESSNER Donor Family Mansfield, Texas

HANNAH DRIESSNER Organ and Tissue Donor June 24, 2007 – July 6, 2017

Stacey Pitzer used to wake her daughter, Hannah Driessner, by playing “10,000 Reasons” – Hannah’s favorite song, about praising God daily. A smart girl with a strong faith, Hannah, 10, lived that song in many ways. Tragically, a fall from her horse Frankie took her life. Stacey and her son CJ, though grieving, knew Hannah would have wanted to donate her organs; Hannah was passionate about reusing resources, and knew about the need for donation from her mother and her Aunt Kim’s work at the Texas Department of Public Safety. Hannah’s organs saved four lives. “It gives my family something positive to reflect on as we grieve,” said Stacey. It’s also one way Hannah still lives out her favorite song in the final verse: “And on that day when my strength is failing / The end draws near and my time has come / Still my soul will sing Your praise unending.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/PitzerFamily

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Labor Day

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Grandparents’ Day Rosh Hashana Begins

Rosh Hashana Ends

Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

National Day of Service and Remembrance

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Yom Kippur Begins

Yom Kippur Ends

Fall Begins

SEP

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2018

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YES

MEANS SAVING A WHOLE FAMILY.

ALEJANDRO & SANTIAGO MATA MILL Heart Recipient and Son July 10, 2011 CHI Baylor St. Luke’s, Houston, Texas

Alejandro Mata Mill had cardiomyopathy. His heart was failing. “I couldn’t breathe, walk, eat or do anything. My life just stopped.” He was only 31, and he had a 4-year-old son to take care of. But in July 2011, after five months on the waiting list and surgery to implant a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), Alejandro received his miracle. Since then, he’s fully recovered, and even earned a master’s degree in corrosion engineering. Now he divides his time between Houston, and his home country of Venezuela, where he works for PDVSA, an oil company. He loves playing soccer with his son, Santiago, grateful for a second chance to fulfill his role as a father. “When a person says ‘YES’ to organ and tissue donation they may think one of their organs might save one person, but in reality, they are saving a whole family.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/AlejandroMataMill

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Columbus Day

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Hispanic Heritage Month Ends

National Bosses Day

Sweetest Day

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 National Make a Difference Day

28 29 30 31 Halloween

OCT

NATIONAL LIVER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH FAMILY HEALTH MONTH

2018

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YES

MEANS SISTERS GROW CLOSER.

KAYLI & EMILY CURDA Liver Recipient and Sister Jan. 3, 2010, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas

PETEY Kayli’s Dog

Kayli and Emily Curda didn’t always get along; a six-year age gap meant the sisters clashed a lot. But when Kayli got sick with end-stage liver disease at 14, Emily grew scared of losing her.

On a visit to the Build-A-Bear workshop, Emily decided to make a bear for Kayli instead of herself.

Happily, Kayli received a lifesaving liver transplant on Jan. 3, 2010, at age 15. Inspired to share that gift with others, Kayli earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Texas Tech University and is considering a career in organ and tissue donation. Through it all, she has become close with her sister. “We take long walks with my dog, Petey, and talk the whole time,” Kayli said. “She’s my best friend.” Though she’s now 23, Kayli still has the bear Emily gave her. “It’s the one stuffed animal I will never ever give away.”

See the full story at LifeGift.org/KayliCurda

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1 2 3 NATIONAL DIABETES MONTH NATIONAL HOSPITAL & PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION AWARENESS MONTH NATIONAL MARROW AWARENESS MONTH

All Saints’ Day

All Souls’ Day

Nov. 9-11 – National Donor Sabbath

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Daylight Saving Time Ends

Election Day

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Veterans Day

Veterans Day Observed

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Thanksgiving

NOV

25 26 27 28 29 30 Giving Tuesday

2018

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YES

MEANS MAKING MOM PROUD.

MARK C. AUSTIN

Mark C. Austin is a champion of the Houston music scene. A manager and promoter for several local bands, he’s known for supporting Houston musicians. Mark’s champion? His mom. Alice Austin was a devout Louisiana Christian whose joy was in helping others. She spent two years hoping for a new kidney due to end-stage renal failure, but in April 2005, passed away before a match was found. She was 52. “I often make decisions that I believe she would have made or that would have brought her joy and pride,” Mark said. For his 40th birthday, in March 2017, he honored her with a concert bash at The Heights Theater, benefitting Donate Life Texas. Nine local artists played and more than 300 people attended, raising more than $10,000. “I’d love to help bring organ and tissue donation to the forefront of our lives,” Mark said.

Registered Donor Houston, Texas

ALICE AUSTIN Passed Away Waiting for a Kidney Sept. 1, 1952 – April 24, 2005

See the full story at LifeGift.org/MarkAustin

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Advent Begins Hanukkah Begins

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Hanukkah Ends

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Winter Begins

DEC

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Advent Ends

30 31 New Year’s Eve

Christmas

Kwanzaa Begins

2018

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Grants and Contributions

Donate Life Texas Reaches 10 Million Registered Donors

LifeGift’s board of directors and staff wish to express sincere appreciation to the following individuals and organizations who generously contributed to our programs in 2017.

10 million. That’s right, the Donate Life Texas (DLT) donor registry has now topped 10 million and is the second largest donor registry in the U.S.

All-Pump & Equipment Company Andrews Myers Astellas A to D Mortuary Service Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center BMP Bridge to Life Bristol-Myers-Squibb Cash Store CHI Baylor St. Luke’s CiCi’s Pizza Cook Children’s Health Care System Cornea Consultants of Texas CryoLife DoubleDimond Public Relations Dubose Family Foundation Erica Williamson Friends & Family of LifeGift HEB Gilead GlobalSpeak Translations IRONMAN Foundation, Inc. Jerry Durant Auto Group Kendra Scott

It’s probably no surprise that no other state’s registry has grown as quickly as DLT has in the past five years. That growth is thanks to support from the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License Division, volunteers, organizations and schools, and the 12 organ, eye and tissue donation organizations serving Texas.

Registry growth is also thanks to Texas state lawmakers who have supported responsible donation legislation. These government officials have worked tirelessly to preserve a person’s ability to choose donation using simple, straightforward processes, like saying “YES” when asked about donor registration while applying for a state driver license or ID card.

So, with such a strong, fast-growing registry, why is there still a wait? The demand for organ transplants is rising. More people are being added to the transplant list than ever before. And, though living donation is becoming more common, the vast majority of transplants still rely on donors who have passed away. Meanwhile, 99 percent of people die in ways that make donation impossible. That’s why registering with DLT is so vital.

Mike & Berni Elder Memorial Hermann Million Air Moncrief Cancer Institute Nekter Juice Bar Nora’s Home NovaCopy Novartis Organ Recovery Systems Reagor Dykes Auto Group Richard Winston Steve Hawkins Commercial Taylor’s Gift Temp Stay Terry Hawkins Attorney at Law Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth TEXR Foundation The Living Bank Transplant Connect United Supermarkets Van der Linden Family Foundation Wise Health System

Acknowledgements

For the 1 percent of people who can be considered for donation after death, a DLT registration ensures their personal decision to give is known to the right people at the right time to save lives.

LifeGift thanks Ralph Lauer for this generous contribution of photography throughout the 2018 calendar.

LifeGift would also like to thank the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth for donating their space for our Fort Worth video shoots, Scott Dalton for his photography of Hurricane Harvey, and Reginald Adams, Nolan Catholic High School, Bass Hall and the Continental Club.

In little more than 10 years, more than 10 million Texans have joined the DLT registry. That’s something to be proud of, but we won’t stop there. Want to join the effort? Contact LifeGift to learn how!

Blue PMS 278 U 39c14m

Green PMS 367 U 32c 59y

2017 Board of Directors

Executive Leadership Team

Sharyn Ivory

Kevin A. Myer, MSHA

Chair

President and Chief Executive Officer

Steve Sanders

Patricia Rubin, CPA

Chair-Elect

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Adriana Valencia Secretary

Edward Kuntz Treasurer

Stacy Bacon, M.D. Robert Boudwin William Brien, M.D. Nancy C. Cychol Tom Flanagan Matthew Girotto John Graham, M.D., D.Min Jenifer Jarriel George Mallory Jr., M.D. Kevin A. Myer Elaine Nelson Roberta Schwartz Emeritus Barclay Berdan Edward K. Massin, M.D. Ruth Schiermeyer Lawrence Schkade

THE POWER OF

YES

R. Patrick Wood, M.D., FACS Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Laura Frnka-Davis, B.S., APR Managing Director of Communications

Jerry Dunn, Six Sigma Green Belt Managing Director of Information Systems

Justin Johnson, RN, BSN, CPTC Senior Managing Director of Clinical Operations

Jessica C. Leibold Senior Managing Director of Facilities and Purchasing

Carolyn Olivarez, LVN, CPTC, CPHQ

Join Us In Channeling “The Power of YES” Interested in becoming involved with LifeGift and encouraging others to say YES to donation? Learn more about our volunteer program, Ambassadors of Hope, at lifegift.org/volunteer.

Managing Director of Quality Systems

Lauren Quinn, MA Managing Director of Donation Systems

Brian Roe, MS, CTBS, SSLBBP Senior Managing Director of Tissue Services and Communication Center Operations

Donna R. Smith, MSN, RN Managing Director, North Region

David Staley, SPHR, SCP Senior Managing Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development

Schawnte’ Williams-Taylor, RN, BSN, CCRN, CPTC Managing Director, Southeast Region

In Memoriam There are no words to console a parent who has lost a child. Three of LifeGift’s Ambassadors of Hope lost a child this year.

LifeGift remembers these children and the light they shared with us during their short time on earth.

Gavin Wayne Carson, age 9, son of Amanda Turnbull Daniel Bosquez, Jr., age 21, son of Daniel & Sonia Bosquez LifeGift also honors the memory of Shan Wolff, former staff member, colleague and dear friend to many.

800.633.6562 NORTH 1701 River Run, Suite 300 Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-870-0060 817-870-2073 fax

SOUTHEAST 2510 Westridge St. Houston, TX 77054 713-523-4438 713-737-8100 fax

WEST 5812 64th St. Lubbock, TX 79424 806-798-5568 806-798-5572 fax

Blue PMS 278 U 39c14m

Green PMS 367 U 32c 59y

Register to become a donor at DonateLifeTexas.org

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