Organ Donation (Lisa)

Lisa here...Blogging… Wow I feel so cool. Did you know that 17 people die every DAY just waiting for organs?When I read that I have to stop and imagine. Do I even have 17 friends that I could imagine dying in a day? And then 17 more in the next... and again by the end of the week loose 119 friends and family. It isn't like these children (and adults) who die waiting for organs DON'T have modern medicine on their sides. It isn't like there isn't something out there to save their lives… instead medicine HAS advanced, it figured out how to take organs from one person and save another! The doctors DID their part. They figured out how to save dying babies, how to give life to little girls like Haley, to give others chances to graduate high school, and to become parent's of their own. So what are we waiting on?? Why are they still dying?? Ohhh yeah that is because people don't CHOOSE to help. We aren't talking traveling to the edge of Africa for some miracle drug…we are talking about organ donation. It seems crazy to me… that in a country where we will take such pride in protecting children, giving an education, futures and hope to children, we also just let them die in hospitals. The hope for the future is organ donation for these kids, yet it is a "touchy topic" and no one wants to talk about the fact we will all die one day. So, let's just ignore it. When Aiden was born with Biliary Atresia and then shortly after they said he needed a liver transplant, I figured... "Then go get him one." I had a big awakening when they said there was a massive shortage and people died everyday not getting what they needed. Huh? I had NO clue that this was happening in hospitals all over our country. Why hasn't the public been notified? OK folks read this and say it out loud:Just signing your driver's license means NOTHING. You HAVE to tell your next of kin. They make that choice. Why didn't they tell me that when I signed my driver's license? It seems so simple. I talk to a lot of people who think, "I can't donate my organs. I had cancer... (Or fill in the blank)" I even heard a group of Mom's at an allergy board say their kids could never be donors because their children had peanut allergies. (Ummm does sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me?) But it isn't their fault. They haven't been educated. No one talks about this. So how would they know that you could donate if you have had cancer (as long as you are cancer free for over 5 years and it wasn't a melanoma)? The people who are recovering your organs or tissue will be able to determine if you are a candidate for donation. So just tell your family.You know Aiden got his liver when he was only 8 months old. But he got a second gift two days later, a cadaveric vein. Someone donated his or her tissue and Aiden is alive because of that vein. He had an 8-hour surgery to fix a clotted vein to his liver, and things were touch and go. They decided to use a donated vein in replace of his own; my son is alive from that tiny gift. Yes, I know in my inaugural blog I sound kind of angry. But it isn't anger that I am really feeling. I feel an overwhelming feeling of sadness for my dear friends who have lost a child waiting. Can you believe I have lost count to how many angels have flown to Heaven since I began this journey with Aiden only 4 ½ years ago? I never knew that at 30 years old I would know anyone who lost a child, none the less know so many I couldn't count. Please please, today… NOT tomorrow… TELL someone that you love, " Hey you know, I want to be an organ and tissue donor when I die." The tough talk is over and maybe one day after you have lived a wonderful and full life you can be a hero and an angel to someone who needs you so desperately.

(no subject)

Lisa here...Blogging…Wow I feel so cool.   Did you know that 17 people die every DAY just waiting for organs?  When I read that I have to stop and imagine. Do I even have 17 friends that I  could imagine dying in a day? And then 17 more in the next... and again by  the end of the week loose 119 friends and family. It isn't like these children  (and adults) who die waiting for organs DON'T have modern medicine on their  sides. It isn't like there isn't something out there to save their lives… instead  medicine HAS advanced, it figured out how to take organs from one person and  save another! The doctors DID their part. They figured out how to save dying  babies, how to give life to little girls like Haley, to give others chances to  graduate high school, and to become parent's of their own.    So what are we waiting on?? Why are they still dying?? Ohhh yeah that is  because people don't CHOOSE to help. We aren't talking traveling to the edge of  Africa for some miracle drug…we are talking about organ donation.   It seems crazy to me… that in a country where we will take such pride in  protecting children, giving an education, futures and hope to children, we also  just let them die in hospitals. The hope for the future is organ donation for  these kids, yet it is a "touchy topic" and no one wants to talk about the fact  we will all die one day. So, let's just ignore it.   When Aiden was born with Biliary Atresia and then shortly after they said he  needed a liver transplant, I figured... "Then go get him one." I had a big  awakening when they said there was a massive shortage and people died everyday  not getting what they needed.  Huh? I had NO clue that this was happening in  hospitals all over our country. Why hasn't the public been notified?   OK folks read this and say it out loud:  Just signing your driver's license means NOTHING. You HAVE to tell your next  of kin. They make that choice.   Why didn't they tell me that when I signed my driver's license? It seems so  simple.    I talk to a lot of people who think, "I can't donate my organs. I had  cancer... (Or fill in the blank)" I even heard a group of Mom's at an allergy board  say their kids could never be donors because their children had peanut  allergies. (Ummm does sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me?) But it isn't  their fault. They haven't been educated. No one talks about this. So how would  they know that you could donate if you have had cancer (as long as you are cancer  free for over 5 years and it wasn't a melanoma)? The people who are  recovering your organs or tissue will be able to determine if you are a candidate for  donation. So just tell your family.  You know Aiden got his liver when he was only 8 months old. But he got a  second gift two days later, a cadaveric vein. Someone donated his or her tissue  and Aiden is alive because of that vein. He had an 8-hour surgery to fix a  clotted vein to his liver, and things were touch and go. They decided to use a  donated vein in replace of his own; my son is alive from that tiny gift.    Yes, I know in my inaugural blog I sound kind of angry. But it isn't anger  that I am really feeling.  I feel an overwhelming feeling of sadness for my dear  friends who have lost a child waiting. Can you believe I have lost count to  how many angels have flown to Heaven since I began this journey with Aiden only  4 ½ years ago? I never knew that at 30 years old I would know anyone who lost  a child, none the less know so many I couldn't count.   Please please, today… NOT tomorrow… TELL someone that you love, " Hey you  know, I want to be an organ and tissue donor when I die." The tough talk is over  and maybe one day after you have lived a wonderful and full life you can be a  hero and an angel to someone who needs you so desperately. 


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Fundraising Opportunities

The fundraising opportunities page has been updated to include ways in which you can help. Check it out!

http://www.thehaleyvincentfoundation.com/FundraisingOps.htm

First Official blog from Haley's mom

Hello everyone, and welcome to our blogging experiment.

If you follow our CB sites, you may have read that we are beginning a blog here on the Foundation website.

Although our posts will continue to have the same personal component you are used to, we are going to try and be "topical" and relevant as well.

There is so much writing talent out there, we will occasionally be inviting "guest bloggers" to weigh in on a topic hat may be special to them.

We will be blogging each Monday (or before) for the week. Our first topic, is organ donation. Something, both Lisa and I know something about.

On October 1, 2005. my sweet, beautiful, talented, little girl became a statistic. One of the 118 people who died that day waiting for an organ transplant.
How it hurts me to think of her that way. As a number on a list. And yet that is what her life, and her death hinged on.
Beause of the way her disease presented, because of the way her smart little body compensated, because of the unusual presence of a second illness, Haley didn't fit onto the list the way she was supposed to, with the sickest going to the top. She was penalized for being unusual. A penalty that cost her her life.
And I hate the system. Make no mistake. I find nothing "fair" about the way organs are shared in this country. BUT, and this is a big one......IF everyone was an organ donor, the list, the system wouldn't even matter.
We, the people, have the power to fix this.
There WAS a treatment available to save our daughter...how sad that there just wasn't a liver.

This tragedy replays itself every single day as mothers and fathers lose their children, children lose parents, spouses lose each other. We have it in our power to fix this.

And, it isn't just solid organ transplants, but tissue and, of course bone marrow. These things literally save lives.
Find your bone marrow registry...if you don't know where to go...start with the red cross.
Sign your organ donation card, and TELL everyone you want to be a donor.
The life you could save is important, it is a treasure to someone.

Other Foundation News:
Check out the new song on this site :
"A Voice Above the Crowd"
written by Steven Wagner
music by Dan Robinson
Vocals Kim Miller
This song was written for Haley weeks after she died, it captures her life and her spirit beautifully.
It, along with the other songs will be available on CD soon. I really mean it!! We are so close to having it finished!!

If you want your child to be on our upcoming prayer request page, please email me with first name and a link. We want to focus on kids in all phases of their journeys.

We are putting together a "Garage sale Committee". To be involved, email me. The sale will be late April, date to be announced.

Thanks to Bonnie for making this blog possible.

Thanks to all of you for coming by,
Cheryl
My Angel Haley

Foundation Meeting - February 10, 2007 at 12 pm

There will be a meeting of the foundation at Bruce & Cheryl's house on Saturday, February 10th at 12 pm. Anyone interested in helping with the foundation should attend. Lunch will be provided as well as a play area for the children. For directions, please contact Cheryl.