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Andy T. – A Life Renewed

jmuller123 — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:54:52 +0000

Hepatitis C is a debilitating illness that can require patients to receive liver transplants. Andy T. is a Donate Life Illinois volunteer who contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion due to his life with hemophilia. Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder in which one’s blood does not clot normally causing patients to need many blood transfusions.

Andy shares his inspiring story of living with hepatitis and of a life renewed through a lifesaving transplant.

Andy and his wife

I was exposed to hepatitis C during a routine dental procedure while in my late 20s. I was given a precautionary blood transfusion for this very simple medical procedure. Unfortunately, the transfusion was contaminated with hepatitis C, a disease that would ultimately threaten my life.

Hepatitis C slowly attacks the liver. My doctor once told me that I was a man “living with a ticking time bomb” inside my liver. We treated liver disease aggressively for eight years, trying a variety of treatments, including three rounds of Interferon. Each Interferon treatment lasted a full year, and all eventually were unsuccessful. At the age of 56, I was desperate for a cure.

Finally, the combination of my hemophilia and hepatitis C proved to be too much for my liver—doctors told me I needed a new liver to stay alive. My only option was a transplant. After much testing and preparation, I was placed on the transplant waiting list on Dec 24, 2009. I considered it an early Christmas present. My health continued to worsen to the point where I required emergency surgery in March 2010 due to complications from the disease.

On March 2, I was rushed into surgery. On our trip to the hospital, my wife turned to me and said, “If you ever receive a liver, I will not even cry. I am just so ready for this to all be over.” After a four-hour surgery the doctor spoke to my wife and daughter. He said he had some bad news and some good news. His bad news was that my health was in a steady decline due to the disease. The good news had two parts. The first part was that the emergency surgery was successful and had saved my life. The second part was that Gift of Hope, the organ procurement organization in Illinois, had called the hospital with news of a potential match for a donor liver. This was the best news my family ever could have received.

The medical team quickly left to evaluate and recover the donated liver. While I lay in recovery, my medical team took the most important trip of my life. After a few hours, they called and said it was a match. I was going to receive a new liver and a second chance at life!

What has this gift meant to me and my family? It is difficult to put into words. This year I will be able to walk my daughter down the aisle as she gets married to the man of her dreams. My other daughter was just nominated as the Young Teacher of the Year at her school. I am able to look forward to seeing both of them complete their master’s degrees. And, last but not least, my wife and I look forward to celebrating our 35^th wedding anniversary next year.

Andy's Daughters

I now have the opportunity to share my story about the “Gift of Life” through organ and tissue donation. I am thankful every day of my new life for this amazing gift. I am healthy for the first time in years and have the energy to really live life again. No longer am I tired, sluggish, chilled, confused, or generally not feeling well.

I wake up looking forward to the day and wanting to live life to the fullest. I try to find opportunities to say “thank you” to everyone and every organization involved in health care and organ donation and, especially, to the family that made the decision to save my life though organ donation. My faith is now stronger than ever, and I am committed give back to those who have given to me.

- Andy

Register your decision to give life through organ and tissue donation at DonateLifeillinois.org!

Commuting with a Cause: Part II

jmuller123 — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:47:59 +0000

Donate Life Illinois and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) recently partnered to build awareness of organ and tissue donation in Chicago. During April, CTA riders were greeted by persuasive ads that encouraged them to register their decision to be organ and tissue donors. In addition, Donate Life Illinois took over the Washington/Wells “L” stop and displayed ads throughout the concourse and platform.

Check out our ads below:

Washington/Wells Stop

Bus Interiors

“L” Interiors

Did you see these ads while traveling on the CTA? If so, tell us where you saw them and share your thoughts about them on our Facebook Fan Page or tweet us at @DonateLifeIL.

And if you’re not a registered organ and tissue donor already, don’t forget to register your decision today at DonateLifeillinois.org.

Oprah and ESPN to feature Organ Donation Stories

jmuller123 — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:55:12 +0000

Tuesday, April 19, will be a remarkable day for building organ and tissue donation awareness across the country and encouraging people to become donors. Tomorrow, two dramatic, hard-hitting stories that showcase precisely what we exist for as an organization—providing the Gift of Hope made possible through organ and tissue donation—will be televised nationally.

In the morning, The Oprah Winfrey Show will feature the story of Chicago Bears cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman and his daughter’s lifesaving heart transplant. The broadcast will feature Charles, wife Jackie and daughter Tiana Tillman as they relive their experiences waiting for a transplant and the precious moments of life they’ve captured since then. The show also features the dramatic and emotional first meeting between the Tillmans and the family that chose to give hope and life to the Tillmans through donation.

Later, ESPN will showcase the powerful impact that organ and tissue donation can have on people’s lives in a segment on the critically acclaimed E:60. Reporter Jeremy Schaap will document the tragic death of professional boxer and Chicago native Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez and his family’s decision to give hope and life to others by donating Paco’s organs and tissue. In November 2009, Paco died from injuries sustained in a bout in Philadelphia. His family ensured that Paco’s legacy would live on by making the selfless decision to donate.

The Oprah Winfrey Show airs on ABC7 tomorrow, April 19, at 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. CDT in the metropolitan Chicago area. Check your local listings for broadcast times outside of Chicago. E:60 airs tomorrow on ESPN at 6 p.m. CDT across the country. In addition, a companion piece will run on ESPN.com, and ESPN Deportes will air a Spanish-language version of Paco’s story on Sunday, April 24.

Register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor at DonateLifeIllinois.org

Celebrate National Eye Donor Month with the Illinois Eye-Bank!

jmuller123 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:25:38 +0000

In 1983, then-President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as National Eye Donor Month, stating, “One of the most magnificent presents that one human being can bestow upon another is the gift of sight.”

Many of us take our sight for granted. Think about it: From the moment you wake up to the time you close those heavy eyelids, how many tasks do you perform that require your use of sight?

Did you look at the alarm clock to see what time it was?
Did you make sure you were using the shampoo instead of the conditioner?
Did you read a label to make sure you grabbed the cinnamon instead of the cayenne pepper for your toast?

We use our sight nearly every moment of every single day. Imagine how different your day would be if you had little or no vision due to a corneal blindness.

Amazingly, about 10 percent of all blinding eye conditions can be corrected through corneal transplantation. Last year, more than 50,000 people nationwide (1,000 in Illinois) received a second chance at sight due to the generosity of organ, eye and tissue donors. Show how generous you can be, and “bestow a magnificent present” to a person in need. Register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeIllinois.org!

In celebration of National Eye Donor Month, the Illinois Eye-Bank is excited to share this new poster featuring Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White and five pediatric eye tissue recipients. Thanks to the generosity of donors and their families, these children have a bright future ahead of them. Please join the Illinois Eye-Bank during March to promote eye donation and honor those who have so graciously given the gift of sight.

Give the gift of sight. Be an organ, eye and tissue donor. Register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor today at DonateLifeIllinois.org!

- Mary Schlereth, Illinois Eye-Bank

Illinois Donor Diaries – Chapter 39 – Inspired

joslynosten — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:43:09 +0000

My name is Audriana and on June 6, 2010, I decided to register to become a donor. I was watching a series on TV called Three Rivers and saw a particular episode that touched me. The episode was called Win-Loss. What touched me was that there was this man that needed a double-lung transplant and a person who had died that wanted to be an organ and tissue donor. The person’s family was having a dispute about whether she should become an organ donor. What got me was that it was too late by the time they got the lungs to the hospital because unfortunately the patient that needed the lung transplant had died. Ultimately there was another patient that received the donated heart, but so much more could have been done if she had been a registered organ and tissue donor.

I want to be able to give life at the end when my time comes because I know just as easily that I could be the one needing a transplant someday. I want to be the hope for somebody who needs a transplant someday. I know it might sound silly that a television show inspired me to do this but really I just want to help others.

Don’t wait until the next Three Rivers episode to register, join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry today!

-Audriana
Crystal Lake, Illinois

The Stanley Cup Visits Children’s Hospital, 1,001st Transplant Patient

Hammin' It Up — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:37:49 +0000

Blackhawk's coach Quenneville shares the Stanley Cup with Ella. (photo from Children's Facebook Page)

A surprise visit from the Stanley Cup brightened patients’ day at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Since the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship earlier in the month, the team and trophy have been making numerous public appearances to celebrate the success. Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville organized the hospital appearance and accompanied the trophy while meeting with patients.

Nine-year-old Ella Hafenrichter was one of the lucky patients who got to see the trophy up close. Ella became the hospital’s 1,0001st transplant patient when she received a new kidney.

Congrats to the Blackhawks and kudos for sharing the celebration with these patients!

-Nick

Click here for a video of the visit.

The Chicago Sun-Times also wrote about the visit.

Supporters Motivate Others with Letters to the Editors

Hammin' It Up — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:44:36 +0000

Over the weekend, two powerful letters to the editors we’re printed in Illinois newspapers. When messages of support, like these letters, are read by residents unaffected by organ/tissue donation, my hope is that they decide to register. Maybe the reader was undecided on the issue. Maybe the reader wondered if others were registering. Maybe a reader didn’t think being a donor had that much of an impact. After reading the letters shared by Cathie and Kathleen, I’m sure many readers changed their mind about the issue and, best yet, registered that day. Thanks for sharing!

-Nick

You Can’t Take It With You

June 13

SouthtownStar

Are You an Ordinary Hero?

June 12

Suburban Journals

Free Tickets to see Danny Gokey in Chicago!

Hammin' It Up — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:03:54 +0000

That’s right country music fans, we’re back with more tickets to giveaway! If you or someone you know is a fan of country star Danny Gokey, check out our latest ticket giveaway in partnership with US99!

40 pairs of tickets will be given away and it only takes a moment to enter. Be sure to share the link with others.

Good luck!

Nick

Meet an Olympic Medalist & Save Lives

Hammin' It Up — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:12:07 +0000

Next Saturday, April 10, Olympic Snowboard Bronze Medalist Chris Klug will be thanking donors at the Donate Life blood drive. Chris is a liver and blood recipient. All participating blood donors at this drive are eligible to enter to win one of three autographed Chris Klug autobiographies or one iPod. Attendees can also register as organ/tissue donors and be entered into the Marrow Registry. LifeSource has all the details for this important event. Register and meet an Olympian!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

7 A.M. TO 1 P.M.

Marriott O’Hare, Nikko Room

8535 West Higgins Road

Chicago, IL 60631

We’re Giving Away Free Josh Turner Concert Tickets!

Scott Meis — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:17:33 +0000

It’s Christmas year-round here at DLI camp! We’re always in a giving mood.

As part of our partnership with US99 for their Live Country Series, we’re giving away 40 free pairs of tickets to see Josh Turner at a private concert here in Chicago on February 11!

These tickets are not for sale, so here’s your chance to win!

Hop over to this contest page to learn what steps need to be taken to enter (21 and older only). Any Illinois resident can enter now through January 31 and we’ll notify the winners by February 2.

Spread the word to anyone you know that’s a country fan and good luck!

-Scott