Published!

I was published in the Picton Gazette. I just want to get the message out there that donating saves lives!!

Over in Deseronto

At this time I want to draw everyone's attention to a story that I heard from a family member. Over in/near Deseronto there is a little girl that is waiting for a liver. She is only 1 year old. I cannot even begin to imagine, nor do I ever want to imagine or endure, having one of my precious babies go through something like this. A poor sweet little girl... waiting for a liver. Please send all your prayers out to this little girl. I sincerely hope that a liver becomes available and soon.

It's stories like this that really drive home the message that it's so important to donate organs. This little girl, and every person on the waiting list, need their lives back. That is truly what it's like, getting their life back and being able to do things like sit up, take a few steps without the need for a walker or eat. So please, donate. Click here to register now! You will be a hero to so many people.

Head over to beadonor.ca to register to become an organ donor. This is the difference between life and death!

Appearing on the Radio

I want to say thank you to Orlena, Aaron and Scotty for having me on Mix97 and Rock 107. It was a great way for me to get out the message that organ donation saves lives. I am truly blessed by their generosity.

Did you know that in the Belleville area less than one quarter (23%) of the population have registered to donate? In Ontario it's even less, only 20%. Not only that, in Ontario there are over 1500 people waiting for life saving organs and every 3 days one person dies. These statistics aren't old they're as of March 2011.It's my hope that I can make those numbers climb and more lives can be saved faster.

The Gift of Life has offered a volunteer course to me and I'm very excited to take it. I'm looking forward to spreading the word and answering questions. We need to donate to help save lives.

Also a special thanks to Dan Valkos for letting me know I have a beautiful guardian angel.

Click here to hear me on Mix97.

On the Radio!

I'm happy to say that I will be on the radio on Tuesday morning to discuss organ donations and tell mom's story!! Listen in to Mix 97 at 8:40. I'm doing this for mom and everyone on the list waiting for a life saving organ. Exciting!!!!

Setting my Plan into Action

Today I approached the Gold Wing Road Riders Association to see if I could get some volunteers to ride in the Pumpkinfest parade. I want to make the float as big and as flashy as possible. By having some motorcycles hopefully I can accomplish that. Mom loved the group and her wish for dad was to continue on with them as they made some lasting friendships over the years.

Today would have been Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary. I wish mom could have been here to celebrate with dad, unfortunately there were bigger plans for her.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad.

Mom & Her Babies

I wanted to post this picture, not to remind people of how sick mom was, but to show you how happy her grandchildren made her. I never saw how she looked, she was and always will be mom. I looked past the sickness. I remember seeing a picture that was taken the week before she passed away and being blown away. I also wanted to post this picture to show just how badly people need to register to donate life saving organs and tissue. It's so important to give the gift of life because it really is just that, getting your life back, after being sick for a long period of time.

Support Groups

I've been researching support groups that are out there for people that have donated or received organs. I have to say I was pretty impressed, but there are still some areas that are waiting for those groups. I posted a couple of links along the right hand side. Even if you just read the stories of the people who have had their lives changed it's very touching.

The important thing about organ donations is education. Everyone needs to know just how important it is to donate organs. Another thing that I have been running into is that here in Ontario people believe all they have to do is sign their donor card. I admit that through everything with mom I was still under that impression as well. This is not the case. You actually have to register now to donate your organs. The good news is the Ontario Government has made it easier. There are now 2 ways to register to become an organ donor. You can go to the Gift of Life website and download the form, fill it out and mail it in OR you can go to beadonor.ca click the link to register and fill out the information. It's super easy and takes no time at all. It's especially great for people who do everything online, like me! All you need is your health card.

On top of all that you must tell your family of your wishes. If you cannot make the decision and they don't know what your wishes are they may decide against organ donation.

Hopefully this information has helped you make the decision to register to donate. Some families have said that by donating their loved ones organs it made the grieving process easier. When you donate you become a hero to countless people. I don't know about you, but that's a pretty awesome feeling!

Mom's Memory

I was able to sit down and finish Mom's page. It was hard but I got through it. I hope that you are able to take the time to see what type of person my mother was. She was truly beautiful and unique. She put others before herself. It's quite long, but there's still so much that could be said.

I also wanted to post that I have contacted the local radio stations in the hopes that maybe something can be done to help spread the message about organ donations. I will keep you updated on how that turns out.

A Harry Potter Tradition...

Last night I went to see the final installment of Harry Potter. This was something that mom and I always did together. I remember when the last book came out I was living in Calgary and had pre-ordered it. When I was finished reading it I was going to send it out to her, but when I started talking to her on the phone about it she went out and bought it herself. That's a very mom thing to do.

When mom had her first transplant I remember sitting in Hamilton (we left the hospital and went to Kim and Dave's hoping to rest, comical idea considering the circumstances) and reading Harry Potter. It was a way for me to escape the heaviness and anxiety of the situation.

When the Dealthy Hallows Part 1 came out mom wasn't able to go with me because she was in the hospital. "It's okay", I remember telling her, "when the last one comes out you'll have had your transplants and we can go to that. It's going to be the best one anyway". I so desperately wish that that could have been how it happened.

I bought Part 1 when it came out on DVD and watched it with her and Bonnie, her best friend. Mom was so weak that she made it through the first hour and had to watch the rest little pieces at a time over the next few days. Luckily I got to see the ending with her and as I predicted for Part 1 she loved it.

Going to the theatre last night was bittersweet because she couldn't be with me. But where ever she is, I know she's enjoying it. Likely asking a lot of questions, but still enjoying it.

Links

Mom, Madeline and I at Canada Day July 1, 2009

Remember to take a look through the links on the right hand side of the page. I'm trying to find as much information as possible. My goal is to have a list for every province about what can be done to become a donor. Plus the "About Organ Donation" links are full of information. I didn't realize that Spain has the highest national average for organ donation and the London Region comes in third! That's exciting news.

In Ontario there are currently 1,509 people waiting for transplants. During 2010, 916 organ transplants were conducted. In Canada 2,153 transplants were done. These are great numbers! Unfortunately, another 4,529 Canadians remained on the waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant, and 247 patients died while waiting. This is why the message that organ donation saves lives needs to be told. This is the reason behind Hummingbirds for Hope.

Madeline and Mom enjoying the slide
during Maple in the County 2009.

One person who donates their organs can save 8 people. Astounding!! Further to that, an additional 75 people can be impacted when someone receives an organ. I can speak from experience that these are not just arbitrary numbers. So let me ask you, have you signed your registration form yet? Click here to do that now! All you need is your health card.

Dad saw the boxes...

Dad was away when the boxes from the Gift of Life came. Last night I went over to show him them. He couldn't believe all of the things that they sent me. It's a very proud moment for me and I will be so proud if all of this goes off as planned. Dad commented that I'm going to be quite the advocate. Well... this message needs to be sent loud and clear!

The float in the parade is going to be HUGE! I'm so excited for it. I'm excited to be honouring my mothers memory and sending out the message the organ donation saves lives. Dad comment on how big the float may be and I said "Good! I want it to be so big that people see it and ask questions because that's how you generate interest!".

On a sadder note, I went to visit mom's stone at the Wellington Cemetary. It's very surreal going to see something like that with both dates on it. I felt bad that I didn't have flowers, but I will get them soon. Peach roses, her favourite. In the spring I'll take lilacs from the tree in the backyard.

From the Gift of Life...

Yesterday I got home to 2 boxes FULL of stuff from the Gift of Life Network! There were pens, pamphlets, business cards, ribbons and most importantly consent forms! I will add pictures when I can remember to take them. Brian really came through.

I plan on putting a HUGE float into the 'Pumpkinfest' parade that Wellington has every year. There will also be a booth where people can get information about the Gift of Life and just how organ donation can impact so many lives.

I will keep you posted as to how things are going.