Revive Hope

This one time, she was on time... Jordyn Burkart

Out of the blue, last October, I received a little email from the Library Media Specialist at Denmark High School, Denise, in Denmark, Wisconsin… She described a project where they choose a book – and several teachers read a chapter or two and discuss it with their classes. Then, after the readings, they try to have someone related to the book or subject come out and talk about the book with their students… She told me that this year they’d chosen Reg Green’s, “The Gift that Heals.”

Pretty much at that moment, I knew that I was being offered the chance to go tell several hundred high school students about Kari, and about the gift she and her family have given me. Chapter 19 in Reg’s book is about Kari and her family, and me and Kari’s heart recipient, Sandy…

Then, Denise lays another little surprise on me. After reviewing the book and finding a rather-biased customer review I had posted on Amazon.com and discovering that I lived in Chicago – then reading a little more about me and Kari… She knew that one of their teachers in Denmark used to live in Kari’s hometown of Algona, Iowa – and she found out that Kari was one of his students… And – that he’s married to Kari’s volleyball coach.

Bill and Della are the teacher and coach – I actually got to meet them a few weeks early. Della teaches and coaches at different high school near Denmark. I connected with them via email and on Facebook shortly after my exchange with Denise. And both of them joined my Kari’s Klimbers team and Hustled up the Hancock with me at the end of February! It was doubly neat for me – I’ve climbed with Kari’s friends and her volleyball teammates for six years now – and this time their teacher and coach came along!

So… This past Tuesday I got to speak at Denmark High School. They all read the chapter about Kari and me at the end of last week – and then they told the students that I would be out to speak to them… We saved the part about Kari being Bill’s student as a surprise – along with Bill & Della’s Hustle journey too… I started by reading Jenn’s poem – then I let them know how I feel about Kari and her family, and her friends – and what it’s like to breathe with her beautiful lungs after struggling with my diseased lungs all of my life… Judging by how many glistening eyes I saw looking back at me – I think my message connected…

Then, we had a fun treat – not only was it a surprise to the students and staff that Bill & Della taught and coached Kari – but we got to show them their adventure coming out to climb with us! Bill videoed their climb and Denise edited it into a fun 10-minute presentation… I’ve uploaded it to YouTube – it lost a little quality, but it’s still pretty awesome!

I also had the honor of sharing the podium with Erin Davisson. She is an anchor and reporter at WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin – and she is also a 20-year liver transplant survivor. She told the students about her journey, and many of the things she does to spread awareness about organ donation – and she told them about the importance of organ donation. We also managed to make the 5pm news in Green Bay!

At the end of our program, we heard from a Dad… Dennis Burkart. He lost his beautiful, 17-year-old daughter, Jordyn, only six weeks earlier. Jordyn died tragically in an auto accident – and Jordyn became a donor. Jordyn was from a nearby high school – and the staff at Denmark High School learned that she was a donor after she passed away… They reached out to Dennis just to ask if they could mention that Jordyn was a donor in our program – but Dennis told them that he wanted to participate, and he wanted tell them about Jordyn. Her Dad told all of us about how special Jordyn was…

As he spoke, Dennis explained to us that he was very angry when he was approached by a nurse to ask him if Jordyn could be an organ donor – that at a painful time like that, how could someone make that request? But his 23-year-old daughter, Julie, soon told him that Jordyn had spoken to her about organ donation – and that Jordyn wanted to be an organ donor. She had never spoken to her parents about it – but apparently Jordyn and Julie had discussed organ donation… Later, the nurse returned with a document showing that Jordyn had registered her desire to be an organ donor…

Dennis explained to us how Jordyn was rarely “on time” for things… He chuckled when he remembered and told us about her being regularly late for a lot of life’s events and tasks – but that sometime shortly after her 16th birthday, she didn’t tell anyone, but Jordyn registered to be an organ donor… This one time, he said, Jordyn was “on time”… People are living better lives because of Jordyn. Dennis made it easy to see that her Dad is proud of her…

I had an amazing time in Denmark – the students were all kind and attentive… And like I always think about Kari and her family, and so many other donors and families I’ve met on this journey – I will always remember the smile of another 17-year-old girl, and meeting her Dad…

 

Jordyn Lee Burkart

 

Scope for the Imagination! (Part 1)

Most of our male readers probably won't know where the title of this post came from! For our female readers just take a minute to glance back into your childhood memory banks and I'm sure most of you will find a spunky little red head girl who is notorious for this phrase...."There's so much scope for the imagination!"

That's right ladies and gentlemen, somehow I am going to tie Anne of Green Gables to organ and tissue donation. Just watch and follow along and you'll see...

After talking to a girlfriend about our favorite childhood books, of which Anne of Green Gables was included, I decided I wanted to read the L.M. Montgomery series again. I asked my mom to send them ASAP! Last week as I was beginning my adventures with my old friend Anne, I read a passage which caused my wheels to turn.

I'll set it up quickly for those who are not familiar with the story. Anne is an imaginative, quick witted, talkative, eleven year old orphan who is mistakenly sent to Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, an elderly brother and sister looking for a young boy to help on their farm. On the ride from the train station to Green Gables, the family farm, Anne is in awe by the beauty of Prince Edward Island. She asks her meek driver, Matthew, why the roads are red:

"Well, I dunno," said Matthew.

"Well, that is one of the things to find out sometime. Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's an interesting world."

That last sentence made me think of our Steve and how he has this zest for life that I can only strive to achieve! (For those of you who don't know, Steve's famous line is "I'm so glad you are alive!") I began to think like Anne Shirley and Steve, and saw what an absolutely amazing world we live in! Not only for the beauty that Anne saw through nature, or what Steve sees in each moment of life, but also for the awesome things our medical professionals can do to give people a second chance!

I then realized there are a lot of questions I still have about organ and tissue donation and wondered how did the first transplant happen? Did one guy look at his coworker and just say "Hey, I've been thinking...maybe we should try to take one guys kidney and put it in another guy!" What a crazy thing to ponder!! They must of had a lot of imagination!

I'd like to take a week to research the history of organ transplants. Yes, the first successful transplant was in the mid 1950s, but what about the years or decades of failures before?

So as you await my greatly anticipated research take a look around you and breathe it all in! Like Montgomery's Anne and our Steve, notice the beauty around you: your kids, your family and friends, the flowers, the birds, the clouds or just the silence. Stop and appreciate your surroundings and be thankful for each day...and find the majesty of each moment! There's so much scope for the imagination!

Book Review: One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling

I love love LOVE to read! As many of you know, I haven't been able to "enjoy" reading for a few years while attending grad school. I read, like I mentioned in my post a couple months ago, but I had pangs of guilt while reading for fun...I should have been studying! It also took me forever to finish a book. Well, thankfully Ted gave me the opportunity to do what I love since I have all the free time in the world now!

I DEVOURED "One Perfect Day!" Even though I read it a year ago, and knew the plot, I stayed up until 1:00AM to finish it. Lauraine Snelling is an extremely talented author.  Her story of the Peterson and Montgomery families sucks the reader in like quicksand! The details and the heart she writes with is laid out on each page. The reader becomes a part of the story, and can literally not put the book down...even when sleep, or the dishes call!

Right after the new year I wrote a post about how we all desire to have "the perfect Christmas"! Well, this is just what Nora Peterson wants. Her twins are off to college next year and she wants to capture each Christmas moment this year and has everything planned to perfection.

Jenna Montgomery also wants to capture each Christmas moment, but not for perfection, but because her heart breaks knowing this could possibly be her daughter's last Christmas.

Both women's worlds turn upside mere days before Christmas. Here the story of organ donation unfolds.

Yet, it's not just about organ donation. It's a story of family, love, hope, grief, the little things we all take for granted, the sense of hopelessness one feels after a loved one passes, regrets, and the many feelings the recipient experiences (ie. thankfulness, curiosity, guilt, fear, and hope).

I highly recommend this book, but I give fair warning to have a tissue near by as there are many parts that will bring reader's to tears. 

Thanks to Lauraine for shedding a positive light on organ donation and for writing such a captivating story!

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Link to Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/One-Perfect-Day/Lauraine-Snelling/e/9780446582100/?itm=2&USRI=one+perfect+day

Coming Soon...Book Review: One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling

It seems forever since I've written a book review on Organ & Tissue Donation. Many of you probably weren't following our blog for my previous two reviews. A Thousand Tomorrows, by Karen Kingsbury & Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett.  I absolutely LOVE to read, but the last three years have been pretty difficult finding time to read for fun and time for grad school.  Don't get me wrong, I did read...just not as much and not with as much spiritedness. 

In 2008, My Angel Foundation was contacted by an authoress, Lauraine Snelling, who thought we may be interested in reviewing her book, One Perfect Day. Well, I did read it (and LOVED it), but I found myself so involved in the book that I completely forgot to write a review.  I've recently been unpacking and found the book and as promised...a little late...I will post a review in the coming weeks! I need to finish the current book I'm reading and reread One Perfect Day, so you should look for the review in the next coming weeks.  

Happy reading and see you soon!

~Jenn

Searching for David's Heart-a book review

The book I read this month is called Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett. Bennett, currently one of the head associate writers for the Young and the Restless, published this young adult novel in 1998.

The book takes place in Appleton Wisconsin where a family of 5 has the "American Dream".  Dad is a cop, Mom is a nurse, and they have three healthy children.

Darcy Deeton, the main character, is in sixth grade and absolutely adores her older brother, David.  He's a star football player, loving brother and son, and caring friend.  Darcy says "he's the we of me".  They are the best of friends and soul mates...until David gets a girlfriend.

Darcy despises David's girlfriend and it shows. At her birthday party the J-word (that's what Darcy calls her), shows up unexpectedly. Darcy lashes out at her.  Later, she goes to apologize, but the apology ends up being a huge fight between Darcy and David.

That same evening David is hit and killed by a car, and only Darcy and David's girlfriend know the truth about what happened!  Was David's death Darcy's fault?

This book is absolutely AMAZING!  It's an easy read, so all you parents out there with upper elementary and junior high school students, use this book as an opportunity to discuss organ and tissue donation!

Bennett pulls you in as a reader, whether you are 12 or 50, she really connects you with the characters. This book will make you feel numerous emotions...sadness, disparity, happiness, embarrassment, love, and joy!  It made me laugh and it surely made me cry!!

Topics this book touches:  Racism, Family, Magic Tricks, Poverty,Acceptance, and of course ORGAN DONATION

Coming Book Review: Searching for David's Heart

As many of you know, I'm going to try to do a book review each month.  The books will deal with topics related to organ and tissue donation.

My post next week will be a book review on the book Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett.  It's definitely an easy read, probably at a junior high reading level.  I read the book years ago, and remember loving it!!

I just wanted to give you all a heads up, so you can maybe get a copy of the book prior to my review!

Happy reading!

A Thousand Tomorrows- a book review

The sun is at its zenith while the breeze whispers through the trees and makes the shadows dance across the ground in front of me. A drop of sweat creeps its way down the side of my glass as I lounge in my lawn chair, with a book propped up on my knees.

To many…this is not an appealing way to spend an afternoon, but to me…nothing is better!!

Robert Frost said, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” This was so true for a book I read a few months back. I love reading a book that I get sucked into, and I can feel what the characters are feeling! This book was just that!

The title of the book is A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury. I have read many of Karen’s books and have truly loved each one, but this book hit home for me.

There are two main characters, Cody and Ali, who both have secret pasts. Cody has pent up anger caused by a father who left him and his family after his baby brother, with down-syndrome, was born. With anger seeping out of his pores, Cody uses that anger to conquer the art of bull riding.

Ali is secretly hiding the fact that she has cystic fibrosis. Her life, which is already shortened by this horrid disease, may be shorter than expected as she risks her health to become a champion barrel racer. As her lungs fill with mucus and her breathing becomes laborious, Ali holds her breath as she races across the arena to avoid any more infection.

The plot is predictable, as Cody and Ali meet, start a beautiful friendship which grows into a great love story. With Ali’s health weakening as each day passes, all the couple wants is a thousand tomorrows, but will tomorrow really come?

This book is a wonderful story about letting go of the past, reaching out for hope for tomorrow, finding true love, and of course…the importance of organ donation.

The book was a really fast read, and I will warn you it made me cry! As my dear friend Kelly said (who borrowed the book from me) “Jenn, you need to come get this book back, cause I’ve read it ELEVEN times!!!” (I’m not lying…she’s read it eleven times!)

Happy Reading!!!