A Special Christmas

Doctors at Emory University Hospital recently achieved a first for a hospital based in Georgia - a triple organ transplant. In doing so, they gave 38-year-old Stephanie Lindstrom an opportunity to spend another Christmas with her family.

Diagram of the human heart 1. Superior Vena Cava 2. Pulmonary Artery 3. Pulmonary Vein 4. Mitral Valve 5. Aortic Valve 6. Left Ventricle 7. Right Ventricle 8. Left Atrium 9. Right Atrium 10. Aorta 11. Pulmonary Valve 12. Tricuspid Valve 13. Inferior Vena Cava (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stephanie was born with a congenital heart defect. Her heart did not have a tricuspid valve, which keeps blood moving through the heart in the right direction. As a girl, she had four surgeries to correct the problem. Then, after college, she developed an additional heart valve problem - mitral valve regurgitation. Doctors determined that the mitral valve problem needed to be corrected, too.

Stephanie's multiple heart surgeries had failed to correct her heart problems. It was determined that she needed not only a heart transplant, but also a liver transplant, because her heart failure had caused liver failure. On top of that, Stephanie had become septic which resulted in kidney damage and the need for a kidney transplant.

Stephanie received the life-saving heart and liver transplants she needed on July 7, 2012 and her kidney transplant the next day. After spending three months in the hospital, she went home in October and spent a special Christmas with her family. She said, "The holiday season has truly taken on such a special meaning to my family and me this year because of the many gifts we have been given."

Interestingly, Stephanie's new heart, liver, and kidney all came from the same donor who is a hero that The Lindstrom Family will be forever grateful to. For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc.'s website by clicking here.

Read more : article on news.emory.edu titled "Emory Performs First Triple Organ Transplant in Georgia"

DJ Helps Co-Worker

We ran across this story of a L.A. disc jockey who recently became a living kidney donor for a co-worker. It is powerful and moving and is a great example of how important living donors are. Please watch the wonderful video embedded below. You can also watch it here.

 

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website by clicking here.

Read more : article on www.cbsnews.com titled "L.A. DJ Donates Kidney to Co-worker"

Related articles

• KROQ DJ Bean Gives A Kidney To A Co-Worker (losangeles.cbslocal.com)
• Bean Donates Kidney: One Week Until Surgery (kroq.cbslocal.com)

New Hope for Those with Sickle Cell Anemia

Currently, about 100,000 Americans suffer from sickle cell anemia. The disease is a genetic disorder that interferes with normal function of hemoglobin molecules in the blood which are responsible for transporting oxygen within red blood cells. The disease's interference with this process leads to the red blood cells stiffening and deforming into the shape of a sickle.

English: Sickle cells characterize sickle cell anemia, an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Typically, as the disease worsens, it's effect on its victims does, too. The victim will experience severe pain and other complications, including blood clots, strokes, and kidney and other organ failures leading ultimately to death. Many sickle cell sufferers do not live past the age of 50. Fortunately, some people suffering from the disease are able to be helped by fully-matched bone marrow transplants. The problem is that few patients have access to fully matched donors.

Recently, a team of researchers at John Hopkins conducted a study which revealed a potentially new, and promising, treatment for sickle cell anemia - "half-match" (or partial match) bone marrow transplants. In the study, 3 sickle cell patients received full-matched bone marrow transplants and 14 received half-match bone marrow transplants. The ages of the patients ranged from 15-46 years old. The results showed that 11 of the 17 bone marrow transplants were successful. The most exciting part was that 8 of those 11 were half-matched transplants.

Since the success rate was just a little over 50%, the researchers encourage sickle cell anemia patients to proceed with caution before undergoing a half-matched bone marrow transplant, as it is a major surgery. However, the good news is that for those suffering from the disease another option may be available to them in the future.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as a donor, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc.'s website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here.

Read more : article on www.USNews.com titled " 'Half-Match' Marrow Transplants Help Some with Sickle Cell"

Related articles

• 'Half-match' bone marrow transplants wipe out sickle cell disease in selected patients (medicalxpress.com)
• 'Half-Match' Marrow Transplants Help Some With Sickle Cell (news.health.com)
• Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Month: Advice and books on healthy eating for sickle cell anemia sufferers (thegrio.com)

Triple-Transplant Recipient

Below is a video of a news report about a South Carolina woman who recently received a triple-organ transplant, including heart, liver, and kidney. We have embedded the video report below, or you can watch it and read the article by clicking here.

FOX Carolina 21

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to register as a donor in the state where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : article on www.FoxCarolina.com titled "Woman Recovers from Heart, Liver, and Kidney Transplants"

Making A Difference

Back in March of this year, a young man named Ty Osman was attending college in Arkansas when he began a spring break trip to Texas. Unfortunately, he never reached his destination, because he perished in a traffic accident en route. To one Texas man, though, and his family, Ty will always be remembered as a hero.

Peritoneal dialysis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Kelly Barnes was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age. By 2011, he found himself on dialysis, because his kidneys were failing. When young Ty passed away in that tragic accident, however, Kelly received Ty's pancreas and one of his kidneys and is no longer on dialysis nor does he need insulin. According to Barnes, "Because of the organs I received from Osman, I can look forward to a long healthy life."

Last month, Barnes got to meet Ty's family at a special ceremony at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Texas. Ty's family, including his mother, his father, and two sisters, joined Barnes for the hospital's dedication of the Wall of Heroes which honors organ and tissue donors. Ty's mother, Nancy, was very happy to meet Barnes saying, "It's a blessing. I'm glad to see that Ty is still making a difference in the lives of others, even after his death."

Ty also donated his other kidney, heart, liver, and lungs saving additional lives. If you would like more information on organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. While visiting the site, you can also learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live.

Read more : article on www.news-journal.com titled "Organ Donation Changes Lives" 

A Milestone in Hawaii

Recently, Sarah Chee made history as the first liver transplant recipient to have had both her transplant and child in Hawaii. Interestingly, her doctor shared with her that it is pretty rare for a liver recipient to have a child - it happens only about 25 times a year.

Hawaii polynesian cultural centre (Photo credit: Danielle Bauer)

Even though such pregnancies are a little riskier, both mom and baby are doing great. Sarah is just thankful for the opportunity to still be alive. In her words, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for organ donation. I wouldn't be sitting here to have this opportunity."

The end of the article reporting this story on www.kitv.com refers to the blessing the Chees have received as a result of someone choosing to be an organ donor as "One transplant gift, two lives, and a whole new world ahead for the Chee family." At the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, we believe those words sum up the miracle of organ donation perfectly. Besides the recipient, there are always multiple lives affected, including spouses, siblings, parents, friends, and others who get to spend more time with the recipient after their transplant. It's why we do what we do at the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here.

Read more : kitv.com article titled "Doctors Hail First Childbirth to Liver Transplant Patient in Hawaii"

South Florida Gains 3 New Transplant Centers

Recently, three hospitals in Broward County, FL received approval from the state's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to open new transplant programs. The three new transplant programs are for :

1. heart transplants - Memorial Regional Hospital - Hollywood, FL
2. kidney transplants - Broward Health Medical Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3. heart, liver, and kidney transplants - Cleveland Clinic - Weston, FL

English: Logo of Broward County, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These new transplant center openings are great news for Florida residents who either need life-saving transplants or ones who have received transplants in the past. South Florida residents in need of transplants will now have greater access to donated organs closer to home without having to travel long distances to Miami, Tampa, or out of state for transplants. In addition, transplant recipients will not have to travel as far for follow-up care. It's a win for Florida's entire transplant community.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : sun-sentinel.com article titled "Three Broward County Hospitals to Add Organ Transplant Programs"

Volunteering Life

Tennessee is known as "The Volunteer State" for a reason - Tennesseans give and give and give. Back in July, Amy Rye gave new meaning to the state motto as she volunteered life to a fellow Tennessean in dire need of help.

A hemodialysis machine, used to physiologically aid or replace the kidneys in renal failure (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rye was a living kidney donor to a family acquaintance by the name of Jerry Clark. Jerry first found out he had a problem when an eye exam revealed a ruptured blood vessel in the back of one of his eyes. Things slowly deteriorated from there until he spent over a year on dialysis with kidney function of only 22% at the time of his transplant.

Within two days of his transplant, Jerry's kidney function was back to normal. He no longer has to spend nine hours a day on dialysis and says, "... Amy has given me my life back. Her unselfishness and willingness to give is really special. It takes a special person to do something like this."

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. While there, you can also learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor in the state where you live. One day, you could be a life-saving volunteer like Amy.

Read more :TheLeafChronicle.com article titled "Organ Donation Gives Life Back to Erin Man"

Related articles

• God Bless Organ Donors (littlesillylife.blogspot.com)
• Racing: Gase family meets recipient of late mother's organ donation (thegazette.com)

Sorrow Turned to Joy

Transplant recipients and their donor families always cherish the first time they meet face-to-face. For the recipients, it provides an opportunity to personally say "Thank You." For a donor family, they get to see firsthand the difference that their loved one made in the recipient's life. Oftentimes, those special moments give the donor family the joy and peace that they've been wanting ever since their loved one passed away, because they see that their spouse, parent, child, sibling, etc. is living on.

Please watch the special video embedded below (can also be watched by clicking here) of a donor mom meeting her son's heart recipient for the first time. Donor family / recipient meetings show how grief can quickly turn into joy. These special moments are the reason the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc., and others, work so hard to promote organ and tissue donation.

If you would like more information on organ and tissue donation, including how to register as a donor where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Read more : TheStir.CafeMom.com article titled "Devastated Mom Hears Dead Son's Heartbeat in Medical Miracle"

Related articles

• The Benefits of Donating Life (savelivestn.blogspot.com)

N.Y. Yankees to Promote Organ Donation

Tomorrow night, the N. Y. Yankees will help promote organ donation. 24-year old Colby Salerno will throw out the pitch before the Yankees' game with their arch rival - the Boston Red Sox. Salerno is a little more than two months out from receiving a life-saving heart transplant.

English: Stadium of the New York Yankees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During his hospitalization, Salerno received a call from Yankees' Manager Joe Girardi. Girardi called on behalf of the team to see if there was anything the Yankees could do for him. Salerno's response was to ask the team to help promote organ donation. So, tomorrow night not only will Salerno throw out the first pitch, each fan entering the stadium will receive information about organ and tissue donation and an announcement will be made during the game encouraging fans to register as donors.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here. Also, be sure to visit Colby Salerno's blog, Tales from the Tenth Floor, by clicking here. On his blog, he writes about his experience with organ donation.

Read more : www.connecticut.cbs.local.com article titled "Transplant Patient in Ceremony at Yankee Stadium"

Indiana Woman Celebrates 20-Year Transplant Anniversary

Rensselaer City Hall (Photo credit: J. Stephen Conn)

TODF congratulates Lynda Edwards of Rensselaer, IN on recently celebrating the 20-year anniversary of her kidney transplant. Her sister was her living donor, and her gift had a big impact on someone besides Lynda - Lynda's daughter,  Courtney. Courtney is so grateful and believes in the miracle of donation and transplant to the point that she went to work at the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization.

There are currently over 114,000 Americans awaiting life-saving organ transplants. For more information about how you can help, please visit our website by clicking here.

Read more : wlfi.com article titled "Woman Celebrates 20-Year-Old Organ Donation"

Double Lung Transplant Allowing Opera Singer to Sing Again

Charity Tilleman-Dick loves to sing. However, she knew that without a second double-lung transplant she would likely never sing again and die very soon. Then, at 27 years of age, she not only received the needed 2nd transplant but is already back singing and singing well. She is another great example of why the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. encourages everyone to register as an organ and tissue donor. For more information on organ and tissue donation and to learn how to register, please visit our website by clicking here.

The Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. wishes to say a special thank you to CBS News for running Charity's story. Great stories, like Charity's, are the best PR the cause of organ and tissue donation can receive. The video of Charity's story is embedded above or can be watched, and the text read, by clicking here.

Read more : CBSnews.com article titled "Woman Sings Anew After 2nd Double Lung Transplant"

Double Lung Transplant Allows Judge to Continue Serving Her Community

Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy McDonnell is still serving the people in her community thanks to a double lung transplant. Hear her story in the video embedded below or by clicking here.

 

For more information about organ and tissue donation or to register as an organ and tissue donor where you live, visit our website by clicking here.

Read more : NewsNet5.com article titled "Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy McDonnell Grateful for Organ Transplant"

Son Saves Mother

Bile duct and pancreas 1. Bile ducts: :2. Intrahepatic bile ducts :3. Left and right hepatic ducts :4. Common hepatic duct :5. Cystic duct :6. Common bile duct :7. Ampulla of Vater :8. Major duodenal papilla 9. Gallbladder 10-11. Right and left lobes of liver 12. Spleen 13. Esophagus 14. Stomach 15. Duodenum 16. Jejunum 17. Pancreas: :18. Accessory pancreatic duct :19. Pancreatic duct 20-21: Right and left kidneys Español: Vías biliares y pancreas Català: Vies biliars i pàncrees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Shay Segura received some bad news in 1999 after donating blood. She learned that she had primary biliary cirrhosis, or PBC. The disease destroys the bile ducts of the liver. The disease is slow in developing but normally leads to a person's liver shutting down. Shay's only hope was a liver transplant, and she received one from her own son.

Shay first started the process of getting on the national transplant waiting list. However, her doctor told her that the wait would likely be too long, and she would die. It was recommended that she consider, and try to find, a suitable living donor. Her son, Bryan Cesario, stepped up to the plate to help his mom. He said, "I wanted to do it when I was 16 but you have to be 18." Shay didn't want him to do it, but he insisted. Both are now doing well and want people to know that living donation is an option for people needing liver transplants. In a living donor liver transplant, either the right or left lobe of the donor's liver is removed from the donor and then transplanted into the recipient. Then, the liver will regenerate itself within the donor in about two months.

For more information about organ and tissue donation and how you can register as a donor in the state where you live, please visit the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation's website by clicking here.

Read more : publeochieftain.co.newsmemory.com article titled "I'm Giving You My Liver and That's It"

Facebook Launches "Organ Donor" Status on Timeline

Facebook recently launched a new tool that is sure to help promote organ and tissue donation. Furthermore, it's a convenient way to let family and friends know that you have made the conscientious decision to help save and improve lives. If there is a downside to the new tool, it's the fact that it's only available on the new "Timeline" format. If you have not upgraded to "Timeline," you cannot use the "Organ Donor" tool.

Embedded below is a video containing instructions on how to set your Facebook "Timeline" status to "Organ Donor." Furthermore, you can also watch the instructional video, an ABC News story about the launch, and personal testimonies about organ and tissue donation, by clicking here.



Read more : abcnews.go.com article titled "ABC News Exclusive : New Facebook Tool Helps Organ Donors Share Life"

The Benefits of Donating Life

The video embedded below explains the positives of organ and tissue donation from both the viewpoint of a donor family and an organ transplant recipient. It's a very powerful video that can also be watched by clicking here.



Read more - wsls.com article titled "Local Families Stress Importance of Organ Donors"

Seeing Things Differently

Even though TODF is a bit "green," we are comprised of people who have been involved with the advocacy of organ and tissue donation for a number of years, such as transplant recipients, donor family members, and living donors. People personally touched by the life-changing miracle of organ and tissue donation. One of our objectives is sharing that tissue donation is just as important as organ donation, because it positively impacts lives, too. We shared one such example in a blog post last week. We share another one today with Robert Gusinsky's story.

Human eye about 1 week after a Cornea transplant. The multiple light reflections indicate folds in the cornea, which later resolved. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At 14 years of age, Robert was diagnosed with a condition known as keratoconu. It causes a degeneration of the cornea to the point it's shape changes into a cone. He maintained his vision for a long time through the wearing of glasses and contacts and was able to fly planes for a number of years. Eventually, though, his eyesight worsened to the point that he had to give up flying. So, he went to law school, got his degree and law license, and became an assistant United States attorney.

By 2002, the eye disease had worsened to the point where he could only wear his contacts a couple of hours at a time. Without them, he was nearly blind in his left eye. He had to stop riding his motorcycle and had difficulty driving. After his corneal transplant surgery in 2003, things improved dramatically. He got his quality of life back and now has 20/30 vision. He thinks about his donor every day, and sometimes wonders if he sometimes sees things differently through the eyes of his donor. Realizing that a high price was paid to restore his sight, Robert wants people, and donor families in particular, to know that, "... good can come from a really tragic situation."

The reason we share Robert's story is because sometimes people are unable to donate their organs when they pass away. In fact, statistics show that only about 2-3% of us are able to be organ donors. Various factors, such as a person's health condition and cause of death, can prevent one from being an organ donor. However, the important thing to know is that nearly everyone can be a tissue donor, and one tissue donor can improve as many as 50 lives !

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or to learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit our website, www.SaveLivesTN.org, by clicking here.

Read more - RapidCityJournal.com article titled "Man's Vision Restored Through Donated Cornea"

80 Year-Old to Celebrate 25th Heart Transplant Anniverary

Doris Thomas of Marseilles, IL is steadily approaching another major milestone. So far, she has :

1. become the first person to receive a heart transplant in Peoria, IL,
2. celebrated her 80th birthday, and
3. on April 27th, she will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her heart transplant.

Location map of Peoria, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia

She was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in early 1987 after collapsing while cooking in the restaurant where she worked. She had been short of breath for some time but thought it was asthma. At the time, doctors estimated she only had a 25% chance of living through 1987. She, obviously, defied those odds.

Doris has enjoyed great health since her transplant 25 years ago, except for two bouts with cancer. She has raised a grandson and met several other grandchildren, including a great-granddaughter. In regards to her good fortune, Doris is very grateful to her donor. "They gave me 25 more years," she said.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here. If you have not yet registered as an organ and tissue donor, you can learn how to do so on our website, too. Who knows, one day you might be the hero that gives someone like Doris 25 extra years of life.

Read more - pjstar.com article titled "At 80-years-old, Peorias First Heart Transplant Patient Remains a Survivor"

Tissue Donors Make a Difference, Too

Even though it does not get the publicity or notoriety that organ donation does, tissue donation makes a huge, positive impact on peoples' lives, too. In fact, studies show that only about 2% of registered organ donors are actually able to donate their organs at time of death. There are a number of reasons the percentage is so low. The person's cause of death and / or various factors involving their prior health history can sometimes preclude someone from being an organ donor. However, even if someone is unable to be an organ donor, nearly everyone can be a tissue donor. In fact, just one tissue donor can improve as many as 50 lives !!

A human eye that received a cornea transplant. This is after one year of healing, there are still two stiches left to be removed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The types of tissues that can be donated include corneas (eyes), bone, skin, ligaments, tendons, and heart valves. One person that knows the value of tissue donation is Janice Smith of Maryland Heights, MO. Up until a few years ago, she suffered from a genetic eye disease called Fuchs' Dystrophy. The disease causes the deterioration of the cells of the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the front of the eye, leading to fluid buildup and blurry vision.

Janice had lost her vision to the point that she could not watch TV, drive, or read. So, in 2006 and 2007 she had cornea transplants done, first on one eye and then on the other. When asked about the vast improvement in her quality of life, Janice said, "It was like a miracle. If I hadn't had this, it would have ended my independence."

Currently, they are over 40,000 Americans in need of a cornea transplant. The interesting thing about cornea transplants is that there is no matching done from donor to recipient. It is not necessary. In fact, the process is simple compared to an organ transplant, because donor and recipient do not even have to be the same blood type.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, or if you would like to register as a donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org.

Read more : emissourian.com article titled "A Vision for All to See"

Nurse Saves Neighbor

Debbie Beck has worked as a nurse in the transplant unit at Intermountain Medical Center for over 15 years. She has helped many who were seriously ill and running out of time. However, last summer a patient came through her unit who was really special to her. It was her neighbor, Russell Maynes.

Maynes, Beck, and their families have grown close since both families moved into the neighborhood five years ago. Last summer, Maynes spent the entire day at Intermountain after being rushed there in anticipation of a life-saving kidney transplant. Unfortunately, the day ended in disappointment when it was discovered that the donated kidney was not a good match. After hearing the heart-breaking story, Beck felt compelled to help him. So, she decided to be a living kidney donor for him. In doing so, she saved his life.

Maynes has 10 children and 40 grandchildren. He now has the opportunity to spend more time with them and see them grow up. When asked about his thoughts on his good fortune, Mayne replied, "You think, Well, what greater gift can someone give you than the gift of life, and especially when it could be their own life that they are willing to put on the line to give you the ability to be with your family and your friends."

TODF agrees, Mr. Mayne. That is exactly the message we are working to convey everyday. Organ donation is about giving the gift of life. If you would like more information about organ and tissue donation, or want to learn how to register as a donor, please visit our website at www.SaveLivesTN.org.

Read more - sltrib.com article titled "Transplant Nurse Becomes Kidney Donor for Utah Neighbor"

Related articles

• Man receives kidney from unexpected donor (fox13now.com)

1-Year Old Gets Second Chance From Uncle

In order to facilitate the advocacy of organ and tissue donation, the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation (TODF), will start sharing transplant success stories from across the U.S. on it's blog. Frequently, TODF runs across such stories about regular, everyday people who have had their lives saved or dramatically improved by caring organ and tissue donors and their families. TODF believes these heroes' stories show the personal side of organ and tissue donation having a dramatic impact in  encouraging Americans to register as donors. We hope you enjoy and are personally touched by these awesome stories. We share the first one today.

Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sarah Pastore, 15 months old, of North Reading, MA had only one, failing kidney when she was born. Doctors screened seven people as potential donors, and it turned out Sarah's uncle, Anthony Pastore, was found to be the best match. Sarah endured the four-hour surgery and is now doing well. After having to eat and take her medicine through a nasal feeding tube until she was one year old, she is now munching on Cheerios.

Her uncle is thrilled to see her doing well and feels blessed to have been able to help his niece. When asked about her, he just smiles and says, "She's my baby." He's a hero. Sadly, there's over 113,000 other Americans who need a hero, too. If you have not registered as an organ and tissue donor, TODF encourages you to do so. You might save a life, too, one day. For more information, or to register as a donor, please visit our website www.SaveLivesTN.org by clicking here.

Read more - Boston.com article titled "Birthday Gift of Life"

Tennessean report on the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc.

Office of The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On March 19, 2012, The Tennessean newspaper, based in Nashville, TN, ran a wonderful article about us in its "Life" section. If you missed it, you can read it by clicking here. Being a new organization, the positive press is very beneficial to us.

We are very grateful to The Tennessean for the great exposure they have provided to us. Furthermore, we want to say a very special "Thank You" to Jen Todd, the writer of the article. We have already received a number of inquiries due to the article.

Thank you again.

Help Joel

We recently learned about a young man named Joel Beeson who suffers from a genetic bleeding disorder. Due to the disorder, Joel is in grave need of a liver transplant. He recently had a living donor, his brother, lined up and ready to go until the transplant facility changed the age requirements. The change disqualified Joel's brother from being a living donor.

Joel is now back to square one and needs help. To learn more about Joel and his situation, or to help out, please visit the Facebook page that his friends have set-up for him. Just click here.

"Grand Opening" Video

Embedded below is a two-part video from our "Grand Opening." The video contains the speech delivered by Johnny Black, Founder and Executive Director, in which he announces the creation of the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. and shares it's mission and vision for the future.




Part 1 of the video can also be viewed by clicking here.
Part 2 of the video can also be viewed by clicking here.

Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. Now Open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TENNESSEE ORGAN DONATION FOUNDATION, INC.

AIMS TO EDUCATE

New nonprofit hopes to increase number of registered donors in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mt. Juliet resident Johnny Black has formed the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc., a new nonprofit organization, whose mission is to educate Tennesseans about the importance of organ and tissue donation and to increase the number of registered donors.

“We want people to know that organ and tissue donation is not about death, but rather about life,” said Black, a heart recipient and Executive Director of the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. “Five years ago, I could have been a statistic – one of the 19 Americans who die each day waiting on a life-saving organ transplant. However, my life was saved because a man I had never met, named Kent, cared enough to register as an organ and tissue donor.”

Black, who lives in Mount Juliet, founded the organization in Nov. 2011 because he perceived a great need to improve public education and awareness about organ and tissue donation in his home state of Tennessee. The Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised solely of members of the transplant community, including an organ recipient (Black), a donor family member, Doris Gray, and a living donor, George Blank. The Board’s unique makeup ensures that the organization will always have the best interests of people in need of transplants as its number one priority. Each Board member is personally invested in the cause of organ and tissue donation because of his/her own experience with its life-saving and life-improving qualities.

The organization plans to hold various events in Davidson and surrounding counties and will distribute informational literature, answer questions about organ and tissue donation, and convince more Tennesseans to register as organ and tissue donors. In addition, the Foundation plans to hold speaking engagements in the area in order to share the personal stories of organ and tissue recipients and donors and their family members.

For more information about the Tennessee Organ Donation Foundation, Inc. and to learn how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit www.SaveLivesTN.org.

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