Guest guest Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Okay, here is my potential speech...I figure I will cut it short as soon as I know how much time is allowed...ha ANY input would be appreciated!!! ************************************************************************ *** This award is for all those waiting for transplants, for those who have had them and for the volunteers who are hitting the streets each and every day making the public aware of the desperate need for organs. Imagine for a moment: You've been terribly sick and are waiting for the final test results. Your doctor looks at you and tells you you need need a life-saving organ transplant. You sit in disbelief...and think " This can't be happening to me. " THEN you think, " Well, I have heard a lot more about transplants lately, so maybe it isn't as bad as I think. You have now joined the ranks of 87,000 other people on the national waiting list who need organ transplants. (Look up number THAT night on internet) Each day about 70 people receive an organ transplant BUT another 16 people on the waiting list die because there aren't enough organs available. On average, 110 people are added to the nation's organ transplant waiting list each day - one every 13 minutes. Top 10 Myths About Donation Myth: 1. Wealthy people and celebrities are moved to the top of the list faster than " regular " people. Fact: The organ allocation and distribution system is blind to wealth or social status. The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is governed by many factors, including blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ. Myth: 2. Donation will mutilate my body. Fact: Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal. An open casket funeral is possible for organ and/or tissue donors. Myth: 3. My family will be charged for donating my organs. Fact: Donation costs nothing to the donor's family or estate. Myth: 4. If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a donor, the doctors will not try to save my life. Fact: Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The medical team treating you is completely separate from the transplant team. The organ procurement organization (OPO) is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. The OPO does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to donation. Myth: 5. I am not the right age for donation. Fact: Organs may be donated from newborns on up. The general age limit for tissue donation is 75. At the time of your death, the appropriate medical professionals will determine whether your organs are usable. Myth: 6. My religion does not support donation. Fact: All mainstream organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity. Myth: 7. Only heart, liver and kidneys can be transplanted. Fact: Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons. Myth: 8. I have a history of medical illness. You would not want my organs or tissues. Fact: At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and social histories to determine whether or not you can be a donor. With recent advances in transplantation, many more people than ever before can be donors. It's best to sign a donor card and tell your family your wishes. Myth: 9. I don't need to tell my family that I want to be a donor because I have it written in my will. Fact: By the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your organs. Telling your family now that you want to be an organ and tissue donor is the best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out. Myth: 10. I've heard about a business traveler who is heavily drugged, then awakes to find he or she has had one kidney (or sometimes both) removed for a black market transplant. Fact: This tale has been widely circulated over the Internet. There is absolutely no evidence of such activity ever occurring in the U.S. or any other industrialized country. While the tale may sound credible, it has no basis in reality. Many people who hear the myth probably dismiss it, but it is possible that some believe it and decide against organ donation out of needless fear. In May 2000 my husband became critically ill. He was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, commonly called PSC. From 2000 to 2004 he became homebound, throwing up daily, severe tremors, high fevers and numerous, numerous hospital stays. The Fall of 2003 he still had not moved very far up on a Kentucky Hospital Transplant List...it wasn't the hospitals fault...there were many, many before him with the same blood type that were even sicker. I became desperate to find another solution...I was afraid Bobby was going to die and it wasn't looking like " SUPPLY WAS MEETING DEMAND. " This isn't a local problem - this is a national problem. I found out a patient can be multi-listed. We checked our insurance to make sure it was covered and my husbands' doctor referred us to an Ohio Transplant Center. This would give my husband two chances of the organ transplant; Kentucky and Ohio. Three months later my husband missed a chance at a transplant because he was too sick in a Kentucky Hospital. He spent the next month there and had just been discharged when our pager went off...The Ohio Hospital had another potential liver. My husband's liver transplant took place on 2-4-04...we thank God every day for our donor/donor family and for all the Kentucky and Ohio nurses and doctors who were so good to us over the years!! Our story is just an example of why it is so important to get the word out for individuals to consider being an organ donors. Once a person decides to be a donor and signs the back of their drivers license they also need to make sure their family is aware of their wishes. I want to thank the individuals who nominated me, that alone was HONOR to me...and this is for Bobby, our families, my family at CARITAS & SS & J School & Parish...and for all the patients who are waiting for transplants....with OUR help we will get you there!!!!! ********************************************************** Ways I get the word out: * Work any KODA volunteer events that I am available...Kentucky State Fair, Health Fairs, etc. * Incorporate donor information into my new employee orientation at CARITAS Health Services. * I also am fortunate to be involved in a lot of volunteer work for CARITAS and am able to display information at most of those events if not get actual KODA volunteers. * All registration desks and most departments at CARITAS have the brochures, sometimes ink pens and sometimes ANGEL pens. * I carry brochure holders and brochures in my car and any place I frequent, ask for permission to place the brochures there...people are SO receptive...and most have a story to tell. * I am involved in a national/international group in which we share ideas of what to do, how to get the word out. * My husband and I were featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer about why it is important for patients to multi-list in case they are in an area where organ donations are slower than other areas of the nation. * Incorporate organ donation info at any school event in which I am involved with my children. * I created my own Christmas card this year (with the help of my boss) and on the back put down phone numbers to call on how to become an organ donor. * When people are on the street corners asking for donations - I tell them I will be happy to support their cause if they will consider my cause and give them the BE AN ANGEL - BE AN ORGAN DONOR lapel pin...you'd be surprised how many people will whip out their drivers license to show you they already are. Re: GUTSY GAL Congratulation! Hope you get the award and to give your talk. Wheter or not you do I'd like to see/hear what you say. Tim R > ...I've been nominated for the Today Woman's HER Awards > in the GUTSY GAL category (next Tues., Feb. 8th here in Louisville). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Bravo!!!!!! I hope you win Lee > > Okay, here is my potential speech...I figure I will cut it short as > soon > as I know how much time is allowed...ha ANY input would be > appreciated!!! > *********************************************************************** > * > *** > This award is for all those waiting for transplants, for those who have > had them and for the volunteers who are hitting the streets each and > every day making the public aware of the desperate need for organs. > > Imagine for a moment: > > You've been terribly sick and are waiting for the final test results. > > Your doctor looks at you and tells you you need need a life-saving > organ transplant. > > You sit in disbelief...and think " This can't be happening to me. " THEN > you think, " Well, I have heard a lot more about transplants lately, so > maybe it isn't as bad as I think. > > You have now joined the ranks of 87,000 other people on the national > waiting list who need organ transplants. (Look up number THAT night on > internet) > > Each day about 70 people receive an organ transplant BUT another 16 > people on the waiting list die because there aren't enough organs > available. > On average, 110 people are added to the nation's organ transplant > waiting list each day - one every 13 minutes. > > Top 10 Myths About Donation > Myth: > 1. Wealthy people and celebrities are moved to the top of the list > faster than " regular " people. > Fact: > The organ allocation and distribution system is blind to wealth or > social status. The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is > governed by many factors, including blood type, length of time on the > waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors > such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never > considered when determining who receives an organ. > Myth: > 2. Donation will mutilate my body. > Fact: > Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar > to > gallbladder or appendix removal. An open casket funeral is possible for > organ and/or tissue donors. > Myth: > 3. My family will be charged for donating my organs. > Fact: > Donation costs nothing to the donor's family or estate. > Myth: > 4. If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a > donor, the doctors will not try to save my life. > Fact: > Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save > your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The > medical team treating you is completely separate from the transplant > team. The organ procurement organization (OPO) is not notified until > all > lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. The OPO > does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to > donation. > Myth: > 5. I am not the right age for donation. > Fact: > Organs may be donated from newborns on up. The general age limit for > tissue donation is 75. At the time of your death, the appropriate > medical professionals will determine whether your organs are usable. > Myth: > 6. My religion does not support donation. > Fact: > All mainstream organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation > and consider it an act of charity. > Myth: > 7. Only heart, liver and kidneys can be transplanted. > Fact: > Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and > intestines. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, > heart valves and tendons. > Myth: > 8. I have a history of medical illness. You would not want my organs or > tissues. > Fact: > At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review > your medical and social histories to determine whether or not you can > be > a donor. With recent advances in transplantation, many more people than > ever before can be donors. It's best to sign a donor card and tell your > family your wishes. > Myth: > 9. I don't need to tell my family that I want to be a donor because I > have it written in my will. > Fact: > By the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your > organs. Telling your family now that you want to be an organ and tissue > donor is the best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out. > Myth: > 10. I've heard about a business traveler who is heavily drugged, then > awakes to find he or she has had one kidney (or sometimes both) removed > for a black market transplant. > Fact: > This tale has been widely circulated over the Internet. There is > absolutely no evidence of such activity ever occurring in the U.S. or > any other industrialized country. While the tale may sound credible, it > has no basis in reality. Many people who hear the myth probably dismiss > it, but it is possible that some believe it and decide against organ > donation out of needless fear. > In May 2000 my husband became critically ill. He was diagnosed with an > auto-immune disease Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, commonly called > PSC. > From 2000 to 2004 he became homebound, throwing up daily, severe > tremors, high fevers and numerous, numerous hospital stays. The Fall > of > 2003 he still had not moved very far up on a Kentucky Hospital > Transplant List...it wasn't the hospitals fault...there were many, many > before him with the same blood type that were even sicker. I became > desperate to find another solution...I was afraid Bobby was going to > die > and it wasn't looking like " SUPPLY WAS MEETING DEMAND. " This isn't a > local problem - this is a national problem. > > I found out a patient can be multi-listed. We checked our insurance to > make sure it was covered and my husbands' doctor referred us to an > Ohio > Transplant Center. This would give my husband two chances of the organ > transplant; Kentucky and Ohio. > > Three months later my husband missed a chance at a transplant because > he > was too sick in a Kentucky Hospital. He spent the next month there and > had just been discharged when our pager went off...The Ohio Hospital > had > another potential liver. > > My husband's liver transplant took place on 2-4-04...we thank God every > day for our donor/donor family and for all the Kentucky and Ohio nurses > and doctors who were so good to us over the years!! > > Our story is just an example of why it is so important to get the word > out for individuals to consider being an organ donors. Once a person > decides to be a donor and signs the back of their drivers license they > also need to make sure their family is aware of their wishes. > > I want to thank the individuals who nominated me, that alone was HONOR > to me...and this is for Bobby, our families, my family at CARITAS & > SS & J > School & Parish...and for all the patients who are waiting for > transplants....with OUR help we will get you there!!!!! > > ********************************************************** > Ways I get the word out: > * Work any KODA volunteer events that I am available...Kentucky > State Fair, Health Fairs, etc. > * Incorporate donor information into my new employee orientation > at CARITAS Health Services. > * I also am fortunate to be involved in a lot of volunteer work > for CARITAS and am able to display information at most of those events > if not get actual KODA volunteers. > * All registration desks and most departments at CARITAS have the > brochures, sometimes ink pens and sometimes ANGEL pens. > * I carry brochure holders and brochures in my car and any place I > frequent, ask for permission to place the brochures there...people are > SO receptive...and most have a story to tell. > * I am involved in a national/international group in which we > share ideas of what to do, how to get the word out. > * My husband and I were featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer about > why it is important for patients to multi-list in case they are in an > area where organ donations are slower than other areas of the nation. > * Incorporate organ donation info at any school event in which I > am involved with my children. > * I created my own Christmas card this year (with the help of my > boss) and on the back put down phone numbers to call on how to become > an > organ donor. > * When people are on the street corners asking for donations - I > tell them I will be happy to support their cause if they will consider > my cause and give them the BE AN ANGEL - BE AN ORGAN DONOR lapel > pin...you'd be surprised how many people will whip out their drivers > license to show you they already are. > > > > Re: GUTSY GAL > > > > Congratulation! Hope you get the award and to give your talk. Wheter > or not you do I'd like to see/hear what you say. > > Tim R > > >> ...I've been nominated for the Today Woman's HER Awards >> in the GUTSY GAL category (next Tues., Feb. 8th here in > Louisville). > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Any suggestions? Re: GUTSY GAL > > > > Congratulation! Hope you get the award and to give your talk. Wheter > or not you do I'd like to see/hear what you say. > > Tim R > > >> ...I've been nominated for the Today Woman's HER Awards >> in the GUTSY GAL category (next Tues., Feb. 8th here in > Louisville). > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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