Last week, Peoria-based WMBD-TV featured an excellent week-long series that profiled various personal stories related to organ donation. I highly encourage you to check out each of the videos below.

A Second Chance At Life:  The Charlton Family

A Second Chance At Life:  The Strack Family

A Second Chance At Life:  The Bolder Family

A Second Chance At Life:  Mark Hansen

A Second Chance At Life:  The People Who Make It Happen

A Second Chance At Life:  Katelyn’s Story

Let us know what you think!

-Scott

Michelle and her Aunt

Michelle shares the latest chapter from our Illinois Donor Diaries about her kidney transplant and the essence of sharing – fitting for the season.

Please submit your story here if you’d like us to share your personal tie to organ and tissue donation.

Thanks,
Joslyn

When we’re young, we’re taught about sharing.  If you have two dolls, and your friend wants to play with one, you should give one to them, and then you both get a toy.  While donating organs isn’t the same, it follows a similar philosophy.  It’s not easy to think about, but for those of us lucky enough to have received organs, it’s difficult to think about how our lives might be different.

When I took my driving test and was asked if I would like to register to be a donor, the decision seemed easy.  I never knew I would need a kidney down the road.

I have believed in the philosophy of sharing from a young age, and now I believe in it even more, having needed a kidney and received one from my aunt, as a living donor.  While I might have had to give up my life as I know it, everyone who meets me can’t believe I have had a kidney transplant.

As a journalist, I devote my life to telling the stories of others, but this is one case in which it is impossible to remain objective.  To those of us who have participated in the process, it’s not a question of giving something up, but gaining a special bond as humans.

Of course it’s a personal decision, but I recommend to everyone that they at least consider registering to be a donor.

No matter how different we are, we’re connected, and that’s why we need to support each other.

~ Michelle M.
Evanston, Ill.

Email has revolutionized our way of communication. And we have learned formulas and etiquette to write salutations, professional or daily emails, email signatures (WiseStamp), benefits of subject.

We most of the time need to send email to more than one recipients, we create groups, or tend to add recipient email addresses. Many time I received email which the sender sent to other recipients including me. For example invitation to party, plan for going out, or news/event of something important. I always tend to notice the order my email address specified in the TO box. Somewhere this is the way I consider the order of my importance among other persons. Even when I used to send email, and if it happens that I have to send email to my supervisor among my friendly colleagues then I tend to specify the email address of my supervisor firstly. Even I also used to specify the email addresses in the order I feel importance of recipients or sometime I take revenge to the same person by mentioning his email address at the end.

Is this evil or good? Is this anything important to consider? I always followed this attitude whenever I receive group email or send email and tried to hide from all. One day my friend mentioned that he was listening some radio talk show about this issue of ordering email recipients. Then I figured out that I am not all alone in this world, and let it be acknowledged.

Now point is how to behave well and solve this problem in a more acceptable and ethical way. One most important ordering algorithm is to sort by alphabetic order. It worked when in my college we do team course projects, on time-sheet in office, title of book with coauthor names and many other places. So lets order alphabetically and get rid of this evil.

Everyday we all need our well-being increase to let us walk in life optimistically. May be with this small change we can relieve many people of that couple of seconds of frustration and judgment. There may be many places where specific order is required especially emailing in office to boss, or may be diplomatic emails. But if it is not the case then why should not we make alphabetic ordered list. Let us call this E for R (Etiquette for Recipient list).

And now I really demand a feature from all email applications to develop a feature of alphabetic ordering of recipient list. I have learned that as we are adding years in our life we are becoming more sophisticated. And our ways of social interactions are becoming more accessible, remote and more virtual reality. And there is growing burden to develop a sense of responsibility and etiquettes to be more acceptable and polite in versatile society.

Useful links:

Never be a Communication Coward

Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of visiting Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman and his family to film a TV PSA and record a radio PSA.

For those unfamiliar with Charles’ personal tie to organ donation, his daughter Tiana received a lifesaving heart transplant in August 2008. Charles has since become a vocal advocate for the issue, devoting a portion of his Cornerstone Foundation site to promoting organ donation, participating in numerous press conferences and helping Donate Life Illinois.

We’ll keep you posted once we finish the PSAs. A huge, huge thanks to the Tillmans for taking a full afternoon to work together with us on this project.

Below are a few shots from the afternoon. Enjoy and Go Bears!

-Scott

Jackie Tillman, daughter Tiana and Charles.

Tiana and Charles

Break in the action.

Charles

Setting up to record.

Daughter and dad time.

Julie shares the latest chapter from our Illinois Donor Diaries about her late husband, who was a transplant recipient.

Please submit your story here if you’d like us to share your personal tie to organ and tissue donation.

Thanks,
Joslyn

Julie and Chad

I was blessed to have met and spent three years with  my soul mate, Chad. Six months of that time we were married and enjoyed each others’ lives because of organ donation!

In 1996 Chad received a double-lung transplant due to complications from his cystic fibrosis.  If it hadn’t been for his donor’s family, Chad & I would have never met.  That donor and his family gave Chad a second chance at life and for that I am very grateful!

Ten years later, in 2006, Chad was in need of a kidney transplant and his sister was a match.  She selflessly gave one of her kidneys to Chad.  Six months later, Chad & I were married.  It was the most beautiful and memorable day of my life – and all thanks to organ donation.

Sadly, Chad was diagnosed with cancer shortly after our wedding and passed away six months later. Even before I met Chad, I was certain of the benefits of organ donation and had discussed with my family many times my desire to be an organ donor.  Knowing all the wonderful memories I have of Chad and that the time we spent together was possible because of organ donation motivates me to encourage others to register as donors as well.

-Julie H.
Quincy, IL

Throughout September, we’ve been giving away free “I Heart Organ Donors” t-shirts as part of our Donor T-Shirt Tuesday giveaway. The shirts are given out to people who register each Tuesday as well as to those that write in to tell us why they “heart organ donors.”

We’re always blown away by the great response and willingness of others to share their personal ties to the issue – whether it be on our Facebook page, on YouTube, within our transplant community or elsewhere across the Web.

We also wanted to share some of the great responses we’ve received as part of this weekly t-shirt giveaway. Thanks to everyone that has submitted responses and remember that today is the last day to participate! Click here to find out how.

-Scott

The last chance you have to help someone here on earth is to donate your organs.  I have been an organ donor for many years and I have a deep peace about it.  My precious little granddaughter Ashley has Cystic Fibrosis and it is very possible that one day she will need a lung transplant.  This could only be possible through an organ donor. I also have a friend who was the recipient of an organ transplant. I would not still have this dear friend today if it wasn’t for someone who cared enough about someone they didn’t even know, to donate their organs when they left this earth.  I know that someday I too will be that person who cared for someone I didn’t even know.

~Jan – Washington, IL

The reasons that I HEART ORGAN DONATION are simple.  My husband Joel of 13 years, received a double lung transplant October 30, 2006.  Without the generous gift a family made, he would not be here with me today.  We’ve been together since high school for a grand total of 20 years this past June. Unfortunately, his lungs are in rejection, so we are again waiting on the transplant list at Loyola.  Also, we are very grateful for another donor family, as my husband’s brother Kevin received a double lung transplant May 14, 2009.  He is doing very well, and I know that he would not be here with us today if he had not received a transplant.  I am an organ donor, and we encourage everyone we know to become one as well.  Thanks DONOR families!!! We LOVE YOU!!!!

~Jodi, Merrillville, IN

I heart organ donation for many reasons, but the primary reason would be my brother. He has Cystic Fibrosis and received a Bi-Lateral Lung Transplant. We are about to celebrate the one year anniversary of his transplant in October, and I couldn’t be happier. My brother’s donor is my hero because without him my brother may not have had another year, especially feeling as good as he does now. I am proud to be an organ donor so that I may be able to give more years to someone the way they were given to my brother, and my whole family.

~Ginger, Huntley, IL

Why others heart organ donors…

from: detnews.com

“Three Michigan food organizations will receive more than $215,000, thanks to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,” intended to give regional agriculture an economic boost.

The initiative, launched this month, will give tens of millions of dollars to programs and agencies that support small farmers and stimulate regional food systems throughout the country. The USDA has announced $64 million in grants.

The Michigan organizations received money to support farmers markets, direct marketing projects and the equipping of more farmers markets to accept the state-issued cards that replaced food stamps for low-income residents. The recipients are Michigan Food Policy Council, $45,100; Michigan Food and Farming Systems, $92,440; and Alcona Local Foods Association, $77,943.”

Full Article Here

Long-time readers may recall that we’ve posted about the trials and tribulations of the band Rogue Wave in the past on here.

As a quick recap, the band’s drummer, Pat Spurgeon, was in dire need of a kidney transplant in 2006. Working through the struggle of being a touring musician on dialysis, Pat received his kidney in 2007. In a crazy twist, the band’s former bassist, passed away in a tragic house fire in 2008 and went on to become a donor.

The band has now released a documentary called D tour that takes an inside look at Pat’s struggle for a transplant just as his career was taking off.

The Chicago Cultural Center will be screening the film this weekend!

Details are as follows:

Saturday, September 19th, 2:00 PM
Chicago Cultural Center in the Claudia Cassidy Theatre

78 E. Washington St.
Chicago, IL
FREE Event, Open to the Public

In addition, the event will feature a panel discussion on organ/tissue donation with the following guests:

Alison Smith, Vice President of Operations, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network;
Dr. David Hinkamp, Founder, Co-Director, Health in the Arts Program, University of Illinois at Chicago
Tyler Beach, Musician
Moderator: Carrie Shepherd

Hop over here to check out more details and be sure to watch the trailer below!

-Scott

Here’s a reveal of one of the most powerful features of the forthcoming WeCanDoCRM Social CRM add-on we’ll be offering to WeCanDo.BIZ members next month.

WeCanDoCRM email campaign reporting (click to enlarge)

Campaign reports enable you to see the results from each email campaign you send from WeCanDoCRM.  The results are shown graphically in teh overview, but each tab then provides a full breakdown of the numbers and specific details of recipients who have opened emails, clicked on content, unsubscribed or even marked the email as spam.  Further, you can see which emails bounced and which email clients people are using to better optimise future campaigns.

Running email campaigns and getting access to these reports will be available to WeCanDo.BIZ Pro Networkers — and we’re reducing the access fee from £60 so members can subscribe a month at a time at £19.95.

For a limited time however you can still upgrade at £60 for the whole year and get all these features included upon launch of WeCanDoCRM — click here to upgrade now!

Last month we posted some behind-the-scenes photos of our video shoot with heart transplant recipient Melissa Simon. Today, is the fun part. We’re excited to unveil our latest video, Open-Hearted.

Again, special thanks to Melissa for sharing her story and helping us pay tribute to Chloe.

The video is also over here on YouTube if you’d like to share the link.

-Scott

Earlier this month we had the opportunity to sit down with Chicago White Sox play-by-play radio announcer Ed Farmer to chat about his kidney transplant. Ed used to be a pitcher in the major leagues prior to needing his transplant. Nearing death, Ed’s brother Tom saved Ed’s life by donating a kidney to him.

Check out the video below and you can also listen to a radio PSA Ed pulled together for us over here!

Thanks for sharing with us Ed!

-Scott

*On the same topic, be sure to check out this story from WREX up in Rockford, IL about a woman who saved her sister’s life by donating a kidney.

Last month, we had the pleasure of meeting up with local heart transplant recipient Melissa Simon to shoot our forthcoming video, Open-Hearted. This whole video thing comes quite naturally to Melissa as she helped us out this past April with our “I Heart Organ Donors” video.

Melissa has quite the amazing story. June marked the two year anniversary since she received her lifesaving heart transplant. When Melissa received a letter from her donor’s parents, the letter was accompanied by a origami bird that included the words “open hearted.” Friends of Melissa’s donor, Chloe, had put together origami pieces for Chloe’s parents to help them remember her. The bird motivated Melissa to write a letter to Chloe expressing her appreciation for her new gift.

We’re currently editing the video and look forward to showing everyone the final product. In the meantime, here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the video shoot and be sure to check out Melissa’s post on the topic!

-Scott

Melissa

Filming

Lights, camera...

Inspiration.

Break in the action.

Support.

We wanted to share a couple excellent videos addressing the topic of organ donation. First, hop over to www.decisiontodonate.com where you’ll find a film about two men, one in need of a kidney and the other willing to donate.  The film won a first place award at this year’s Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival. Congrats!

In addition, we received a very nice note from a filmmaker named Jonathan, who recently posted this very powerful video below. Be sure to check it out. Thanks Jonathan!

-Scott

Steve Ferkau

Last week, we mentioned that Cathy Doheny at the Examiner has been doing a series of posts about organ and tissue donation. Her first series of posts focused on donor family member Tim Joos and his daughter Samantha, who was a tissue donor.

Last weekend, Cathy finished posting about double lung transplant recipient Steve Ferkau and his donor Kari. The series starts with this introductory post and is followed up by this interview series (part 1 , part 2, part 3, part 4).

Be sure to check it out and thanks Cathy and Steve!

-Scott

p.s. On a separate note, we’re giving away 12 free pairs of tickets to this weekend’s Kenny Chesney concert as part of our sponsorship with US99! Become a fan of our Facebook page and keep an eye out for the announcement on how to win today!

The number of Canadians collecting regular employment insurance benefits grew by 65,300, or more than 10 per cent, in March, marking the biggest monthly increase since the job market began to deteriorate in October.

Statistics Canada said Tuesday that roughly 681,400 people were receiving regular EI benefits in March.

The biggest increases were seen in Alberta and British Columbia, where the month-over-month jumps were both above the national average.

The number of people on regular EI benefits in Alberta rose 32.1 per cent to 42,200 in March, marking the fastest monthly increase for the province on record.

B.C. marked a similar milestone, with the number of people on EI rising by 26.7 per cent to 82,200.

While the number of people getting benefits climbed in March, the number of initial and renewal claims received that month edged down 1.9 per cent.

Economists point out that the employment insurance statistics only reflect those people actively engaged in the search for new work.

The Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development estimated the number of discouraged workers in Canada at less than 20,000 in 2007.

The Paris-based think-tank defines discouraged employees as people who believe there is not any work available to be found.

Men and women who decide to return to school rather than spend time in what they believe will be a fruitless work search also count as absent from the workforce in some definitions.

Political hot potato

The ruling Conservative government and the federal Liberals and New Democrats are in a tough fight over who can claim employment insurance and for how long.

Earlier in the week, the Harper government said it would ease the restrictions on EI so that “long-tenured’ workers could get payments while on training programs.

The Liberals, who have threatened to force an election on the issue, said they want Canadians across the country to qualify for EI benefits after they have worked 360 hours. Currently, the number of qualifying hour varies by region.

Soaring unemployment

Most industrialized economies have seen their unemployment levels shoot up as the global economy has tumbled in the past 10 months.

Canada now faces a jobless rate of eight per cent in April, up from 6.1 per cent in June 2008, prior to the continental credit crunch.

The United States has endured an even steeper rise in its unemployment levels. April saw 8.9 per cent of Americans who wanted to work without a job.

That compared to a U.S. jobless rate of 5.6 per cent in June 2008.

Today we’re proud to bring you the latest chapter of our Illinois Donor Diaries. Thank you Pam!

- Joslyn

Pam

My name is Pam. My story begins when I was only 19-years-old.

I dealt with extreme fatigue and at times joints that hurt so bad, I could not move without pain. One morning, I woke up and instantly new something was wrong. My thighs had ballooned three times their normal size and I could not see my feet. I immediately went to the emergency room, where a series of tests revealed that I had kidney failure. My kidneys were working at less than 17% at that time!

I was diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies that essentially attack the body itself. This causes inflammation, pain and damage to various organs. There was no cure for the damage already done to my kidneys, but the doctors were able to “control” the progress of the disease temporarily. At that point, my doctor my told me I would need a kidney transplant within a couple of years.

A kidney transplant was about the furthest thing from my mind. I was 20-years-old and my life was just beginning. I lived on my own, had a job and attended college. This did not fit into my “plan”. I felt I would be fine if I just kept positive thoughts and watched my health closely. I didn’t even look sick!

Nearly ten years later, I became anemic, had little energy and my kidney function was rapidly decreasing. At that point, I had two kids and was running my own small business. I just could not keep up.

I did as much research as I could about transplantation. As a recipient, a huge commitment is made when you accept an organ. You want the transplant to be successful and you do everything you can to make it so. I decided to go through the process and was listed on the transplant waiting list.

The next year I started dialysis. My kidney function had decreased to such a dangerous level that I risked death without dialysis. I went to sessions three times a week for three and a half hours each session while the machines cleaned my blood. I had opted for in center dialysis because I did not want my kids to see their mom hooked up to a machine. After a year and a half of this routine, I received the call that changed my life.

At 2 a.m. on May 22, 2007, I received a call from the transplant hospital. There had been a family who, in a time of great loss, decided their loved ones organs would be donated to someone in need. I was one of those lucky ones that day!

I have been in contact with that family, now my donor family. We have exchanged letters. In my letter, I expressed my deepest gratitude and let them know how well I am doing. In their letter, I was told that my donor, Mark, was an outstanding member of the community and a police officer. Mark’s wife wrote, “We miss him dearly but it gives us great comfort that he was able to give life to others. To hear how it has changed your life and that you are doing well helps to ease the pain.”

Organ donation gave comfort to a grieving family. Organ donation gave me a second chance at life. Be an organ donor.

- Pam
McHenry, Ill.

We’re proud to announce that our video about double lung transplant recipient Steve Ferkau and his donor Kari (Steve’s Story – The Circle of Life) has placed second in the “online shorts” category for the first annual Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival!

In addition, HUGE congrats to Steve for being awarded with the Health and Human Services Medal of Honor for his commitment to helping promote organ and tissue donation.

-Scott

The latest entry from our Illinois Donor Diaries. Thanks Lauren!

-Joslyn

Lauren

I was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age of 15 and would subsequently receive two kidney transplants over the next year.  My first kidney was from my dad and my second kidney was from a deceased donor to whom I am forever grateful.

I was only on dialysis for seven months, and during that time I had relatively few problems with hemodialysis.  Sure there were some complications, but overall my body was able to handle it.

One of the most distressing things about being on dialysis was not my own situation, but rather, seeing all of the other people who were not doing so well on dialysis.  I was particularly fond of one very sweet old man who sat next to me during the same times that I did.  Due to the fact that he had suffered a stroke, he was only able to speak a few words and phrases.  He always greeted me with, “How are you?” and gave me a big smile when I walked in.

Unfortunately, I watched my friend decline over the months, and while I was receiving my kidney transplant, he passed away.  He was in dire need of the gift of life.  I was devastated, and it was only then that it really hit me – people die every day waiting for life-saving organ transplants.

People say that life isn’t fair, but to me that is just an excuse.  We can do nothing or we can act and we can make a difference.  We must encourage organ donor awareness and registration so that some day the gift of life will be available to all who are in need. Register to be an organ donor today!

-Lauren D.
Chicago, Ill.

Psalm 22:10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

Many Christians learn from their teachers that baptism is a choice that they need to make– an adult decision to deepen their relationship and commitment to God, and a public declaration of this choice.

Is this really what baptism is? Let’s see what scripture tells us.

John baptized people when they confessed their sins. (Matthew 3:6). The choice was to confess sin and repent. The baptism simply showed that they had repented and turned to God. (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3).

In Acts 10, we read about Cornelius and “his relatives and close friends” being visited by Peter. Peter spoke to them about God’s choice to include the Gentiles in His plan… (i.e., it was not the Gentiles’ choice.) As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon those who were listening. They did not choose this baptism in the Holy Spirit. God chose it for them. They were passive recipients. After this, they were baptized in water.

We read that Lydia (Acts 16) worshiped God, and the Lord opened her heart and she became a believer. Because of her conversion, her entire household was baptized. It seems that they were blessed because of her faith. This is reminiscent of Noah’s family, who were included in salvation from God’s wrath because of Noah’s faith. These were all passive recipients of baptism.

Again in Acts 16, everyone in the jailer’s household were “immediately baptized” because the jailer believed.

Paul draws an analogy (I Corinthians 10) of baptism with the Israelite ancestors who walked through the sea on dry ground. They were simply following Moses and were unwitting recipients of this “baptism.” Despite His initiation of grace, God was not pleased with “most of them,” and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. These people had not made the correct response to God’s sign of baptism; they had not decided to take a step of deeper commitment with God, even though they had been included in this “baptism.”

Likely the most crucial analogy of baptism is when Paul compares it to circumcision in Colossians 2. Circumcision was absolutely a passive procedure; indeed, the recipients were only eight days old!

More significantly, circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. (Acts 7:8). The Abraham covenant was initiated by God; not by the 8 day old boys.

God works by making a covenant with us, according to His choosing. The sign of His choice– the mark of His promise to keep His side of the covenant– is our baptism. Certainly, we are called to keep our side of the covenant. However, keeping our side of the covenant is not about making the choice to be baptized, signaling a deeper commitment. The baptism is the sign of God’s initiation of the covenant. We do not initiate the covenant, nor is baptism the sign of our response to the covenant promises of God.

We respond to our baptism as we profess our faith in Jesus Christ and continue to mature in our understanding of our covenant with God and our duty to obey Him.

When we study covenants in the Bible we see two things:

1. They are initiated by God, not by men, and
2. God gives a sign of the initiation of the covenant.

For example, in Genesis 9 we read that God initiated a covenant with Noah and his descendants. The sign of this covenant initiation was the rainbow. Interestingly, God indicates that this sign would be for Him to remember His covenant promise.

Again, Exodus 31 explains that the Sabbath is a sign of God’s covenant, which was given “so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” The expected response from men is that they would rest and dedicate the day to the Lord. This is the active part of men. The sign and the promise is from God, and men are the passive recipients.

Genesis 17:7 This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

The covenant initiation is all about God being active, and men being passive.

Genesis 17:9 Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility.

This shows where men must be active– in their response to the gracious receipt of the covenant promise.

Considering the passive nature of the initiation of this covenant, it makes sense that the children/infants of believers ought to be included in the grace shown by God– that they be baptized as children of God. They will come to understand what this means in time, and they will have choices to make.

Infants do not understand baptism, but nor do they understand that they are already condemned under Adam. They do not comprehend that their parents are believers, and that because of this, they are blessed by God’s grace. God deals with believers and their descendants throughout the Bible. (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 20:5-6; Luke 1:50). Hebrew children who were circumcised did not understand the blessing that God was placing upon them.

Peter says, “This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles– all who have been called by the Lord our God.” (Acts 2:39).

Jesus blessed children who surely did not understand His blessing. (Mark 10:16; Matthew 19:14).

God initiates the covenant. God sovereignly arranges that certain infants are the children of believers. Their life will be their answer to this blessing from God.

Some infants are cursed by God from their birth. (Such as David’s child who was destined to perish.) Some are blessed from birth. (Isaac.) We must realize that God is in control, and He’s the one making choices.

Isaiah 44:3-4 I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.

The children of believers must be distinguished from the children of unbelievers. They are holy. (I Corinthians 7:14).

Last Saturday, more than 30 people gathered at the Christian Youth Center in Joliet for the Kevin Reedy Classic VI, a table-tennis tournament – and so much more.

Virginia (Gina) Reedy-Lindsey is the event’s hostess.  She knows more about organ/tissue, blood and bone marrow donation than she ever imagined she would.  Her middle child, Kevin Reedy was a registered organ/tissue donor and an active blood donor. In 2001, he died in his college dorm due to an unknown genetic heart disease.

In 2003, Gina’s youngest son, Tim, become ill due to the same genetic heart disease. While Tim was waiting for his new heart, Gina’s oldest son, Nate was serving his country in Iraq and returned home injured. Nate received a purple heart for his service. He gave the award to his brother, Tim, as Nate felt that Tim’s bravery far surpassed his own.

Meanwhile, Gina’s second husband, Carl, was battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Carl required endless units of blood and platelets. He also had two bone marrow transplants. Although Carl lost his battle with AML, he and Gina enjoyed several months as husband and wife because people were kind enough to donate blood and bone marrow.

To honor her loved ones, Gina and her brother, Roger, hold a table-tennis tournament.  This free, public event has one main purpose – to encourage tournament participants to register to become organ/tissue, blood and bone marrow donors.

The game was fierce. Several participants had practiced year round for this very moment. There was Chester, who had a sneaky spin serve. Then there was returning champion and heart recipient, Tim.  There was Mike, another returning champion, who made it to the final round of this year’s tourney. Trophies were awarded to the top three players!

While all the participants enjoyed playing rounds of table-tennis, the memories of Kevin and Carl and the struggles of Tim and Nate reminded everybody just how important it really is to be a registered organ/tissue donor, a registered bone marrow donor and to donate blood at every possible opportunity. You never know how your generosity will shape the lives of others.

-Joslyn

by Erin H.

This week the length and quality of the letters has increased, but unfortunately the quantity of the letter written has decreased.  Hopefully this is not a trend.  Here are the lucky people:

8th:  My sister-in-law recieved an Indianapolis postcard featuring one of the buildings she was infatuated with when she visited.  It was a cold and snowy day when she was here taking pictures so the postcard gave her a view of the monument on a sunny day.

9th: A fellow experimonther will be receiving not only a letter written on some recycled stationary but also a small package.  I am waiting for the tax-crazies to clear out of the post office before I send it.

10th:  Oops!  No excuses here, the time just got away from me.

11th: A former coworker recieved a letter on green and orange recycled stationary.  The letter includes updates in my life and inquiry about hers.  For some reason my thoughts strongly went to her this day.

12th: Husband got a seven page 8×11 epic about various things that have been happening these past few months and how lucky I am to have him.

13th: Another former coworker who I also have been thinking about recieved a card.  Just found out she is engaged!

14th:  Oops, again.  Started training for a new position and also worked to finish up some home improvement projects – the end of the day came too quickly.

by Erin H.

Just a little run down of the past week’s recipients.  I am hoping to sit down next week to more robust writing sessions.

Day 1: Evan (husband) recieved a square piece of white paper that was instrumental to an April Fool’s joke.

Day 2: Evan recieved a square piece of white paper on the kitchen counter before going to work with a little love to get him through the day.

Day 3:  The professional-relocator who was a HUGE help in many, many aspects of our transition from NC to IN over the past four-six months recieved flowers and a thank you note.  Though the note was technically not hand-written, the sentiment was the same.

Day 4: Neighbors received a thank you note for the wonderful chocolate chip oatmeal cookies that helped welcome us to the neighborhood.  It was written on green and orange recycled paper stationary.

Day 5: Grandma and Grandpa recieve their “first weekend of the month” card with a photograph of a flower on it containing news from the past month.

Day 6:  Oops Day. 

Day 7: Brother recieved an Indianapolis post card with some sarcastic comments about how he should call me for reasons other than asking me about vegetarian recipes. (This is what I meant to write on Day 6.)  & Evan recieved the following on the standard square of white paper in his lunch.