VOLUME 15
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ISSUE 3
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FA L L 2 0 1 2
A Quarterly Newsletter of LifeShare Of The Carolinas
Man-Up!
LifeShare Begins New Marketing Campaign Targeted at Men
IN THIS ISSUE:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
LifeShare Begins New
Marketing Campaign
Journey of the Heart
North Carolina Has Record
Number of Sports Figures
Tied to Donation
LifeShare Promotes
Donation During National
Hispanic Heritage Month
LifeShare Encourages
Volunteers to Support
National Donor Sabbath
Helping to Make a
Difference — Angie Belk
Donor Statistics by
Hospital
LifeShare Adopts New
Mission Statement
A Donate Life Organization
Did you know that men are less likely than women to sign-up as organ donors? It’s
an interesting statistic but one that is repeated in our region as well as throughout
the United States.
Statistics from the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) show that when asked if
they want to be a donor, 56% of the state’s women say yes. That figure compares to
49.7% of the men in the state.
Thanks to a Fast Track Grant from the NC License to Give Trust Fund Commission,
LifeShare plans to see if we can begin to close the gap between male and female
registrations. The project will begin this fall.
Initially, we will target male residents in the 18 to 26-year age range in Cabarrus,
Gaston, Lincoln and Mecklenburg counties. Assuming we are successful, the project
will be expanded to include our entire service area—from Anson County through the
Mountains of southwestern North Carolina.
Carolinas Medical Center has graciously agreed to partner with us on the project.
Campaign elements will include signage at sports events, media outreach, a direct
mail campaign and other grassroots efforts involving our volunteers. In fact, it is members
of LifeShare’s “extended” family that will be featured in all newly-created materials.
It is not our intent to leave women out. In fact, we recognize that it is women who
are in charge of many of the healthcare decisions in their families. We hope that
women will support us in encouraging the men in their lives to
say yes to donation the next time they go to the DMV.
Because men have wives, mothers and daughters who
could one day need a transplant, we hope they will at
least think about it.
We’re excited about the campaign
and hope that you will be too.
LifeShare
Of The Carolinas
1-800-932-GIVE
Journey of the Heart
www.lifesharecarolinas.org
Editor
Debbie Gibbs
Associate Editor
Gary Burris
............
A rose is considered a symbol of love, loss and renewal. It is the universal symbol
adorning floats in the Rose Parade each year. Even if you can’t go to Pasadena, you
can still be represented.
Donor families and transplant recipients have the opportunity to honor special
people by dedicating a rose tagged with a personal message. Every individual who
dedicates a rose will receive a thank you card, a special dedication posted on the
float web site, and a personalized digital certificate via e-mail.
The cost for individuals to dedicate a rose is $30. For hospitals interested in
honoring their donors, it’s a little more. Interested? You can visit
http://www.donatelifefloat.org/prod/components/dedication_garden/ to place an order.
OUR MISSION
Improving lives through organ,
eye and tissue donation.
............
OUR VISION
We envision a day when everyone
who needs a transplant will be
able to get one.
The theme of the 2013 Donate Life entry will be Journey of the Heart.
For the fifth time, there will be at least one person riding on the float
with a Carolina connection that you will recognize. Check your local
listings for the time and stations that will carry the parade on New
Years Day 2013. This is one year you won’t want to miss!
2
LIFESHARE OF THE CAROLINAS
North Carolina Has Record Number
of Sports Figures Tied to Organ and
Tissue Donation
When Donate Life America hands out awards to sports figures who have made a
contribution to organ and tissue donation, North Carolina will be among those
states leading the way. Six individuals from the Tar Heel state have been nominated
for the inaugural awards.
The Donate Life Champions awards are being presented to select public figures
within the athletic community who have demonstrated remarkable support for
organ, eye and tissue donation and inspired thousands of Americans to become
"FansForLife" by joining state donor registries. In all, roughly 50 awards will be
presented nationwide. Likely notable names to receive them are Erik Compton, Sean
Elliott, Alonzo Mourning, Walter Payton (posthumous) and Paco Rodriguez.
Number of Candidates on the
National Transplant Waiting List
Kidney
92,904
Liver
15,999
Pancreas
1,277
Kidney-Pancreas
2,164
Heart
3,241
Lung
1,604
Heart-Lung
Sports figures with ties to North Carolina who have been nominated are:
Intestine
•
•
•
•
•
•
NATIONAL TOTAL
Jake Abbate
Bobby Height
Chris Henry
Michael Jordan
Jason Ray
Tom Walters
Ex Wake Forest football player
Retired athletic coach and baseball player
Former NFL player
Bobcats owner and former NBA player
Former Chapel Hill mascot
Wake Forest football coach
54
253
114,788
North Carolina
3,560
South Carolina
984
Based on OPTN data as of August 24, 2012.
Donate Life America, Donate Life North Carolina and the state’s recovery agencies
will present the awards to the athletes later this fall. Look for “Fans for Life” on
Facebook and Twitter. A minute of an athlete’s time could mean a lifetime to others.
National Donor
Sabbath Observed
November 12, 2012
The Donate Life flag was flying high at a North Carolina rodeo. Carrying it is Billy Belk, husband
of Angie Belk, who is featured on page six. How’s that for showing your colors?
FA L L
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2 0 1 2
Everyone has a story to tell
and what a better place to tell
it than at a place of worship?
The National Donor Sabbath
Observance is a day each year
for all religions to come together
to learn, understand, and
support organ donation.
LifeShare has Donor Sabbath
materials available for any
congregations that want them.
To get yours, call Jennifer McCarn
at (704) 512-3303 or e-mail her at
[email protected].
3
Promoting Donation
CALENDAR
of events
September 15–October 15, 2012
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Nationwide
September 23, 2012
Bill Coon's All American Swim Tour
Levine Children's Hospital
Charlotte, NC
http://billcoonspeaks.com/tour.html
September 24, 2012
Bill Coon's All American Swim Tour
Mission Children's Hospital
Asheville, NC
http://billcoonspeaks.com/tour.html
November 12, 2011
National Donor Sabbath
Churches and Congregations
Nationwide
December 7, 2012
Making a Difference Donation
Symposium
Gaston Memorial Hospital
January 1, 2013
Donate Life Float
Rose Parade
Check local TV listings
4
LifeShare Promotes Donation During
National Hispanic Heritage Month
When Maribel Lopez Pascal went to the DMV to get her first driver’s license in 1997,
she made the decision to become an organ donor. She didn’t know why. After all, she
was young.
“As the years went by, I completely forgot about organ donation until a terrible
event happened to one of my family members,” Pascal said. In 2004, her cousin, Jose
Manuel, was critically injured in an auto accident.
His father was given the devastating news that his son, age, 18, was braindead.
“The news was so disturbing and so painful that even today it’s hard to fully describe
what we felt that day,” Pascal said. Because of her uncle’s unselfish decision to
donate Jose Manuel’s organs, lives were saved.
The family moved on with their lives never imagining that they would have to
make a decision about organ donation again. Six years later, the husband of Pascal’s
cousin, Osvaldo, suffered a stroke while at work. Osvaldo was only 37 and as far as
anyone knew, he was the picture of good health.
Again the family was devastated but his wife, Maria, said yes to donation. Osvaldo
left behind three children. His youngest daughter was three and the oldest was 13 at
the time of his death. She recently celebrated her Quinceanera, a special party for
girls as they turn 15.
“Alejandra will be celebrating her “15 anos” without her father but knows deep in
her heart that he is here still among us in others and in Spirit,” Pascal wrote. “Organ
donation has knocked on our door twice and we have never regretted the decision
my uncle or cousin made. To give to others when a family is in need and another
family is in sorrow is a true blessing, honor and a healing process,” Pascal said.
She joined the LifeShare team earlier this year as a part-time member of our family
support staff. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, LifeShare and
Pascal are highlighting the need for more Hispanic donors.
Celebrated annually, between September 15th and October 15th, National
Heritage Hispanic Month pays tribute to Hispanic culture by commemorating the
independence of five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua.
Nationwide, the waiting list for Hispanics in need of organ transplants is near
21,000. Spanish or English-speaking groups that are interested in a presentation on
the importance of organ donation to the Hispanic community can reach Pascal
through LifeShare at (704) 512-3303. Done Vida!
ower to donate life!
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LIFESHARE OF THE CAROLINAS
Throughout the Year
LifeShare Encourages Volunteers
to Support National Donor Sabbath
“I need all of my organs to get into heaven” is a common misconception heard by those of
us who work in the organ donor community. There is however no Scriptural basis for it.
In I Corinthians 15:50, the Apostle Paul
writes, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God.” In eternity we will not
have or need our earthly bodies. Old things
will pass away and all things will be made new.”
There are several Biblical references that support organ donation as an
act of charity. In I Corinthians 15:50, the Apostle Paul writes, “flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” In eternity we will not have or
need our earthly bodies. Old things will pass away and all things will be made new.”
The National Donor Sabbath, November 9-11, marks a special time in North
Carolina’s religious community as clergy unite to increase awareness about the
need for organ and tissue donation. During the 2012 National Donor Sabbath
observance, LifeShare is encouraging our volunteers to help spread the good word —
donation saves lives!
This year, LifeShare is trying something different to encourage area congregations to
participate. We are preparing recordings and Podcasts by various members of the clergy
that our volunteers may share with their own churches, Temples and Synagogues. They will
be available by October 15th on our web site. As in the past, we will provide Bible markers and
speakers for congregations that want them.
We are praying that our volunteers will get behind us on this project and make the National
Donor Sabbath 2012 our best ever. Christine Strickland, a donor family member, already has by
spearheading this initiative.
You can play a part in dispelling common myths and misconceptions, helping members of
your faith make decisions to join the organ donor registry based on facts and turn suffering
into survival by:
• Sending a letter to your religious leaders—We’ve already written it. You just have to
personalize it and mail it
• Being available to speak to at services, religious classes and study groups
• Offering to host a registration drive after services
If you can help, contact Christine Strickland at [email protected].
Materials for your congregation can be ordered through Jennifer McCarn at
(704) 512-3303 or [email protected].
FA L L
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2 0 1 2
5
PLANNING A PROGRAM?
As your organization plans its meeting
calendar for the year, please think of
LifeShare. Speakers from your community
whose lives have been touched by
organ or tissue donation are available
to talk to local groups.
If you would like to schedule a
free, informative presentation tailored
to the needs of your organization,
call the LifeShare office nearest you
at (704) 512-3303 or (828) 665-0107.
If you are interested in joining our
Speaker’s Bureau, we’d also like to
hear from you.
Lots of opportunities are available
to help in the office, to staff a booth
at a health fair or to make presentations
to community groups. Call us.
PLEASE CONSIDER
MAKING A FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTION
By making a donation to LifeShare,
you can help to save lives by raising
organ and tissue donation awareness.
You may contribute in several ways.
In lieu of flowers, LifeShare may
be designated as the organization to
receive memorials for funerals.
Contributions may also be made in
the name of a transplant recipient,
donor or other loved one. Each person
who makes a contribution to LifeShare
receives a thank you letter. A separate
letter is sent to the family or person in
whose honor the donation was made.
Helping to Make a
Difference — Angie Belk
Angie Belk grew up helping her single mother
take care of Angie’s grandmother and great
grandmother, both of whom were ill. Although
she wanted to grow up and train horses, Angie’s
mother instructed her to get a degree in
something where she could make a living.
Nursing was an obvious choice.
Today, Angie is the Organ Donation Nurse
Liaison and Lead Neuro Nurse on the Medical
Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Carolinas
Medical Center NorthEast (CMC-NE). She has
been employed there for 12 years, 10 of them
as a nurse.
Susan Galbraith, an Organ Recovery
Coordinator at LifeShare says, “When I think of Angie, she is the epitome of what a
nurse champion is.” In the seven years that Angie has worked with LifeShare, she has
spearheaded many initiatives to raise donor awareness and to train hospital staff.
One of these is the “Show Me Your Heart” campaign which rewards both hospital
staff and visitors who either already have a heart on their driver’s license or who join
the NC Organ Donor Registry on the spot. Angie also has an important role training
hospital champions to serve as a donation resource within their respective hospitals.
In 2010, Angie attended the National Learning Congress in Grapevine, Texas.
Those present were challenged to increase donor designation in their areas. Angie
brought the information back to CMC-NE and brainstormed ideas with her team. “I
thought we could take it to the hospital level and grow it into the community,” she said.”
This October, Angie will be one of the presenters at the National Learning
Congress, discussing the “Show Me Your Heart campaign”. She hopes that its success
will inspire other hospitals around the country to try it. “If they have the support to
do a similar program, they too will see success,” she exclaimed.
Angie lives in Concord, NC. She and her husband, Billy, have three children—
Kaleigh (2), Tyler (17) and Colton (15). The Belk’s also have two dogs and three horses.
As a family, they enjoy competing in horse shows and rodeos.
If you look at page three in the newsletter, you’ll see the Donate Life flag at a
rodeo. We thank the Belk’s for that and for everything they do to support LifeShare’s
mission to save lives.
BY BEN MARTIN
Please mail your check, payable to
LifeShare, to the address on the back
of the newsletter. All contributions
are tax-deductible and are used for
“When I think of Angie, she is the epitome
of what a nurse champion is.”
public education purposes.
6
LIFESHARE OF THE CAROLINAS
LifeShare gratefully acknowledges the commitment of all nurses and other medical
personnel who help to further the ideals of organ and tissue donation. It is through
their efforts and the generosity of donor family members that donation occurs. When
comparing statistics, please note that not all hospitals have the same donor potential.
Quilt
D O N O R S TAT I S T I C S B Y H O S P I TA L
April–June 2012
Hospital
of
Life
Eye
Organ
Tissue
Angel
0
0
0
Anson
1
0
1
Asheville Specialty
0
0
1
19
13
14
donor family members a
CMC - Lincoln
6
0
5
special way to remember
CMC - Mercy
1
0
0
their loved ones—through
12
1
10
CMC - Pineville
3
0
2
CMC - Union
3
0
2
CMC - University
0
0
1
office and at special events
Cherokee
1
0
1
designed to promote organ
Cleveland
2
0
2
and tissue donation. Squares
14
1
11
Grace
1
0
1
least once a year, usually in
Harris
3
0
4
the spring in time for
Haywood
4
0
4
National Organ and Tissue
Highlands-Cashiers
1
0
1
Donation Awareness Month.
Kings Mountain
1
0
1
If you would like to add a
Lake Norman
1
0
1
square in memory of your
Mission - St. Joseph’s
8
1
5
loved one, visit our web site
Murphy
2
0
1
at lifesharecarolinas.org for
Pardee
2
0
1
Park Ridge
0
0
0
Presbyterian
6
3
7
Presbyterian Huntersville
2
0
1
Presbyterian Matthews
1
0
1
Rutherford
3
0
2
St. Luke’s
2
0
3
Stanly
3
0
3
Swain
0
0
0
Transylvania
0
0
0
Valdese
2
0
2
VA Medical
0
0
0
Carolinas Medical Center (CMC)
CMC - NorthEast
Gaston
FA L L
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2 0 1 2
LifeShare is pleased to offer
our memorial quilts, the
Quilts of Life.
We display the quilts in our
are added to the quilts at
size dimensions, a release
form and other details. You
may also call us for additional
information at (704) 512-3303.
We look forward to receiving
additional squares and to
sharing the memory of your
loved one with others.
7
LifeShare
Of The Carolinas
5000-D Airport Center Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28208
LifeShare Adopts New Mission Statement
COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES REMAINS UNCHANGED
Change is the one thing in life that is constant. As our organization has matured over
the last 42 years, we have continuously strived to honor our mission to save lives.
Times have changed however and so have mission statements. Our management
team decided that ours was too long and that it was time to update it to something
not only meaningful but to something that everyone could remember.
Our new mission statement:
Improving lives through organ, eye and
tissue donation.
Our new vision statement:
We envision a day when everyone who needs
a transplant will be able to get one.