Revive Hope's focus is to revive hope by creating inspiration. This blog will have postings of inspiring stories about individuals directly affected by organ and tissue donation, provide information about organ and tissue donation, and inspire those who view the site to give hope through compassion!
You have an inspirational story, an article, or new information about organ and tissue donation that you believe we should post a blog about, share it with us.
This is one of the reasons so many of us do what we do... We share our stories about Kari, Sam, Chase, Jay, Chloe and so many others because there are people like Pennie who need something that the rest of us often take for granted.
Can you imagine being in the shoes of Pennie's Mom & Dad? Can you imagine waiting and wondering whether your precious child will have the chance to live a normal life? Or maybe just live at all... Can you imagine watching a smile as joyful and bubbly - a flame as bright as Pennie's - flickering and going out forever?
This beautiful, little video ends happily - but there is something we're not seeing at the end that so many of us know about, and think about. Someone, somewhere is dealing with the tragedy of losing their precious child whose beautiful heart is now beating in Pennie's chest. Some family, facing the devastation of losing a child, had the strength and compassion, and the pure goodness to step away from that pain for a moment and think about others in the world who they might help. In the same way that I think about Kari, Melissa thinks about Chloe, Terry thinks about Chase, Julie thinks about Jay, and tissue recipients think about Sam - Pennie's Mom & Dad will think about the donor and family who saved their daughter, probably every single day.
Please consider organ donation. Commit to being a donor on your state's donor registry. Remember the strength and compassion and pure goodness of the people and families who save our lives can be part of your legacy too...
So, I saw a preview the other day for Repo Men and had to check it out. Needless to say the reviews weren't too enthusiastic, but I may try to catch it when it comes out on RedBox!
Here's the premise of the Repo Men, found on the movie's website:
In the futuristic action-thriller Repo Men, humans have extended and improved our lives through highly sophisticated and expensive mechanical organs created by a company called The Union. The dark side of these medical breathroughs is that if you don't pay your bill, the union sends its highly skilled Repo Men to take back its property...with no concern for your comfort or survival. We must now decide if buying more time on earth is worth the deadly cost.
Jude Law plays Remy, one of the best organ Repo Men in the business. But when he suffers a cardiac failure on the job, he awakens to find himself fitted with the company's top-of-the-line heart-replacement as well as a hefty debt. But a side effect of the procedure is that his hearts no longer in the job. When he can't make the payments, The Union sends its toughest enforcer, Remy's former partner Jake (Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker), to track him down.
Now that the hunter has become the hunted, Remy joins Beth (Alice Braga), another debtor who teaches him how to vanish from the system. And as he and Jake embark on a chase across a landscape populated by maniacal friends and foes, one man will become a reluctant champion for thousands on the run.
Click here to view the trailer!
It looks a little gory, but so was Braveheart and I loved that movie (maybe cause I had a small crush on Mel Gibson?!).
I'm not really quite sure what my thoughts are on the plot. I really hope that someday organ donation is made more readily available to recipients, but maybe because of education and donor awareness program...not necessarily because of machines. I guess I'm like Steve, and I like the human aspect of organ/tissue donation. Don't get me wrong, I hope that if there was a way to help all 107,232 (as of 11:35PST today) individuals on the UNOS waiting list that we would implement ASAP! Yet, this movie trailer didn't give me the warm fuzzies!
I chatted with Steve about the movie! We talked about how this movie has possibly offended many organ/tissue donor advocates, but it's just a movie, right?! We discussed how the concept was entertaining, but as of now just that. We both believe that the current process of organ/tissue donation is AMAZING but more education is needed...and maybe someday mechanical organs will arise, but for now it is essential that we need educate the public about the importance of organ/tissue donation!
So, what do you do?! Click her to find out!
If you've seen Repo Men, please comment as we'd love to hear from you!
I've written about Tim and Sam last year in a post titled Samantha… From time to time, I have the honor of participating in presentations about organ donation with Tim. Scott and his posse over at Donate Life Illinois have produced another incredible video - this will give you a little idea of what it's like presenting with Tim:
She was an amazing girl, and they are a truly beautiful family... I don't have anything else to say. I hope it leaves you speechless too.
For a higher quality image, you can go directly to YouTube to watch Samantha's story…
My friend Scott over at I am. Are you? posted this video the other day – I think it’s a pretty amazing little video. On YouTube, it’s titled “Organ Donors Wanted”:
In the information about his video, slyguytoo writes:
So this is my first real crack at video editing although with no formal training. I wouldn't say it’s a "Real Crack." The story is about organ donation; hopefully it was done well enough that you will understand everything that's going on…
This video has already had an impact… In the YouTube comment section for this video, a woman wrote “This video has meant more to me than you’ll know.” She wrote how, two years ago, at the age of 13 months, her son had a liver transplant from another “angel baby”… She and her husband had been struggling over writing her son’s donor family. This video convinced her and her husband to send a letter to their donor family, letting them know they’ll always be a part of their life for saving their son… Very soon, some donor family out there is going to learn what they and their loved one have done for another family…
The video ends with a question:
What’s your definition of a hero?
Some of us think about that every single day. Some of us see a face, and a smile, and family and friends who surrounded them. We know our definition of a hero.
For some of us – our definition of hero also includes people who put together thoughts, or words, or videos that tug at our hearts, and help others understand something very special and meaningful to us, like what organ donation does for others.
OK – so it’s Thursday night and I haven’t posted yet… But, I don’t like not posting on my scheduled day so here’s a substitution…
I had started outlining and drafting my post about the inaugural Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival that I had the honor of attending last weekend – but then I had to run out twice this week to procure a particular birthday present. Next time I will not trust a webpage to tell me a place is open until 6:30pm only to find after taking what should have been a 20 minute trip in 45 minutes and not actually finding the place, only to find on a simple call would have clued me in that their summer hours are until 5:30pm – even though it’s not technically summer yet. (Based on the date or the weather…)
Anyhoo – we saw some wonderful and amazing things at the Film Festival… A lot of it was an emotional cry fest, which, I’m OK with now since I’m packin’ girlie lungs. (Nothin’ like a good cry and some chocolate…)
I want to write a little about a beautiful little “Hometown Heroes” news piece about a precious girl, Lilly Allen – and the toddler who saved her life 25 years ago, Matthew Bemis… But that’s going to take a little explaining, because I got to ride the Donate Life Float with Lilly and I met Matthew's parents… It was screened along with the Donate Life Illinois video about Kari and me, “The Circle of Life”, and I got to have a long chat with the lady who produced and directed the piece…
And we saw a few incredible shows that are coming out in the near future. One is a new television series titled “Three Rivers” that looks to be amazing. It takes place, naturally, in Pittsburgh – but the title is also a metaphor in organ donation and transplant for the intersection of the donor and donor family, the transplant team, and the recipient and their family and scenes from the first episode look truly amazing. And, there is a movie that will hopefully come out this fall – maybe around Thanksgiving and football season – titled “The 5th Quarter.” A big part of the story revolves around organ donation, and the most successful season in the Wake Forest Demon Deacon school history. I can’t wait to see the movie because I’ll never forget the 20 minutes we saw!
But – I’m not writing now because I’m tired. However – I will leave you with a link to a post from the “Donate Life Organ & Tissue Weblog” posted by Glenn Matsuki from One Legacy in California. (We have to link to this very cool blog at Revive Hope one of these days soon!) Glenn posted a little slide show and a letter from Sam Jones III – he plays “Chaz Pratt” on E.R. – Laura got to shake his hand – I got to hug him… He wrote a wonderful letter about his feelings about being a part of the Donate Life Hollywood awards dinner… Here is Glenn’s post and Sam Jones III’ letter.
CHICAGOAN TO WALK RED CARPET AT DONATE LIFE HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL
Local double lung transplant recipient to be honored for second place video award
CHICAGO, June 8, 2009 – Chicago native Steve Ferkau, a double lung transplant recipient, will be walking the red carpet in Hollywood this week at the inaugural Donate Life Hollywood Film Festival. Ferkau recently starred in an online short film, “The Circle of Life”, which placed second in the Festival’s “online shorts” category.
The Donate Life Film Festival debuts Saturday, June 13, at the Directors Guild in Los Angeles, featuring inspiring stories of lives saved through organ donation in television and film, with informative and entertaining panels of screenwriters and surgeons.
Steve’s video celebrates not only his life but also the life of his organ donor, Kari. The video was filmed in Chicago and features Steve telling the story of his transplant experience at various locations including Millennium Park and the John Hancock Center, a particularly meaningful place since Steve and close friends of Kari participate in the “Hustle Up The Hancock” each year in remembrance of Kari. The video was produced by Donate Life Illinois, the statewide coalition of organ and tissue procurement organizations responsible for donor education and registration outreach.
“I wake up every day looking for a new way to tell others about Kari, the power of organ and tissue donation and the special gift of life that she passed along,” said Ferkau. “It’s an honor to be awarded and I hope my message motivates others to consider registering as a donor. It’s a brief decision but one that can ultimately mean a second chance at life for someone else.”
“Donate Life Hollywood created this festival to draw attention to inspiring and dramatic stories in a proactive and positive way and to fill a niche. We knew there were people out there who were producing films and TV shows about the topic, but we were amazed at the response to our call-for-submissions,” said Tenaya Wallace, Donate Life Hollywood campaign director. “It proves that there is enough drama in real life donation and transplant stories without sensationalizing the topic with organs-for-sale and black market storylines.”
Recent research by Dr. Susan Morgan at Purdue University provides evidence that inaccurate storylines about organ donation keep people from registering as donors. With over 102,000 people currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and 18 people dying every day because of a shortage of donated organs, these storylines could literally be costing lives.
In Illinois, residents can help those currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant by joining the Illinois organ/tissue donor registry. Just one person can save the lives of more than 25 people through organ and tissue donation. Illinois residents can visit www.DonateLifeIllinois.org to join the state’s donor registry.
Doctors, transplant recipients, donor families, living donors and many from the Hollywood film community will be in attendance at the Festival. “Many people in the entertainment industry have been touched by donation and have come full circle by using their personal experience as a wellspring for their work,” said Wallace.
Among the honorees will be “Seven Pounds,” released last year starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, for “Outstanding Portrayal of Organ and Tissue Donation in a Motion Picture.” “Seven Pounds” is the first feature film to show the real-life pain for those waiting for a transplant and the profound joy of receiving the gift of life and sight.
Other film finalists include:
"Decision to Donate” – the story of one man’s battle with chronic kidney disease and his friend’s selfless decision to help by donating one of his kidneys. Produced and directed by the donor’s son, this film chronicles this life-changing journey from the initial decision to donate, through the transplant and beyond, as the two men and their families share an intimate perspective of their very personal experience.
“Giving Life” – focuses on the story of Hollie Stanyon Fouts, who became an organ donor as a result of a fatal auto accident just one year after her sister was killed in an auto accident, and their parents’ journey through grief and giving.
“The Wait” – a student documentary chronicling the lives of four young people who are waiting for, or who have received, a transplant. The film shows the graphic realities of life on the waiting list.
“Prometheus Bound: The Epidemic of Hepatitis C” – the real-life stories of people with Hepatitis C and the effects on the human body.
Eight television episodes will be honored:
Samantha Who? - “The Job” (ABC)
Brothers and Sisters - “Just a Sliver” (ABC)
Grey’s Anatomy – “There is No ‘I’ in Team” (ABC)
ER – “Life After Death” and “Old Times” (NBC)
Three Rivers – Pilot episode (CBS)
The Bonnie Hunt Show
Corpse Tech (History)
About Donate Life Illinois
Donate Life Illinois is the coalition of agencies responsible for organ, tissue, eye and blood donation, as well as donor registration and education in Illinois. It is one of 45 regional coalitions and 50 national businesses or associations making up Donate Life America, a not-for-profit alliance that serves as a national voice and inspires all people to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. For more information: www.DonateLifeIllinois.org.
About Donate Life Hollywood
Donate Life Hollywood is part of the national Donate Life movement harnessing the efforts of the organ and tissue donation and transplant community including transplant centers, organ procurement organizations, tissue and eye banks, and transplant groups.
Donate Life Hollywood serves as a liaison between the organ and tissue donation community and the entertainment industry with the mission of seeing more accurate and inspiring organ donation storylines on television and in film. For more information: www.DonateLifeHollywood.org.
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Cool, no?!?!
I'm very proud and honored that Donate Life Illinois and Gift of Hope have helped me tell so many people about Kari, and what she means to me... If you haven't seen it already, here it is:
I don’t know if Melissa was right, yesterday, about Steve having LOTS to say… I think she spoke quite beautifully about the little project we were both involved in… And isn’t it nice to see a face and voice that goes with her picture in the left margin? She’s right – it is an honor to be a part of a little project like this… I think we’re both proud of the result – and proud of the people involved. Scott has helped produce several very cool videos – I was in one, and many of the people here starred in Donate Life Illinois videos of their own!
And, it’s the people in this video that add so much meaning. They look like everyday people, don’t they?!?! They are – but there is also something special about each of them that you wouldn’t know by looking at them.
One of them lost her Mom – her Mom was waiting for lungs but the lungs never came. I’d met her before, and I knew her Mom… One of them has a beautiful, new heart – you know her – she posted here yesterday… One of them lost her Dad – he needed a second liver that never came… A few of them have awesome new livers… One of them sees through another precious person’s cornea. One of them had a neighbor she grew very fond of – that neighbor became an organ donor and she witnessed the good that came of her gifts and became an outspoken supporter spreading awareness. One of them has a Mom with a new kidney… One of them has beautiful new lungs and has not shut up since he got them…
Check it out…
Scott, over at I am. Are you? posted about it yesterday, and if you’re interested, he has links to the people who played parts in this little video.
April is National Donate Life Month and this is something we all did to get that ball rolling. We’re asking, hoping, wishing that you might hop on your webcam and post us a brief video response letting us know why organ donors are important to you… If the webcam thing just kinda freaks you out (actually, it does me…)(but I might try it anyways…) then maybe just leave a comment on the YouTube video page… You can see the video in a larger, cooler format, and go to the page to leave a comment by clicking here…
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