Texas Organ Sharing Alliance insert for San Antonio Woman

GOVERNING BOARD Texas Organ Sharing Alliance 2014 Charles P. Andrews, MD, CPI Intensive Care Director of Clinical Research Diagnostics Research Group

Glenn Halff, MD Transplant Surgeon UTHSC at San Antonio Transplant Center, MC 7858 Michael Horton, PharmD Voluntary Health

Bruce Mitchell Representing the public Partner Strasburger Price Oppenheimer Blend

About Us For more than 38 years, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) has served as the regional

Jerry Morrisey, PhD Voluntary Health

organ donation organization serving over 6 million people in 56 counties in South and Central Texas. TOSA is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is one of 58 federally designated organizations of its kind in the United States.

Beverly Purcell-Guerra Representing the public

With a mission to optimize organ donation for our service area, TOSA's primary focus is to facilitate the process of organ donation for those families wishing to donate as

Vince Speeg, MD, Chair Chair of Board UTHSC at San Antonio Transplant Center, MC 7858

Daniel Stanton Hospital Administrator Vice President, Transplant Services Texas Transplant Institute

Ken Washburn, MD Medical Director UTHSC at San Antonio Transplant Center, MC 7858

well as those generous individuals who registered to be donors. Through those gifts from these heroic individuals, 120,000 men, women and children on the waiting list can have a second chance at life.

We hope that after reading the inspiring stories of our wonderful volunteers, you will be encouraged to take a few minutes to designate and share your decision to donate.

Please enjoy the next few pages, and we invite you to visit the official state donor registry online at www.DonateLifeTexas.org where you can register to Donate Life.

Thank you.

3

For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

Record Number

of Central and South Texans Receive Organ Transplants in 2013

A record 436 people received life-saving organ

were awaiting an organ transplant. That is a dramatic in-

transplants in 2013 thanks to 119 selfless donors

crease from 2012, when 94 Central and South Texans do-

in Central and South Texas, according to Texas

nated, saving the lives of 353 people.”

Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA). Twenty-five percent of the donors chose to give the Gift of Life by registering

Pam Porter lost her precious son after the 9-year-old expe-

online or when they renewed their driver’s license.

rienced a sudden brain aneurysm. When her family was

TOSA, the organ donation organization in Central and

was an unequivocal yes. “We take comfort in knowing that

South Texas, works closely with families when their loved

five people have been able to enjoy their families and their

one has the opportunity to donate. TOSA data show a dra-

lives longer than if we had not donated Scott’s organs. Scott

given the opportunity to donate his organs, their answer

4

matic increase in both registered donors as well as the num-

was a spiritual child, and we felt very firmly that he would

ber of organs transplanted.

want this,” states Pam.

“In 2013 we saw the number of registered donors grow sig-

Nationally, nine out of 10 people support organ donation yet

nificantly, which helped alleviate a potential burden from

may fail to register as donors and share their wishes with

many families in considering donation after a tragedy oc-

family members. Texans are encouraged to register at

curred. By registering to be official organ donors, those self-

www.DonateLifeTexas.org and discuss their wishes with their

less and compassionate individuals gave their families a very

families. For more information about organ dona-

special kind of support and comfort in knowing their loved

tion programs and community initiatives, call

one's intent to donate,” states TOSA CEO Patrick Giordano.

Texas Organ Sharing Alliance at 1-866-685-0277 or

“Last year, 119 people saved the lives of 436 people who

visit us at www.txorgansharing.org.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

Perspective from a Donor Mom: It was a cold October afternoon when I got a call from Abigail.

She was in the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, filling out the forms to finally get her driver’s license. She was 23 years old and had lived most of her life in cities where a car was a liability rather than an asset – never any place to park them. So she never got her license. She was now living in Austin, a city she had grown to love, and was about to start social work school at UT. She figured she would get to classes by car or by bike, so a driver’s license would finally come in handy. She called me because there was a question on the form that asked if she would agree to be an organ donor. How should she answer? She wanted to say yes and was calling her mother for affirmation of this seemingly very important decision.

My beautiful daughter — golden-red hair, grown-up and on her own — was one of my best friends. She was compassionate, giving of herself whenever she saw people in need, loving life and able to experience life’s beauties. She also had a great gift for sharing her positive view of the world.

She was about to venture on a career to help others. In her own words, which come from her social work school application, “I plan to work directly with disadvantaged children and their families to provide equal access to social services, encourage educational achievement, and foster a sense of self-pride and ownership over their lives and their communities.” In her memory, we (her family and friends) have established “Abigail’s Fund for Children,” which we are also

already started to assemble the teams that would hopefully

calling “Abby’s Children” to carry on her life dreams of help-

save the lives of others.

ing disadvantaged children and their families.

Losing a child is the most difficult thing I will ever face in Her last great gift was giving the Gift of Life. Never in a mil-

my life, more difficult than someday facing my own death.

lion years did I think that our conversation in October would

Knowing that she could help others, which had been her

bring me to write these words. I had forgotten about that

life goal, was a great source of comfort to me. Now several

conversation until we spoke to the ICU doctor at the hospi-

years later, I continue to find great comfort in this decision.

tal where our daughter was being cared for. The first thing that came to my mind when he painted a very grim picture

6

was to offer her organs for donation. If there was any way

*Note from TOSA: Please take the time to register

to have part of her live on in others, I desperately wanted

your decision to be an organ donor and speak with

that. When we arrived there the next morning, they told us

your family members about your decision. Taking the

how grateful they were that Abby had registered as an

burden off family members on the worst day of their

organ donor just nine months earlier in October. They had

lives is perhaps the second greatest gift you can give.

For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

Life-saving team players Television viewers in the Rio Grande Valley didn’t know what led KRGVCHANNEL 5 NEWS sportscaster Dave Brown to take a leave of absence, but today everyone knows about his life-saving kidney transplant and his efforts to encourage others to become registered organ donors.

Following a living donation from his neighbor Penny, Dave was able to return to reporting on local sports.

While getting back into his routine, he knew the best way to thank his donor for her selfless act was to use his position to urge others to give life a second chance as a donor.

The percentage of registered donors in the Valley with Donate Life Texas is the lowest in state, and it takes a dedicated team of donor

facts about donation and even Dave’s own transplant story.

families, transplant recipients and local businesses to sup-

KRGV-CHANNEL 5 NEWS also created a page on their web-

port the Donate Life message by encouraging the commu-

site that offers links to Donate Life Texas and other impor-

nity to consider donation. Through the help of national

tant resources.

initiatives like the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) campaign, businesses can be leaders in their community to

Their PSAs encouraging the public to “get in the game” and

encourage change.

save lives were expected to be shown from August 2013 until the end of the year. But as 2014 started, the station

WPFL, created in 2001, has a network of more than 11,000

maintained its support of Donate Life Texas, and Dave ap-

company partners who help promote a “donor-friendly

peared on television regularly to remind people that they

America” within their organization. Action efforts include

can make a difference as an organ donor.

brown bag seminars, placing the Donate Life Texas logo on the company’s website and using social media to promote their workplace efforts, among other activities.

Because of the station’s willingness to support its employee in creating awareness for the need of donors in the Rio Grande Valley, “organ donation” and “Dave Brown” have

When Dave returned to work, he approached the station’s

become nearly synonymous.

general manager, John Kittleman, about producing a series

8

of public service announcements to inspire Valley residents to

Through these stories and PSAs, KRGV-CHANNEL 5 NEWS

register with Donate Life Texas. Not only did Kittleman agree,

helped Valley residents make an informed decision about

but he asked the station’s news director, Jenny Martinez, to

organ donation. To date, as the PSAs continue to air, the

assist by dedicating an entire week — the start of National

percentage of registered donors is increasing, and lives are

Donor Minority Awareness Month — to organ donation.

being saved.

The station did features on the region’s first registered

To learn how your organization can establish a

donor, a meeting between a recipient and his donor family,

Workplace Partnership for Life, call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

Key Points about Organ Donation There is a severe shortage of organ donors in this country.

As of June 2014, there are more than 122,000 patients on the national waiting list in need of an organ transplant.

12,000 of them are Texans.

+50%

More than half of those awaiting a transplant in the U.S. are minorities.

* A new name is added to the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list every 13 minutes.

The organ allocation system is blind to wealth, celebrity and social status. Donated organs are placed in recipients based on best medical match and most critical need.

Nearly 7,000 of the patients on the national waiting list died last year (about 19 patients per day) without ever receiving their transplant because there are not enough organs to transplant.

Of the 2.3 million people who die in the U.S. every year, less than two percent are eligible to be organ donors. Almost everyone, however, can be a tissue donor.

Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic and racial group. A patient is less likely to reject a kidney if it is donated by an individual who is genetically similar. Therefore, a lack of organs donated by minorities can contribute to death and longer waiting periods for transplants for minorities.

• Few people are too old or too young to donate. • Currently there are no age limits for donors. • At the time of your death, medical professionals will determine whether your organs are transplantable.

• Organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestine.

1 8

PERSON CAN SAVE LIVES

There is no major religion in the U.S. that is opposed to organ and tissue donation.

In fact, many religions endorse organ and tissue donation as an act of charity.

• Donation does not disfigure the body or prevent an open casket funeral. • Donated organs are removed in a sterile, surgical procedure, similar to open heart surgery, in a hospital operating room by skilled surgeons. • Organ and tissue donation is considered only after all efforts to save the patient’s life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. • No costs directly related to organ or tissue donation are passed on to the donor’s family or estate.

Register your decision at www.DonateLifeTexas.org and please inform your family of your decision to donate so they can carry out your wishes when the time comes.

Texas Organ Sharing Alliance • www.txorgansharing.org • 512-459-4848 • 1-866-685-0277

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

9

Celebrating Life with the Calaveras Motorcycle Club Following the tragic death of Emilio “Jimmy” Coronado

They traveled over a major McAllen intersection with Do-

on his bike, his friends were so moved by his decision to

nate Life flags trailing behind them, blue and green

give life as a registered organ and tissue donor, they all

scarves around their necks or wrapped on their bikes. At

signed up on the Donate Life Texas website. And as mem-

the hospital, the bikers revved their engines as the Donate

bers of the local Calaveras Motorcycle Club, they were

Life flag was hoisted in the air for the motorists passing

eager to honor their friend and brother, along with other

by to see. The roar of the bikes drew a crowd from the

lifesavers, in a tribute ride.

hospital’s waiting room.

Coronado, known as Low-Low by the club, was South

Members of the club say it’s important

Texas’ first registered donor. To celebrate his decision, which resulted in affecting over 70 people, the South Texas Trans-

to them to celebrate their friend’s gift

plant Center joined with Texas Organ Sharing Alliance

to encourage others to do the same and

(TOSA), the City of McAllen and UT Health Science Center

keep his memory alive.

San Antonio Allograft Resources for a unique memorial to start Donate Life Month.

Coronado’s wife, Bobby, said her husband’s decision to be

Starting at McAllen City Hall for a special presentation

had forever been a giving and caring person. His act to

a registered donor was no surprise. During his lifetime, he where city officials declared April Donate Life Month and

save others has encouraged her to advocate for others to

raised a Donate Life flag in memory of those who gave

do the same.

life and those who await a transplant, over a dozen mem10

bers of the Calaveras MC Club rode to the South Texas

“Sign up,” she told the audience at the hospital. “Save a

Transplant Center for a ceremony and flag presentation.

life and tell your family.”

For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

Play Ball!

Volunteers educate baseball fans on Donate Life Texas night at the ballpark Baseball fans are greeted by smiling volunteers as they walk

donation. Whatever the reason, there are those people who

through the gates of the stadium entrance. They are eager

don’t want to discuss organ donation. For those of us who

to get to their seats but come by our colorful booth to see

understand and have seen the amazing gifts one person can

what information we are sharing. It’s Donate Life Texas night

give to others, we are unnerved by those who won’t give

at the ballpark, and we are excited to give vital information

donation a serious thought.

to the guests.

Our Friends for Life volunteers in Central and South Texas A middle-aged couple walks closer. Volunteers — some di-

are 400 strong. They are transplant recipients, donor family

rectly impacted by organ donation, outfitted in black,

members, patients awaiting transplants and even those who

green and blue “Donate Life” T-shirts — ask the important

have lost loved ones on the waiting list. They share their per-

question: “Would you like to register to be a life-saving

sonal stories and encourage others to register their decision

organ donor?” The husband stops in his tracks and says,

to donate. They are the faces of donation and transplanta-

“No, you don’t want any of my organs.” Our volunteer

tion, and they help us save lives.

proudly replies, “You’d be surprised how many lives can be saved by one person. My life was saved thanks to the

The enthusiasm of volunteers continues as more fans enter

decision of a generous family.” The man glances at his wife

the stadium. “Have you registered to be a life-saving organ

and looks back at the group, saying, “I’m glad for you, but

donor?” two volunteers ask in unison. A young man smiles

I want to keep all my organs.” The couple walk off quickly

as he hears the question. “No, but I’ve been meaning to,”

to find their seats.

he says. “Thanks for being here.” The volunteers thank the man for taking the time to register as he happily grabs a clip-

It’s a scene that we in the field of organ donation see all too

board and completes the registration form. “Of course, I

often. The subject of organ donation can make some peo-

want to be a donor. I don’t need my organs after I’m gone!”

ple feel uneasy. Maybe they don’t want to think about dying; maybe they believe some of the myths surrounding

Our thoughts exactly.

12

For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

The Gift of Life Yvette – Donor Following her death in a tragic motorcycle accident, Yvette’s legacy continues to grow. Her double-lung recipient is a physician. Dr. Gina DeSanto participated in the Ride for the Roses, a 100-mile bike ride in memory of Yvette. Yvette's heart recipient helps with youth programs in the Corpus Christi area. In total, she saved five lives as an organ donor.

Victor – Kidney Recipient Kidney failure came as a complete surprise to Victor.

Leading up to his transplant, he worked hard to promote the life-saving message of donation through social media. Now a year after receiving the Gift of Life, Victor says he will continue to honor his donor by promoting organ donation.

Zachary – Small Bowel, Pancreas and Liver Recipient Zachary was born with blockages in his small intestine, and while he had several surgeries to remove those blocks, he still suffered and went into liver failure. Upon being transferred to a hospital that specialized in small bowel/liver transplants, Zachary received his transplant on his 6-month birthday. Despite minor ups and downs, Zachary is attending school and running around as if he were never sick. Now as a volunteer, his mom, Carmelita, says, “We are blessed and want to spread the word about the importance and need for organ, tissue and eye donation.”

Ruben – Donor Ruben was a 3-year-old boy who was born a fighter. He was smart, loved to sing and gave lots of love to all who surrounded him. "LOVE YOU" were his words to every person he encountered. His family knew he came to this world to do something amazing, and he saved three lives. What gives them peace is knowing their angel's heart continues to beat.

Daniel – Donor

14

Daniel’s catchphrase was “I got your back.” Organ donation is the ultimate “got your back.” As a donor, he saved three lives, and as his family consented to donate his pancreas for research, he will help countless others in the future.

“As a family, we have treasured organ donation as a means to remember the loving spirit of our son and brother,” his family says.

Shantel – Liver Recipient Nine-year-old Shantel was born with a chronic liver disease, and after waiting for nearly a year, she received the Gift of Life from a generous donor family. There aren't enough words for the family to say "thank you," but Shantel says, "Maybe someday I will be able to meet them and thank them myself."

For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277.

A Special Section from San Antonio Woman

TOSA Honors our 2013 Gift of Life Donors

Adam R. Aleasha W. Alma H. Amelia R. Andrew C. Andrew P. Angela E.F. Armando V. Arturo E. Benjamin S.C. Bobby D. Braydin W. Carol L. Chuck T. Colby K. Dale C. Daniel O. Daniel S. Daniella C. Danny G. David C.P.

Denise B. Dennerek P. Dion P. Donn M. Drake M. Duhane W. Edward A. Edward A. Elisa T. Elliott D. Emily L. Esther G. Esther S. Ezequiel N. Frances K. Gary M. Gerardo G. Gilberto T. Grayson C. Guadalupe S. Hayden M. Heriberto F. Isabel C. Jacelyn W. Jacob K.

Maria H. Maria V. Maria A.C. Maria C. Mark P. Mark T. Marshall L. Martin M. Mason C. Maurico M. Max B. Michael B. Michelle W. Miguel B. Misti C. Mylie F. Nico B. Omar D. O'neill S. Paul P. Rae Lynn P. Richard R. Robby M. Robert C. Rodolfo I.

Jason H. Jeffery N. Jeffrey B. Jenni B. Jesus R. Jimmy C. Joanna N. John A. John S. Johnny O. Joselito Y. Joshua D. Judson W. Justin P. Justin M. Keenan H. Keith D. Krizia K. Kyle F. Lindon W. Linn T. Lisa P. Lorenzo L. Lupe S. Maria H.

Roel M. Rogelio V. Rosa J. Ruben G. Sabrina V. Samantha P. Sharon L. Sierrah K. Stephanie H. Stephanie B. Stephen Z. Steve S. Sylvia P. Tadarion L. Talaya R. Teila I. Tracy M. Tyler M. William J. William J. Wyatt G. Yaritza F. Yolanda T.

Contact TOSA: • for more information about organ donation or the Donate Life Texas registry.

• to request a speaker at your church, workplace, school or civic club.

• to become a volunteer and help raise awareness of organ donation.

NORTHERN REGION 7000 North Mopac, Suite 160 Austin, Texas 78731 (512) 459.4848 O (512) 459.7794 F

CENTRAL REGION (HEADQUARTERS) 8122 Datapoint Drive, Suite 200 San Antonio, Texas 78229 (210) 614-7030 O (210) 614-2129 F

SOUTHERN REGION 1400 N. McColl Road, Suite 104A McAllen, Texas 78501 (956) 630-0884 O (956) 687-7185 F Follow us on:

DONATE LIFE TEXAS REGISTRY www.DonateLifeTexas.org

www.DoneVidaTexas.org