Brenda’s Story
I underwent a life-transforming experience when I received a pancreas transplant. I was now a recipient of a new pancreas from a giving donor and family and it has changed my life. I lived with diabetes for six years. I had gone from living a very active life to feeling very sluggish. I needed an insulin pump and had my blood sugar read every five minutes. Because my blood sugar could plummet very quickly without me realizing it, I worried that I would bottom out with low sugar, end up in the hospital, or worse, in a coma. It was very scary. After doing much research into transplant programs, I was excited to find UWHC and to be listed for a transplant there. Twice I received phone calls about potential matches, but for various medical reasons, those organs were not accepted. Thankfully, the staff had prepared me for this possibility and I was happy to know my doctor would only settle for the best possible outcome. That came with the third phone call. Just a couple of months after my initial listing, I received my new pancreas. I am so grateful for this gift of life. I am back to leading an active lifestyle—working out at the gym, training dogs and riding horses. No longer do I live in fear or worry and instead I am so thankful. It is difficult to put into words to try to tell someone how grateful I am for their gift of life. I will never take my new organ for granted and I am not only thankful for my health but for my family who supported me—and the transplant team that cared for me—and made this a truly special experience.
(over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
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Tell your family about your decision
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To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
OG-34457-13
Ezekiel’s Story: A Mother’s Gratitude
Ezekiel was a normal, playful two-year-old boy until the day I noticed that the whites of his eyes were a yellowish color. I took him to the emergency room, just to have someone take a look. I never knew that that moment would change our lives forever. We learned that Ezekiel’s liver function tests were abnormal. He got sicker as his liver function rapidly declined. We were told our son would soon need a liver transplant. No one knew how much time Ezekiel had to live, and the transplant team needed to work fast to find an organ donor for him. The feeling we had at that moment was indescribable. Ezekiel was as healthy as could be before. How could this all be happening to him? We hoped and prayed for a donor to save his life. We could not imagine life without our little Ezekiel. After 24 hours on the transplant list, the team came to tell us that they had found a donor for Ezekiel. Unfortunately the first transplanted liver did not function in Ezekiel’s body and he was listed again for a transplant. Amazingly, within 24 hours they found another donor, and we quickly prepared for a second surgery. His recovery took several weeks, but we no longer feared for his life. I will never forget the day he opened his eyes and looked at me. We waited patiently for him to regain his strength and then worked to help him learn to walk, talk, eat and even stand up again. Today Ezekiel is a happy and energetic little boy. Organ donation gives people a chance to live again. I’ve never appreciated life as much as I do now. This person that lives on in our son is his hero. We love this person without knowing them, and will be forever grateful. (over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
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Tell your family about your decision
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To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
OG-34457-13
Isaac’s Story
There is not a day that goes by that our family does not give thanks to the donor and family that saved our 16 year-old son’s life. Their selflessness and generosity in a time of great loss has given Issac a second chance at life. Isaac was barely a teenager when he was diagnosed with Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a rare form of cancer that affected his liver. With few treatment options for the cancer, which only affects a few hundred people worldwide, we began to seek a treatment that might save our son’s life. We learned that one of the only treatment options for this type of cancer is a liver transplant. After spending nearly two years monitoring Isaac, his health began to deteriorate and we began the search for a transplant program. Though we are from Illinois, we followed recommendations to learn more about UWHC in Madison. Isaac was accepted as a transplant candidate and within a week we received our first call that a liver had been found. However, the organ was not suitable for transplant so we continued to wait. Three weeks later, on Mother’s Day, Isaac received his liver transplant—his gift of life. Isaac now has an exciting future before him. It is difficult to convey our feelings of indebtedness to the transplant team for the remarkable care Isaac received, and to the donor and family whose gift and kindness has given our son a second chance at life. We hope they find peace knowing that their loved one’s gift has helped heal our child.
(over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
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Tell your family about your decision
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To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
OG-34457-13
Mark’s Story
I loved covering sports and working as a sports writer. Conducting the interviews was always easy, as was writing the articles- after witnessing some of the best wrestling matches in the state. What I dreaded was the climb back up to the press row at the University of Wisconsin Field House. After watching 28 high school wrestlers give every ounce of energy they had, I barely had the power to climb a flight of stairs to go write about it. For the past nine years, I had been battling congestive heart failure. Thanks to a pacemaker and medications, I lived a relatively normal life but I would eventually need a heart transplant. That journey began shortly after my climb up those field house stairs. My heart function began to rapidly decline. I received a second pacemaker and underwent surgery to receive a ventricular assist device (VAD). I was placed on the transplant waiting list and within four weeks learned that they had found a heart for me. Soon after my transplant I had more energy than I had in years. I felt like my old self—my color had come back and so had my smile. For me, after ten years of living with heart failure, life is normal again. I exercise, watch my diet, take my medications and do everything I must for myself and my new heart. Becoming an organ donor is the most selfless thing anyone can do. This gift of life has allowed me to continue to live a very good life. As a writer, I share my story to raise awareness about organ donation and am thankful to my friends and family who have become organ donors and have proudly put their orange dot on their driver’s license.
(over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
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Tell your family about your decision
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To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
OG-34457-13
Michelle’s Story
I love to dance, especially contemporary, hip-hop and jazz. Dancing has been a part of my career and my passion, but I lived with Type 1 diabetes for more than 25 years, a condition I managed since I was four years old. Vision issues are common for Type 1 diabetics, and as my vision began to decline I could no longer work or dance due to dizzy spells and black-spot vision. Like many people with diabetes, I struggled with low energy and it was difficult to manage my insulin levels. I had to be watched at night and upon waking because my insulin levels would dip so low. It is hard to explain what my kidney and pancreas transplant has meant to me. It is truly a miracle. It is unbelievable how much my life has changed. My vision is improving and I am practicing yoga with the hope of achieving two goals: dancing again one day and returning to school to complete my nursing degree. I have much more energy now—and I can even keep up with my puppy, Grizzly. I am so grateful that I am able to live my life again, through the gift of my donor. I show my gratitude every day by taking care of myself and the organs I received. This gift of life has truly given me so much to be thankful for.
(over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
■
Tell your family about your decision
■
To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
OG-34457-13
Temperence’s Story: A Mother’s Reflection
Temperance was like most two-year-olds. She loved balls, bubbles, and books. But unlike other children, she had the disease biliary atresia and needed a liver transplant. Thankfully, Temperence continued to grow and learn despite her condition. Our family was grateful for the care she received as we waited for the call that a donor had been found. When that call finally came, I had such mixed feelings. It was hard to know that someone had to go through what I had been dreading for two years, but I was also so excited that the day had finally come. Temperence’s surgery went well and we are so thankful for her new life. We have seen so many exciting changes in our little toddler including her demeanor, her activity level and even her skin tone and eyes. It is hard for me to find the words to describe how amazed we are with the changes we are seeing. Temperence’s face is full of life, and it’s even easier for her to walk now that her big belly is gone. Her glow is just amazing! Temperence is also trying new foods, eating more and sleeping better at night. This gift of life will allow Temperence to grow and blossom like other children. Organ donation is the most amazing gift anyone could ever give—we are so grateful to our donor and the gift of life Temperence has received.
(over)
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To register as an organ, tissue and eye donor, go to: – In Wisconsin: YesIWillWisconsin.com (Wisconsin law changed in 2010, so even if you have a donor dot on your license, go to the website to ensure your wishes are legally authorized) – All other states: DonateLifeAmerica.com
■
Tell your family about your decision
■
To learn more about organ, tissue and eye donation go to DonateLifeWisconsin.com
Are you interested in promoting organ donation awareness? These are just some of the ways we can work together to save more lives: ❑ Consider giving options that will allow you to support donation education efforts. ❑ Share your transplant story or donation experience in publications, media and/or online. ❑ Volunteer for events or speaking engagements. ❑ Subscribe to The Ripple Effect e-newsletter that highlights organ donation. ❑ Learn more about volunteering with Dottie Donor Dot, Wisconsin’s donation mascot. Find her on Facebook too! ❑ Order a Donate Life license plate for your vehicle. Email
[email protected] to learn more about these opportunities.
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