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Liver Giver
Forum Leader
Username: Beteboop
Post Number: 852
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Friday, August 12, 2011 - 06:54 pm: | 
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Tomorrow marks the three year passing of my brother Anthony. As most of you know I donated my liver lobe to Anthony on November 19, 2007. After a complete regeneration of the lobe Anthony passed away August 13, 2008 from complications of malnutrition and blockages from blood clots.
It is obviously a very painful time for my family and myself to come to this date every month and then every year but I must tell you of all the positives that have come into my life as a direct result of being thrust into transplantland.
I have had the privilege of speaking with 4 other living liver donors and meeting our dear Nicole just days after her donation to her father!
I have become part of such a warm, loving family here on transplantbuddies as only those of us in this world can truly understand each other and our lives.
I got to hold and hug my dear Trish who along with Heather were so much a part of my resection and my brother's ups and down and death. Truly two of my strongest life lines during those times and able to know what I needed even when I did not. Thank you!
I have spoken to high school juniors, college students, funeral home directors, strangers on the street and others about organ donation and the need for EVERYONE to become one.
I have become a part of the New England Organ Bank and RI Organ Donor Awareness Coalition volunteers and a AAA Embassador to educate those that help renew licenses about asking the public to become organ donors.
I have walked with the staff of Lahey Clinic, our transplant center, in the Liver Life Liver Walk, raising over 700. for the cause.
I have discovered that I can run and I can fundraise and I raised almost 6000. last year between the Chilly Half Marathon and as part of the American Liver Foundation's Run for Research Boston Marathon 2011 team.
I have discovered that my brother's passing brought from a very broken heart a passion for a cause that is so very important and so easy for every person to just say "yes" to~ organ donation!
So as I will be just a bit more reflective and missing Anthony these next few days than I normally am I know in my heart that God had a reason for everything that we went through as a family. I put all my faith in him during Anthony's illness. Things didn't turn out as I had planned but in many ways I can understand that God's way is the only way and that faith has strengthened me to tell our story and talk to people. Every time someone says "yes" to organ donation I feel victorious because maybe, just maybe someone's life will be saved.
Thank you all for being supportive, loving and part of the transplantbuddies family. We wouldn't have chosen the road that led us to become family but I certainly am glad that we are on the road together.
God Bless
Dawn
Forum Leader Living Organ Donation
Liver Donor 11/19/07 to brother Anthony
Good and bad things happen in life, but what matters, what defines us, is how we handle them |
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Heather
Forum Leader
Username: Heather
Post Number: 3305
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2011 - 09:13 pm: |
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Dawn...you rock!! I so admire all you do. You are a very special woman. You have touched many lives and will continue to do so, I am quite sure! Love you.
Heather
Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Heather's Blog
EC Illinois, USA
Kidney donor to dad 12/1/99
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes, Chicago
DONATE LIFE |
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nervous1
Member
Username: Ohboy
Post Number: 31
Registered: 03-2011
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2011 - 08:00 am: |
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What a lovely post in honor of your brother. |
Robin
Forum Leader
Username: Mamaru
Post Number: 734
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2011 - 11:40 am: |
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Dawn..beautiful as you are!
Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Husband had a Bone Marrow Transplant 09/08/1993. Diagnosed with CML that went into a blast crisis and became ALL.
Donated a kidney to husband 6/26/2008
Husband and both kids have PKD
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE LIFE I GAVE AS WELL AS THE LIFE I LIVED
I found this on a website and its so true
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