Michigan Libraries for Life

On October 2 and 3 the library where I work is participating in the Michigan Libraries for Life campaign. The campaign is organized through the University of Michigan’s Taubman Health Sciences Library and is meant to offer the public a quick and easy resource for joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. U of M was the hospital that performed my surgery so I am very excited that the hospital and my workplace are coordinating in this way.

Academic and Public libraries will be registering organ donors and helping raise awareness on the need for donors during the campaign. From the Michigan Libraries for Life site:

More than 95% of Americans support organ, tissue and eye donation. In Michigan, only 34% of adults have joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, far lower than the 43% average nationwide! That discrepancy is largely due to state residents not knowing how to properly sign up. Michigan Libraries for Life helps to address that informational need.

Some FAQs from the site:

Will doctors work as hard to save my life if they know I’m a donor?
Yes, absolutely. This is, perhaps, the number one myth about organ donation. Every effort to save your life will be made before donation is considered or even discussed. By law, the medical team treating you must be completely separate from the transplant team.

How much does it cost to donate?
Nothing. It won’t cost your estate or your family anything if your organs and tissue are transplanted. All procedures related to the donation are covered by Gift of Life Michigan.

Will I still be able to have an open casket at the funeral?
Yes, neither organ nor tissue donation interferes with open casket memorials.

Can minors register to donate?
Yes, but until they turn 18, their parents have the ultimate say in whether they become an organ donor.

Will my religion approve of donation?
Most major religions approve of organ, tissue and eye donation and consider it one of the highest acts of compassion and generosity. View a list of specific religious organizations and their positions on donation.

More information at: Michigan Libraries for Life

To join the Michigan registry go here. To join the registry in your state go here.

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

The Donor License Plates Are Here!

If you live in Michigan, you can now order the license plate at left.  Money collected from the sale of the license plates will go to the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund. This fund supports efforts to encourage people to join Michigan’s organ donor registry. From the Michigan Secretary of State:

The Donate Life plate carries the Donate Life logo and the message: “Be an Organ, Eye & Tissue Donor.”

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the plate, which costs $35 in addition to any applicable registration fees, will go to the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund to promote organ, tissue and eye donation. The fund is named in honor of Thomas Daley, 23, who died in an accident in 2011 and was an organ donor. Daley the son of Rep. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, and his wife Deborah.

“The need is so great in Michigan and this will be a clear reminder to Michigan residents about the need for people willing to give the gift of life,” said Johnson, who has championed organ donation awareness efforts since becoming secretary of state. Under her leadership, record numbers of people are signing up as potential donors on Michigan’s Organ Donor Registry. The Registry grew by nearly 400,000 people – a 25 percent increase – last year.

The plate is formally known as the John J. Gleason Gift of Life Plate in honor of the state representative, John Gleason, who sponsored legislation creating the plate. Gleason is a kidney recipient.

“The new license plate is a great way for every compassionate Michigan citizen to show support, in a highly visible way, for organ, tissue and eye donation,” said Richard Pietroski, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state’s organ and tissue recovery organization. “Just as importantly, it provides funding to educate the public about how everyone can be a hero to the thousands of people here and across the nation who need a life-saving transplant.”

Liver recipient Marge Del Greco of Farmington Hills will purchase one of the new Donate Life plates right away.

“The new Donate Life license plate is coming out just in time so I can get one for my birthday on Aug. 29,” said Del Greco. “If it hadn’t been for the generosity of my donor, I wouldn’t be celebrating any birthdays. I’m thrilled to get the new plate because it will bring awareness to the need for more donors and hopefully more people will sign up on the Donor Registry to save lives.”

More than 3,000 people in Michigan are waiting for life-saving organ transplants. A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ transplants and can improve the lives of up to 50 more through tissue and cornea transplants.

The Donate Life plate can be purchased by mail, fax or at any Secretary of State office and will be mailed to customers. Donate Life plates may also be personalized using Plate it Your Way.

Order the plate here. To join the Michigan registry go here. To join the registry in your state go here.

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

Support a Kidney Walker!

The family of Freda Gilbert Robertson is walking!

Just a quick blog to remind everyone that the 2012 Greater Lansing Kidney Walk is this Saturday June 9!  My dear friend Jackie and her family are walking in memory of her mother Freda, who left us too soon after her brave battle with kidney disease. You can give to Jackie’s team here: Freda’s kids.

My good friend Kiersten received the gift of life from her best friend Theresa in 2003. You can give to Kiersten’s walk team here: Hedke’s Haulers.

Look for kidney walks in your area. Walk or support a walker!

Kiersten and Theresa just before their donation/transplant surgeries

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

Oh I am SO Getting One of These!

Today legislation was signed into law that will allow the sale of special license plates to benefit organ donation. Money collected from the sale of the license plates will go to the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund. This fund supports efforts to encourage people to join Michigan’s organ donor registry. The picture at left is not the real thing yet, the Secretary of State will design the plate.

The license plate will cost $35. When renewed it will cost an extra $10 over the normal fees, which goes to the fund. The plates go on sale this Summer. I hope I can get one then instead of waiting until next March.

The Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund is named for the son of State Rep. Kevin Daley (R-Lum). Thomas Daley died last year at 23 following a tree-cutting accident, and his organs helped save the lives of four critically ill patients in Michigan. The law’s passage was a bipartisan effort. The bill was sponsored by and is named for State Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing), who received a kidney from his sister in 2001, and received the support of Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

There are at least 3,000 Michiganders currently on a waiting list for an organ. Michigan has made big strides lately toward adding more names to the donor registry. There was a 25 percent increase in names added last year. I am so happy to hear this because Michigan was one of the worst states as far as numbers of registered donors. Things are looking up!

To join the Michigan registry go here. To join the registry in your state go here.

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

Support a Kidney Walker

The family of Freda Gilbert Robertson is walking!

The 2012 Greater Lansing Kidney Walk is Saturday June 9. My dear friend Jackie and her family are walking in memory of her mother Freda, who left us too soon after her brave battle with kidney disease. You can give to Jackie’s team here: Freda’s kids.

My friend Kiersten received the gift of life from her best friend Theresa in 2003. You can give to Kiersten’s walk team here: Hedke’s Haulers.

Both Jackie and Kiersten are wonderful examples of people who battle kidney disease with courage, humor and strength. They are both doing very well with their transplants. Jackie will celebrate two years with her kidney in July, and Kiersten passed the nine mile mark in January.

Look for kidney walks in your area. Walk or support a walker!

Kiersten and Theresa just before their donation/transplant surgeries

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

Support for Donors and Recipients

If you are a potential organ donor or recipient or have already received or given an organ, you may need support. It is sometimes good to hear about other people’s experiences and to share yours. When I was preparing for donation I read a lot of blogs that showed details on donor’s experiences.

Donors: Living Donors Online is a good place to read about the experiences of others or to share yours. It has message boards and also links to blogs and donor stories. LDO covers all kinds of organ and tissue donation. Also check out national organizations like the National Kidney Foundation.

Recipients: To see if there are online stories, contact your local affiliate of national organizations like the National Kidney Foundation.

If you like to see people tell their stories, go to YouTube and you will see many videos of donors and recipients.

To meet with other donors and recipients, this list has support groups in several states: Transplant Living.org. To see if there are support groups in your community, contact your local affiliate of national organizations like the National Kidney Foundation. Hospitals and doctors often have support group information as well.

Here in Mid Michigan, we have the Transplant Support Group/Lansing Area. It meets the second Thursday of each month at The Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River, East Lansing, Michigan in the Centennial Room, lower level off the Social Hall. Upcoming meeting dates are: February 9, March 8, April 12, and May 10. For more information Contact Joan C. Smith at (517) 351-2175 or joansmith@mindspring.com

The Transplant Support Group shares experiences and answer questions. Discussion is treated confidentially by the support group so people can feel free to share fears, concerns, successes and failures as it relates to the transplantation process. The group serves pre- and post-transplant patients, such as – eye, heart, lung, liver, kidney, bone marrow candidates and recipients.

The group would like to invite patients and caregivers to join them. You do not have to have had a transplant to come to the meetings. It is open to people who reside in the Lansing area and beyond. Such support is provided without regard for race, color, gender, national origin or faith.

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

Kidney Walk Time!

In the Lansing area the Kidney Walk is Sunday June 12, 2011. I can’t walk  this year due to family commitments but I have given to Freda’s Kids and Kiersten.  Give to a walk in your area or join the walk. I hope to be walking next year with one kidney! From the National Kidney Foundation:

The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk is a fun, inspiring community fundraiser that calls attention to the prevention of kidney disease and the need for organ donation. It’s also an opportunity for patients, family, friends and businesses to come together.  Thanks to the money raised through the walks, NKF is able to offer free early detection screenings for kidney disease, support research, educate patients and the public, advocate for kidney patients and other groups affected by kidney disease, and much more.

 Go to Resources on Kidney Donation

Freda’s Kids

The family of Freda Gilbert Robertson is walking!

Freda Gilbert Robertson was a remarkable woman who left the world too soon due to polycystic kidney disease. Her legacy is her wonderful family who cherishes her memory.

This includes her daughter, my dear friend Jackie, her son-in-law Doug and her grandson, my godson Justin. The picture to the left shows Freda’s son-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews at the Lansing kidney walk last year.

Freda would be so proud of Jackie and how she is coping with her own kidney journey. I hate PKD because it robbed Jackie of her mother when she needed her the most. The only thing we can do is remember what a remarkable person Freda was and fight PKD any way that we can.

You can donate to Freda’s kids who are walking in the Lansing walk on Sunday June 12, 2011 or look for the kidney walks in your area. Come walk or donate to a walker!

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation

National Kidney Month

Wow, it’s almost a year since I started this blog. I got my paperwork today to enroll in the bigger kidney database between U of Michigan and U of Toledo so hopefully I will be able to donate in the next few months.

March is National Kidney Month! It’s a great time to learn about kidney disease, kidney donation or how to take care of your kidneys. Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation 

A great way to recognize National Kidney Month is to register to be an organ donor:

• State of Michigan Organ Donor Registry 
• Donor registries in all states

You can also support kidney donors and patients by participating in a kidney walk. From the National Kidney Foundation:

The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Walk is a fun, inspiring community fundraiser that calls attention to the prevention of kidney disease and the need for organ donation. It’s also an opportunity for patients, family, friends and businesses to come together. ” Thanks to the money raised through the walks, NKF is able to offer free early detection screenings for kidney disease, support research, educate patients and the public, advocate for kidney patients and other groups affected by kidney disease, and much more.

In the Lansing area the Kidney Walk is Sunday June 12, 2011 Look for the kidney walks in your area. Come walk or donate to a walker! (Thanks to Kiersten for this info.)

The Real Death Panels

Keith Olbermann had an excellent segment on last night about the real death panels. The conservatives are always yapping about death panels and rationed care. Meanwhile in Arizona, patients who are in desperate need of transplants are being turned down due to budget cuts led by the Republican dominated legislature and Republican governor Jan Brewer. This news feature from KTAR in Phoenix tells a heartbreaking story:

Ethics expert condemns AHCCCS budget cuts

by Kevin Tripp/KTAR (November 19th, 2010 @ 9:20am) 

PHOENIX — An expert in medical ethics says it is unethical and immoral to deny an organ transplant after it has been offered, as was done by Arizona’s health care system for the poor because of budget cuts.

Dr. Arthur Caplan from the Center for Bio-Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania said there was a lot of talk about “death panels” during the debate over President Barack Obama’s health care plan.

He said the case of Francisco Felix of Phoenix “is the worst example of a death panel I can think of because you’re taking people who could be saved, who relied on a promise that the money would be there to save them, and then telling them that, to balance the budget, you’re going to let them die.”

Felix was in a Phoenix hospital Monday, being prepped for a liver transplant, when he was notified that the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System would not pay for the operation. Unable to come up with $200,000, his donor liver went to another patient.

AHCCCS stopped covering certain transplant operations under cost-cutting measures adopted by the Legislature last spring.

Denying organs to dying patients is one thing, Caplan said, but promising to pay for a transplant and then going back on your word is another.

“I think this is scurrilous. It’s just the worst abandonment of the most vulnerable citizens in Arizona. You basically have had them rely on a promise. They make their plan, they’re going to hope they get their shot, then an organ becomes available and — then to find out that the promise was reneged upon, I think, is just terrible.

“Some Democrats, who are in the minority in the Arizona Legislature, have suggested a special session to revise the AHCCCS budget.

However, Gov. Jan Brewer says the AHCCCS cuts were necessary because of federal mandates in Obamacare. She has not called a special session.

Felix’s family said he still hopes to get a liver transplant. He now has an active account with the “National Transplant Assistance Fund.” Contributions can be made by phone at 1-800-642-8393 or online at National Transplant Assistance Fund  

• KTAR feature 
• National Transplant Assistance Fund   
• Keith Olbermann feature

Go to List of Resources on Kidney Donation