Revive Hope

Random Thoughts & Reminders

I know my day is Tuesday to post, but I've had one of those jam packed, never ending weeks!  The wonderful news, is that I took today off to reorganize and get my life put back together...plus do a couple loads of laundry!  One thing on my never-ending to do list today, was to post!

So, I don't have a story about an amazing donor or a grateful recipient.  I don't have any news about legislation or about what other states are doing.  I don't have an inspiring heart warming story.  What I have are reminders...

-Remember that your job is not and should not be the most important thing in your life.

-Remember, especially right now, that as long as you have clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and food in your belly, you have everything you need! The rest are just wants!

-Remember to be thankful for the things you have.

-Remember to smile at strangers on the street.  You never know when someone is having a bad day and just needs a friendly smile!

-Remember to eat your fruits and vegetables.

-Remember to play with your children.

-Remember to call your parents and grandparents, if you are still blessed to have them on this earth.

-Remember to always wear your seat belt.

-Remember to always enjoy the little things in life...as the big things happen so infrequently!

-Remember to never take your friends and family for granted...life is too short!

-Remember to expect the unexpected.

-Remember to give to those who are less fortunate.

-Remember to take a break and go for a walk...EVERYDAY!

-Remember to tell those you love that you love them, you never know when it could be your last chance.

-Remember to not be so uptight...Laugh a little!!

-Remember to make time for those people who are important to you, and not waste time on people who are leeches!

-Remember to recycle (sorry, I just had to put this on the list!!)   :)

-Remember to take a vacation!!

-As the leaves are starting to turn and that wonderful fall smell wafts into your home...remember your childhood and how much fun it was to jump in the leaves!  I'm reading the book The Last Lecture and Randy says to smell crayons to remember your childhood...and you know what?  It really works!!!

-Remember to have the discussion with your family about what's important to you for your final wishes.  If you have considered organ donation, please click here to ensure that you are a registered donor.

Stars of Life Twinkle - Part II

Yesterday, Melissa wrote about “Stars of Life”, the Donate Life Float entry in the Rose Parade coming up on January 1st, 2009. Melissa pointed out that I would cover a particular rider in a little more depth on Thursday….

It’s Thursday, and that particular rider is me… Here is my 2009 Float Rider Page.

I feel so honored and flattered to be a part of this! When Dave at Gift of Hope called me to ask if I was interested, all that went through my mind was how many more people are going to learn about Kari…

Telling people about Kari is the second most special and important thing in the world to me. The first would be Laura. Kari let me stay here with Laura.

I want people to know about her. I want people to feel the beautiful smile that I feel throughout the day, every day. I want people to know about her friends, and to know that they are my friends now – and that they’ll never, ever forget Kari. I won’t let them forget.

And I want people to understand what organ donation does for others… I want them to know about the Kari’s and the Chase’s and the Chloe’s and the Jay’s and the Samantha’s of the world. And I want them to know how we recipients feel about our donors, and their families and their friends… I want them to want to be someone’s hero when they leave this beautiful planet…

I know a beautiful chick from New Jersey who I adore. At 11pm on the night before the Hustle, she was standing at O’Hare airport with a big smile on her face, waiting for me to pick her up. I got to hug her. She flew in to climb with me. A few months later, she wrote the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read about Kari. It’s titled Legacy. But it’s about so many donors and recipients. If you haven’t read it – read it for me.

Stars of Life Twinkle

Since 2000, the United States organ transplant waiting list has grown by an average of approximately 3,000 candidates per year. The continuing growth of the waiting list has motivated the donation and transplantation community to adopt creative techniques to inspire people to choose to be organ and tissue donors. I think Revive Hope is one of many "techniques" that does this.  Another innovative effort is the entry of a donation/transplantation-themed float in the world-famous Tournament of Roses Parade. Spearheaded by OneLegacy, the organ procurement organization located in Southern California, and supported by more than 50 organizations nationwide, the Donate Life Rose Parade Float unites the nation's fragmented donation/transplantation community to promote a single, positive message that effectively reaches tens of millions of parade spectators, national and worldwide television viewers.  In my quest to contribute to this cause, I began talking to prior float riders - donors and donor families and learned about our VERY OWN Steve, who will cover a particular rider in a little more depth on Thursday.  Until then, read the inspiring story of a heart transplant recipient who is a Star of Life, riding in the 2009 float.

Heart Recipient Float Rider sponsored by Transplants for Children

Bonnie's Story

Diagnosed with heart-enlarging viral cardiomyopathy at age 17, Bonnie Lundy-Kwan spent the last years of her adolescence living with dying. "When my life should have been filled with hopes and dreams, I woke each day with a sense of impending doom, knowing that it could be my last and that my future was bleak. My only hope was a heart transplant."

Bonnie recalled, "In August 1992, when I was 21 years old, I came to know Shay Ledbetter. That summer as I lay dying in Houston, she was experiencing life as it should be lived by someone our age. I was in the nadir of my life, and she was at the zenith of hers, attending graduate school in sociology at the University of North Texas and making big plans for her future. On August 3, our fates suddenly reversed. While taking an evening walk, a vehicle struck her from behind. Suffering a closed head injury, she lay in a coma for five days before being declared brain dead."

Following her wishes, the Ledbetter family made the decision to donate Shay's organs, and the next day Bonnie received her heart. Realizing the magnitude of the gift she had been given, Bonnie felt that she had a responsibility to make the most of her life and to keep Shay's memory alive.

After her transplant, Bonnie chose to pursue a meaningful career in the non-profit sector and began volunteering with Transplants for Children (TFC). "I quickly realized that I had a powerful story to tell, and that my talent was to lead others by example, thus providing hope to every mother, father, and child that their dreams for a rich, fulfilling life were still very achievable," said Bonnie.

Read the rest of Bonnie's story. 

"Too often organ recipients are the focus of attention, when in fact the donors and their families are the real heroes. I was dying and could not make the choice to live when Shay saved my life. Now I feel in my own way that I'm saving hers."

Merle's Story, another heart recipient float rider.

How are float riders selected? 

Contribute to the Donate Life Float in honor of a recipient or donor.

*Information and pictures for this post obtained from the Donate Life Float Website.