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A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The …...We have delayed publication of our fall newsletter...
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A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The Carolinas
VOLUME 16
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ISSUE 3
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FALL 2013
IN THIS ISSUE:
1 Travis’ Story
2 Hot Off the Press
3 Donor Sabbath 2013Offers Hope
4 UNOS Requests PublicComment on Six PolicyProposals
5 Transplant Recipients WithTies to CMC Tapped toShare Their Stories
6 LifeShare Offers Workshopfor Healthcare Professionals
7 Donor Statistics byHospital
8 Plan to Attend VolunteerTraining This Fall
A Donate Life Organization
Travis’ StoryAs told by Renee Rhodes
Travis James Rhodes was a devoted husband
and father to his three year old son. He
loved fishing, four-wheel riding and racing
boats. His smile could light up a room!
On the morning of August 6, 2003, Travis
went to practice in his race boat. Renee
would follow later that afternoon but not
without the feeling that something just
wasn’t right. Later that evening, her life, her
son’s life and the lives of all who loved
Travis would change forever.
Natives of Louisiana, Travis and Renee met in 1991 and were married a year later.
Seven years later, their precious son Taylor was born. Travis spent every waking
moment he could with Taylor.
One evening Travis told Renee he was going to start racing boats. After seeing his
eyes light up and the smile on his face, how could she say no? Late one night after
being out in his new race boat, Travis told Renee that if anything ever happened to
him in the boat, he would have died doing what he loved. Never in a million years
could she imagine how true those words would become just a week later.
Travis was practicing that fateful August day when suddenly his boat flipped. The
EMT’s worked diligently but it was too late. At the age of 33, he became a tissue and
cornea donor. When the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) called Renee
she knew without a doubt that he would have wanted to help others. Travis was the
most giving person—with the biggest heart—of anyone she knew. He wanted to be
the person that others would be proud of. Especially his son.
Little did he know he would leave a legacy not by racing boats but by giving sight
to two people and enhancing the lives of over 50 people through tissue donation.
A year after his passing, Renee began volunteering for LOPA where she later
became employed as a Community Liaison. She was also a member of the Donate
Life Rose Bowl Committee for six years. Renee and Taylor recently moved to the
North Carolina Mountains where she volunteers with LifeShare.
This summer she was honored to learn that Travis’ photo is one of 72 floragraphs
nationwide selected for the Donate Life Float. Renee and Taylor will travel to
California and stand proudly in the stands with other donor families and transplant
recipients as the Donate Life float passes by on New Year’s Day.
The theme this year fittingly is Light up the World, something Travis did everyday.
2 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
LifeShareOf The Carolinas
1-800-932-GIVE
www.lifesharecarolinas.org
Editor
Debbie Gibbs
Associate Editor
Gary Burris
. . . . . . . . . . . .
OU R M I S S I O N
Improving lives through organ,
eye and tissue donation.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
OU R V I S I O N
We envision a day when everyone
who needs a transplant will be
able to get one.
HOT OFF THE PRESS!DEDICATE A ROSE ON THE 2014 DONATE FLOATWe have delayed publication of our fall newsletter to bring you some exciting breaking
news. Originally, in this space we had prepared a longer story on dedicating a rose on
the Donate Life Float. Transplant recipients, donor family members and even hospitals
that would like to purchase a rose on the float in honor of a special individual may do
so at a cost of $30 each. For more information, visit https://www.onelegacy.org/cgi-
bin/family_circle/family or contact Kari Kozuki at [email protected].
A VEHICLE FOR PROMOTING DONATIONLifeShare is pleased to announce that we will literally be getting the show on the
road at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, October 11, 2013. That is the day
when Joey Gase will return to Charlotte to race his #52 car in the Nationwide series.
He is driving home the story about the benefits of donation. He knows firsthand
from personal experience. At 18, he made the decision to donate his mother’s
organs to several individuals. It turns out one of them lives in North Carolina. We
were pleased Joey helped us to kick-off our Man-Up campaign last year during his
first race at the Speedway. LifeShare and Carolina Donor Services, our sister organ
procurement organization are teaming up to welcome Joey to Charlotte this fall.
ROSE PARADE RIDER UPDATEWe have recently learned that Julie M. Allred, a pancreatic islet cell transplant recipient,
will actually ride on the Donate Life Float on New Year’s Day. A resident of Concord,
NC, Julie is a school nurse and an active LifeShare volunteer.
Nefeterius McPherson, the Texas attorney who was pictured on the front page of
our last newsletter, has also been named one of the 2014 float-riders. If you recall,
Nefeterius, received a liver transplant from 12-year old Taitlyn, the beloved daughter
of one of our volunteers. Taylor’s Foundation is the sponsor for Nefeterius. Julie is
being sponsored by Emory Transplant Center. Look for more information about the
Donate Life float on our Facebook page.
Julie M. Allred Nefeterius McPherson
3
Number of Candidates on theNational Transplant Waiting List
Kidney 97,668
Liver 15,837
Pancreas 1,179
Kidney-Pancreas 2,065
Heart 3,580
Lung 1,629
Heart-Lung 49
Intestine 258
NATIONAL TOTAL 119,547
North Carolina 3,436
South Carolina 966
Based on OPTN data as of September 13, 2013.
Donor Sabbath 2013 Offers HopeNational Donor Sabbath, observed annually two weekends before Thanksgiving, is a
time when the donation and transplant community focuses on the important role
faith plays in our community. No one understands that better than Gary Simmons, a
liver transplant recipient and his wife, Rev. Elizabeth McGregor Simmons, the Pastor
at Davidson College Presbyterian Church (DCPC).
This time last year, Gary was extremely ill and waiting for a liver transplant. The
congregation was praying for his health to improve. Meanwhile, Rev. Simmons says
most days Gary was too sick to even sit at the table for dinner.
Their prayers were answered in January when Gary received a new liver. On Easter
Sunday, the miracle of organ donation was the topic of Rev. Simmons’ sermon. This
November, DCPC will join thousands of congregations across the country in observing
the National Donor Sabbath.
To assist members of the clergy and others who may be interested in planning an
observance at their own place of worship, we are posting Rev. Simmons sermon on
donation at http://www.lifesharecarolinas.org/resources/news/nds2013.
Research has shown that one of the main reasons people refuse to become organ
and tissue donors is the belief that it is against their religion. With more than 118,000
individuals nationwide and over 3,500 in North Carolina in desperate need of lifesaving
or healing transplants, it is more important than ever that more people sign up.
LifeShare invites all congregations in our region to observe the National Donor
Sabbath on Sunday November 15th or anytime during the month of November by
sharing the message of donation and encouraging members to register as organ, eye
and tissue donors. With your help, we can eliminate one of the common misconceptions
about organ donation and save lives.
If you would like for someone to speak at your place of worship for a Sunday
school class, an evening Bible study or even a Sunday worship service, we have
speakers that are available. Upon request, we can also provide Bible markers, registry
enrollment forms and other materials.
To orders yours, contact Jennifer McCarn at (704) 512-3303 or [email protected].
F A L L I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
National DonorSabbath MaterialsAvailable Now
To orders yours, contact
Jennifer McCarn at
(704) 512-3303 or
Don’t take your organs to heaven.Heaven knows we need them here!
4 L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A SYou have t
he power to donate life!
CALENDARof events
October 19, 2013Volunteer Training
CHS Center for Learning and
Development
Charlotte, NC
October 22, 2013Volunteer Training
LifeShare Office
Asheville, NC
October 22, 2013Volunteer Training
LifeShare Office
Charlotte, NC
November 14, 2013
LifeShare Workshop
Caromont Regional Medical Center
2525 Court Dr.
Gastonia, NC
Contact Ben Martin: (704) 512-3303
November 15–17, 2013National Donor Sabbath
Churches and Congregations
Nationwide
Headline news about a young girl on the waiting list for a lung transplant and other
recent stories have raised a number of questions about the fairness of the nation’s
transplant system. The reality is there are hundreds of physicians, ethicists, transplant
professionals, attorneys, donor family members and transplant recipients who weigh
in on each policy from how organs are allocated to the packaging they are shipped in.
You too can have a voice. Whenever there is a new policy or a revision under
consideration, the Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) sends it out for
public comment. Then, after all of the comments are considered, the policy is
formulated. The process from beginning to end usually takes months. In some
cases, it has taken years.
Organ donation and transplantation is one of the nation’s most highly regulated
fields of medicine. The OPTN, under contract with the federal government, is
charged with creating and administering policies that are not only fair but that have
utility too, which means that extenuating circumstances are considered.
For instance, while it may be fair to give an organ to the next person in line on the
waiting list, there is little utility if the next person doesn’t have the same blood type
as the donor and is likely to reject the organ.
The OPTN recently released six new policy proposals, two of which involve living
donation. If you are interested, they may be viewed at:
http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/policiesAndBylaws/publicComment/proposals.asp.
The deadline to make comments is December 6, 2013.
UNOS Requests Public Commenton Six Policy Proposals
If you missed getting a Donate Life license plate when they were first ordered last year, it’s not
too late. You can actually order one now at your local license plate agency or online through the
NC Division of Motor Vehicles.
The fee for a Donate Life License Plate is $20 in addition to the regular license fee. Individuals
who want a customized plate can opt to have a Donate Life License Plate personalized for a cost
of $50 per year. Four spaces are available for a personalized message. Some of the unique plates
so far are: YNOT, DOIT, SAV8 and 4LIF. Needless to say, the possibilities are endless.
We’d like to thank each of you who purchased one of the first 300 plates for your support
and your willingness to help “drive” donation across North Carolina!
DONATE LIFE LICENSE PLATES AVAILABLE ONLINE
5F A L L I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
Nick Doumas, a Winston-Salem resident and well-known businessman, is one of
three individuals from North Carolina featured in a series of stories recently added
to the web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Life Stories,
features donation professionals, transplant recipients and donor family members
from around the country.
The Doumas tie to donation? He received a liver transplant at Carolinas Medical
Center (CMC) at the ripe young age of 73. His donor was even older, proof that people
of all ages not only benefit from organ transplants but can donate as well.
Fittingly, Doumas is joined on the web site by Dr. Dan Hayes, the head of the
transplant program at CMC, LifeShare’s Medical Director and the person who actually
performed Doumas’ transplant. His story is especially interesting.
Dr. Hayes is not only a transplant surgeon. He is also a two-time corneal transplant
recipient. Thanks to two generous donors, he is still able to perform surgery on
hundreds of patients each year.
When the film crew came to Charlotte last fall to tape the interviews
with Hayes and Doumas they were so impressed they made the
decision to include their stories on the organdonor.gov web site.
The producer also decided to create a series of television and radio public service
announcements featuring Dr. Hayes. The video on organ donation including Hayes,
Doumas and Sandra Phifer, a local donor wife, will be available later. Both projects
were produced by the Health Services Resource Administration and are expected to
be released sometime this fall.
Look for those Life Stories and others from around the country at www.organ-
donor.gov/lifestories. The headline above says there are three people featured on the
web site. If you look hard, you will notice there are actually two other individuals
from our area who were previously profiled—Debbie Gibbs, LifeShare’s Public
Relations Manager and Bobby Height, a heart transplant recipient.
LifeShare is proud to have partnered with HRSA in bringing these stories to life.
When the public service announcements and the video are available, we will post
them on our Facebook page. Stay tuned.
Three Transplant Recipients With Tiesto Carolinas Medical Center Tappedto Share Their Stories in Print
Nick Doumas, liver recipient
Dr. Dan Hayes, cornea recipient
Bobby Height, heart recipient
6
PLANNING A PROGRAM?
As your organization plans its meeting
calendar for the year, please think of
LifeShare. Speakers from your community
whose lives have been touched by
organ or tissue donation are available
to talk to local groups.
If you would like to schedule a
free, informative presentation tailored
to the needs of your organization,
call the LifeShare office nearest you
at (704) 512-3303 or (828) 665-0107.
If you are interested in joining our
Speaker’s Bureau, we’d also like to
hear from you.
Lots of opportunities are available
to help in the office, to staff a booth
at a health fair or to make presentations
to community groups. Call us.
PLEASE CONSIDERMAKING A FINANCIALCONTRIBUTION
By making a donation to LifeShare,
you can help to save lives by raising
organ and tissue donation awareness.
You may contribute in several ways.
In lieu of flowers, LifeShare may
be designated as the organization to
receive memorials for funerals.
Contributions may also be made in
the name of a transplant recipient,
donor or other loved one. Each person
who makes a contribution to LifeShare
receives a thank you letter. A separate
letter is sent to the family or person in
whose honor the donation was made.
Please mail your check, payable to
LifeShare, to the address on the back
of the newsletter. All contributions
are tax-deductible and are used for
public education purposes.
L I F E S H A R E O F T H E C A R O L I N A S
Nurses, chaplains, respiratory therapists and family support staff from hospitals
throughout southwestern North Carolina are invited to participate in an upcoming
donation workshop sponsored annually by LifeShare at Caromont Regional Medical
Center. The one-day program: Making a Difference: Putting all the Pieces Together...
from Referral to Transplant and Everything in Between, will address the critical role
that healthcare professionals play in the donation process.
A number of donation experts from across the state have been invited to speak
providing information on the best practices on donor recovery and management.
Some of them include: Dr. Thomas Nakagawa, a pediatric intensivist and Dr. Lon
Eskind, a transplant surgeon.
All participants will be awarded continuing education credits. They will also earn
the designation of Donor Resource Specialist which will enable each person to function
as the donation “expert” on their respective units.
Space is limited. To register, contact Ben Martin or Jennifer McCarn at (704) 512-3303.
Their respective e-mail addresses are: [email protected] and
LifeShare Offers Workshop forHealthcare Professionals onNovember 14, 2013
F A L L I S S U E – 2 0 1 3
LifeShare is pleased to offer
donor family members a
special way to remember
their loved ones—through
our memorial quilts, the
Quilts of Life.
We display the quilts in our
office and at special events
designed to promote organ
and tissue donation. Squares
are added to the quilts at
least once a year, usually in
the spring in time for
National Organ and Tissue
Donation Awareness Month.
If you would like to add a
square in memory of your
loved one, visit our web site
at lifesharecarolinas.org for
size dimensions, a release
form and other details. You
may also call us for additional
information at (704) 512-3303.
We look forward to receiving
additional squares and to
sharing the memory of your
loved one with others.
LifeShare gratefully acknowledges the commitment of all nurses and other medicalpersonnel who help to further the ideals of organ and tissue donation. It is throughtheir efforts and the generosity of donor family members that donation occurs. Whencomparing statistics, please note that not all hospitals have the same donor potential.
DONOR S TAT I S T I C S BY HOSP I TA L
April–June 2013
Hospital Eye Organ Tissue
Angel 0 0 0
Anson 0 0 0
Asheville Specialty 0 0 0
Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) 12 8 13
CMC - Blue Ridge Grace 0 0 0
CMC - Lincoln 1 0 3
CMC - Mercy 0 0 0
CMC - NorthEast 8 0 7
CMC - Pineville 5 0 4
CMC - Union 1 0 1
CMC - University 0 1 0
CMC - Valdese 2 0 2
CMC - Waxhaw 0 0 0
Caromont 4 1 4
Cherokee 1 0 0
Cleveland 2 0 0
Crawley 0 0 0
Harris 2 0 1
Haywood 1 0 3
Highlands-Cashiers 0 0 0
Kings Mountain 1 0 0
Lake Norman 1 0 1
Mission 8 0 6
Murphy 2 0 2
Novant 1 0 3
Novant Huntersville 0 0 1
Novant Matthews 2 0 2
Pardee 3 0 1
Park Ridge 1 0 0
Rutherford 2 0 1
St. Luke’s 0 0 0
Stanly 0 0 2
Swain 0 0 0
Transylvania 1 0 0
VA Medical 0 0 0
7
Quiltof Life
LifeShareOf The Carolinas
5000-D Airport Center ParkwayCharlotte, NC 28208
LifeShare is always looking for individuals with a strong desire to help us spread the
good news about organ/tissue donation and to increase the ranks of donors on the
NC Organ Donor Registry. In conjunction with Donate Life North Carolina, we will
host a series of volunteer workshops in October designed to enhance your knowledge
of donation and transplantation and to maximize your ability to interact with the
public on public outreach programs.
Just in time for the National Donor Sabbath, LifeShare Of The Carolinas and
Donate Life North Carolina are partnering on three upcoming training sessions.
They are designed to train new volunteers on donation basics and to update
existing DMV Ambassadors on designation trends in the state as well as
changes happening at the DMV.
Typically, LifeShare volunteers speak to the public about donation, staff
tables at health fairs and lend a helping hand on administrative tasks in our
office. We have DMV Ambassadors who visit local driver’s license offices on
a quarterly basis. The workshop will contain information for them as well.
The dates and times are below.
Plan to Attend VolunteerTraining This Fall
DATE LOCATION TIME
October 19 CHS Center for Learning and Development, 5039 Airport Center Parkway, Charlotte 9 to noon
October 22 LifeShare Conference Room, 1200 Ridgefield Blvd, Suite 150. Asheville 10 to 1
October 23 LifeShare Conference Room, 5000 D Airport Center Parkway, Charlotte 10 to 1