Cobertura Reciente en los Medios

ECHO Donate Life: Sharing the Importance of Organ and Tissue Donation with Multicultural Communities

About ECHO Donate Life

ECHO Donate Life (July 14-27) is an annual observance focused on sharing the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation with multicultural communities to encourage them to save and heal lives by signing up to be organ, eyes and tissue donors.

Created by the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) and Donate Life America, ECHO Donate Life aims to help start meaningful conversations about donation and transplantation. Giving people the tools to share their support for donation and transplantation and creates open discussions among families, friends, and neighbors.

Local Need:

In Colorado and Wyoming, there are nearly 2,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. While organs are not matched according to race or ethnicity, transplant matches made within ethnic groups can be more compatible. That is one of the many reasons it is so important for people in multicultural communities to sign up to become organ, eye and tissue donors.

Local need by ethnicity

• 25% Hispanic
• 11% African American
• 5% Asian
• 2% Multiracial
• 2% American Indian/Alaska Native
• <1% Pacific Islander

How You Can Get Involved:

1. Be on the lookout for our posts on social media during the week of July 22-27. Share our content on your own social media pages with #ECHODonateLife. Don’t forget to also share with (or tag) friends and family. ECHO the message of organ, eye and tissue donation and help us save lives
2. Participate in our ECHO Challenge. All you need to do to participate is share a short video of yourself (30 seconds to 1.5 minutes tops) or comment on social media talking about why you support organ, eye and tissue donation and invite the community to sign up. Share with #ECHODonateLife and tag @DonateLifeCO, @DoneVidaColorado or @DonateLifeWY to be entered in a special giveaway for a change to win some cool swag.

Help us ECHO Donate Life in your community! Use your voice and ECHO the message that organ, eye and tissue donation saves lives! Remember, you can always sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor when you obtain or renew your driver license or State ID at the DMV or any time online at DonateLifeColorado.org, DoneVidaColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. If you have already signed up to be a donor, please take the time to share your decision with your loved ones.

Are you ready for the 20th Annual Donor Dash?

This year, the Donor Dash is celebrating 20 years of dashing for a cause and bringing awareness to organ, eye and tissue donation! Thousands will join us on Sunday, July 21^st at Denver’s Wash Park to honor organ and tissue donors, celebrate transplant recipients and recognize those still waiting for a lifesaving transplant. This year we have new, exciting exhibitors and a special 20^th Annual program planned after the race! Take the time to also enjoy the Diaper Dash with your kiddos and honor your loved ones in the Memorial Garden.

How to join in on the celebration: Final online registration closes on Friday, July 19^th at 6 p.m. Team registration closes on Sunday, July 14^th at midnight. You can also register the morning of the race at the Registration Tent in Washington Park located near Franklin and Mississippi Streets.

Where does the race take place? The 5K run/walk and celebration of life kicks off in Washington Park. The start line is located near S. Franklin St and E. Mississippi Ave.

Where can you park? Parking is available at South High School across E Louisiana Ave. on the south side of the park (see map above). Transportation assistance will be provided from the parking lot to the start line, near E Mississippi St. and S Franklin St. You can reserve transportation assistance for those who are unable to make the trek.

Important times to know:

• 7:00 a.m. Race Day Registration/Packet Pickup
• 8:00 a.m. 5K Runners Start/Expo area opens
• 8:05 a.m. 5K Walkers Start
• 9:15 a.m. Diaper Dash in the Expo Area for ages 3 and younger
• 9:30 a.m. Program Begins at Stage with speeches from donor recipients, family members and Super Bowl 50 Champion, Ryan Harris

Volunteer! Want to attend the event but don’t want to run? Volunteer! We are always looking for race day volunteers to help us make the Donor Dash a success.. Click here to check out volunteer opportunities and sign up. If you can’t help out at the event, we also have volunteer opportunities available the week leading up to the Donor Dash! To sign up for those opportunities, please send an email to donordash@donoralliance.org.

Check out our FAQ page for any additional questions about the race. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Remember, if you can’t attend or volunteer at the Donor Dash this year, you can always show your support by saying Yes to organ, eye and tissue donation year-round. Signing up is easy, just head to donatelifecolorado.org or donatelifewyoming.org, anytime!

AOPO Recognizes Sue Dunn for Leadership and Innovative Practices in Donation and Transplantation

At the 2019 Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) conference, our own CEO and President, Sue Dunn, was recognized for her leadership efforts in donation and transplantation with the 2019 Sallop AOPO Excellence in Leadership Award. 

Sue was awarded the honor for her outstanding management achievements and innovative practices in the organ procurement field throughout her 30 years of service to donation and transplantation.

Under Sue’s leadership, our organization has come to stand apart as a leader in the field and has improved the climate for transplant patients in Colorado and Wyoming. Her significant landmarks have been achieved through ongoing process improvement, relationship management with hospitals throughout our two-state service area, rigorous community education, public relations and advertising efforts, and more.

In 2018, Sue was elected as the UNOS President and over the past year has worked with other members to strategically increase the number of transplants, provide equity in access to transplants and improve outcomes for waitlisted patients, living donors and transplant recipients, to name a few.

She has also led the charge in the organization, enacting a number of innovative processes last year that supported the increase in lives saved. These advancements included the facilitation of the first donor under the HOPE Act (meeting HIV+ criteria) in our service area and the implementation of a CT scanner to help maximize the gift of life by allowing a single liver to be transplanted into two donors.

Congratulations to Sue for this well-deserved honor!

https://youtu.be/Lgd-AOE2mMU

Donation 101: Organ Donation Terms We Don’t Use and Why

Words are powerful. How certain words or terms are used can have a significant impact, especially when it comes to organ, eye and tissue donation. Language not only plays an important role in perpetuating or debunking common myths and misconceptions about organ, eye and tissue donation, it can also serve as a way to pay respect to those who have given the gift of life and their loved ones.

The list below provides guidelines around which organ donation terms to avoid and the most appropriate terminology to use instead. Avoiding certain terms and phrases can both reduce concern among donor families and help to increase public understanding and acceptance of the donation process.

Use the terms Recover or Procure instead of Harvest, and Donated Organs and Tissues instead of Body Parts

While some of these organ donation terms may be used and accepted medically, they aren’t appropriate to use out of respect for the donor families, especially when referring to their loved one’s organs. We’ve heard feedback from donor families that terms such as “harvest” make them feel like their loved one is equated with a crop. Using terms like “recover,” “procure” and “donated organs and tissues” instead, helps loved ones and the general public understand that the entire donation process is respectful and that donors and their families are treated with the utmost care.

Deceased Donor or Deceased Donation instead of Cadaver or Cadaveric Donation

Similar to the terms above, while “cadaver” has long been accepted medically, it is important to use terminology that is considerate of donor families and conveys to the public the respect and care that donors are treated with throughout the entire process. Additionally, while there didn’t used to be a need to make a distinction between living and deceased donation, more and more people are making the life-saving decision to become a living donor. Using the terms “deceased donor” and “deceased donation” help to make a clear distinction between living and deceased donors.

Ventilator Support or Mechanical Support instead of Life Support

Death can occur in one of two ways: cardiac death, when the heart is no longer able to beat on its own, and brain death, which is the irreversible loss of function of the brain, including the brain stem. Use of the term “life” support can cause confusion when it comes to brain death, in particular. Brain death is final and finite; it is not the same as a coma or persistent vegetative state. When death occurs, there is no form of support that can make that person live again. When brain death has been determined, a donor may give the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation. In that case, “mechanical” support is the support given to a deceased donor to supply blood and oxygen to sustain the organs and tissues that may be donated.

Donation is a Decision not a Wish

Signing up as an organ, eye and tissue donor is a first-person authorized advanced directive, meaning you have made the decision to donate your organs, eyes and tissues at the time of your death. Using the term “wish” rather than “decision” implies that you are hopeful that you will become a donor but that your choice is not final. However, your decision to be a donor cannot be changed by your family. Your decision takes precedence over your loved one’s wishes, which is why it is so important to tell your family about your decision to help others.

Learn more and sign up to become a donor anytime online at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming.

Life After Transplant – Scott’s Story

Preventing rejection, restored health, lifestyle changes, medications, new lease on life – all are part of life after transplant. It’s important to note, however, that everyone’s transplant journey looks a bit different, it’s completely unique to them.

Transplant Terminology:

Let’s start by breaking down some common phrases and definitions associated with transplant.

Preventing Rejection: A word often heard from transplant recipients and in the transplant world is “rejection.” According to UNOS, rejection is when the organ recipient’s immune system recognizes the donor organ as foreign and attempts to eliminate it. As scary as this can sound, some degree of rejection is associated with every transplant. How the body takes to the new organ, is again – unique to the recipient and their body. It’s important for transplant recipients to listen to their body, work with their transplant team and call their doctor if they experience any symptoms associated with rejection. Symptoms list and more information on transplant rejection can be found here.

Transplant Team: These are the folks that will help recipients through the stages of their transplant, during and after. From the transplant surgeon to the transplant doctor, medical care team and more, all are there to help the recipient get the transplant they need and teach them how to best care for their precious gift. Get to know the members of a transplant team.

Lifestyle Changes: Remember, getting a transplant is major surgery and on top of recovery time, there will need to be continued care for the gift the recipient has received. Changing some habits is a necessity for transplant recipients. This could mean, changing their diet, drinking more water, giving up alcohol, taking certain medication, and/or regularly meeting with members of their transplant team. It could also mean eventually returning to the activities recipients once enjoyed before they were sick; hiking, skiing, swimming, running, etc. The changes will look different for everyone and as always, recipients should discuss this with their transplant doctor. Dive deeper in possible lifestyle changes after transplant, here.

Local Transplant Recipient Story:

To get a better glimpse into what life after transplant looks like, we sat down with Donor Alliance Advocate for Life and liver recipient, Scott Pinkney, from Northglenn, CO. Scott received his gift in 2011 after waiting for two years and unknowingly living with hepatitis C for 30 years. Listen to his touching story:

https://youtu.be/Sw258C08aYw

“It’s a selfless gift which, saves lives. I’m here to tell you, it saves lives and it saved mine,” said Pinkney. Remember, you can be a hero to people like Scott who need a lifesaving transplant. Just visit DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org to sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

You can also learn more about what life after transplant is like by visiting the UNOS website.

¿No tienes una licencia de conducir o ID estatal? No Importa, Aún Puedes Registrarte Como Donante de Órganos, Ojos y Tejidos

Una de las preguntas que recibimos a menudo cuando informamos a la comunidad sobre la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos es cómo pueden inscribirse para ser donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos después de fallecer.

Aunque la mayoría de las personas se registran para ser donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos al obtener o renovar su licencia de conducir o ID estatal en su DMV local, hay otras formas en las que puedes inscribirte para ser un donante.

Formas adicionales para registrarse como donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos

• Regístrate en línea: todos los residentes de Colorado y Wyoming pueden registrarse para ser donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos en nuestra página en cualquier momento, sin importar su edad, estatus migratorio o condición médica. El proceso solo toma unos minutos, es confidencial y seguro y no se necesita documentación adicional. Los residentes de Colorado pueden obtener más información y registrarse en DoneVidaColorado.org. Los residentes de Wyoming pueden decir Sí a la donación en DoneVidaWyoming.org.
• Solicita una forma de registro: también puede inscribirse como donante completando una forma de registro impreso. Solicita una contactándonos aquí. Una vez que lo recibas la forma de registro, simplemente completa la información y envíanoslo por correo. Una vez que recibamos la forma de registro completada y firmada, se registrará tu decisión de ser donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos.
• Regístrate en eventos comunitarios: otra forma fácil de inscribirse como donante es visitar nuestras mesas de información en uno de los más de 150 eventos comunitarios en los que participamos durante todo el año. Consulta nuestro calendario de eventos y visítanos el evento más cercano a ti.

Ahora que conoces todas las diferentes formas en las puedes decir Sí a la donación y los trasplantes, te invitamos a hablar sobre la donación con tus seres queridos y a que consideres dar el regalo de la vida a través de la donación. Obtén más información y regístrate en cualquier momento en DoneVidaColorado.org o DoneVidaWyoming.org. Una vez que te registres como donante, comparte tu decisión con tu familia.

Heroes and Their Families Honored at 2019 Donor Family Tribute

Hundreds of heroes and their families were honored at Donor Alliance's 2019 Donor Family Tribute.

What is the Donor Family Tribute?

[caption id="attachment_23011" align="alignright" width="350"] Butterfly Wall[/caption]

Every year, Donor Alliance hosts the Donor Family Tribute to recognize and honor the donors who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation and their families. This memorable event, themed Lives Transformed, enables reflection on those lost and offers hope for new life that comes as a result of organ and tissue donation. The 2019 Donor Family Tribute was held on Saturday, June 1^st at the Denver Center for Performing Arts – Seawell Grand Ballroom.

2019 Donor Family Tribute Featured:

• Inspiring Speakers

  [caption id="attachment_23023" align="alignright" width="350"] Crystal Padilla[/caption]

  1. Colleen Reed, liver recipient, from Denver, CO: On August 25, 2016, with roughly 70 percent of her liver comprised solely of tumors, Colleen received a lifesaving liver transplant from a generous organ donor. In the midst of tragedy and loss, the donor’s gift saved Colleen’s life and the lives of others. Colleen spoke to the gratitude she felt towards her donor and donor’s family. She hopes to live in ways that bring honor to her donor’s life.
  2. Crystal Padilla, bone recipient, from Aurora, CO: At 33 years old, Crystal was diagnosed with a rare type of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. A tumor had completely engulfed her arm leaving a bone transplant as her only option for effective treatment. Within two weeks a suitable donor humerus bone was found and Crystal underwent a nine hour surgery to save her limb and life. Crystal spoke to how grateful she and her family is for her donor and to her wonderful care team.

• Heartfelt Testimonies by Donor Alliance Staff:

  [caption id="attachment_23027" align="alignright" width="350"] Sue Dunn[/caption]

  1. Sue Dunn, President & C.E.O of Donor Alliance: “Sometime in the last couple of years, you looked beyond your own immediate sadness and grief to offer the gift of life to someone you had never met, and most likely, will never know. Your gift transformed another person in ways that are unimaginable. Your gift also transformed you in ways that only you can know and appreciate. As you will experience today, the gift of donation has affected Donor Alliance as a staff, the larger community and organ and tissue recipients.”
  2. Lisa Lucas, Family Support Coordinator: “To say ‘thank you’ on behalf of the recipients your loved one and you have saved just does not seem to be enough. But thank you. Your loved one’s legacy lives on in those he or she saved. They also live on in myself and my colleagues. Every donor family we work with leaves a lasting impression upon us. Please know your mother, father, sister, brother, friend will not be forgotten.”

     [caption id="attachment_23013" align="alignright" width="350"] Donor Family Quilt[/caption]

• Rocky Mountain Threads of Life Quilts: The quilts commemorate individuals who have given the gift of life through the donation of organs and/or tissue. Each square of the quilt is created to represent the thoughts and feelings a family member has about their loved one. Families were invited to create custom quilt squares honoring the memory of their loved one.

• Butterfly Memorial Wall: Families were able to decorate a butterfly in memory of their loved one. Before the ceremony, these butterflies were hung on the wall, for all to see and honor. After the event, families wereable to take the butterfly home as a small keepsake.

  [caption id="attachment_23009" align="alignright" width="350"] Donor Family Quilt[/caption]

• Butterfly Seed Paper: Families were encouraged to write inspirational messages or notes to their loved one and hang the butterfly seed paper on lighted trees as they left the event. The seed paper represents the Lives Transformed that we are celebrated at the event on Saturday. Donor Alliance plans to plant the seed paper dedications at their office to sprout into a visual symbol of the legacy of each of your loved ones and their generous gift.

• Candle Lighting Ceremony: As their loved one’s name was read, families lit a candle as a way to remember and honor the legacy their loved one left behind.

  [caption id="attachment_23017" align="alignright" width="350"] Candle Lighting[/caption]

• Bell Ringing: The ringing of a bell historically signifies new beginnings. As the event ended, families were invited to participate in a bell ringing ceremony led by Sue Dunn to honor organ and tissue donors with a symbolic ringing of the bells. To symbolize the generosity of these amazing souls, a special signal of five rings will represent:
  1. The gift given
  2. The life honored
  3. The life saved
  4. The family remembering
  5. The legacy continuing

Ways to Stay Connected:

[caption id="attachment_23019" align="alignright" width="350"] Seed Paper Butterflies[/caption]

If you’ve been touched by donation, we’d love for you to visit the many resources we have available.

• Donor Family Facebook Page *NEW*: This group was started by the Donor Alliance Aftercare Department for the purpose of providing a forum for donor family members to connect with and support one another along their grief journey.
• Donor Family Resources: Please visit our resource page for an extensive list of resources available.

Oh behalf of all of us at Donor Alliance, thank you to the heroic donor families for sharing your time and the memory of your loved one with us. It's an honor to serve you.

Don’t Have a Driver License or State ID? No Worries, You Can Still Sign Up to Be an Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor

One of the questions we receive often when educating the community on organ, eye and tissue donation is how people can sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors after death. While most people sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors when obtaining or renewing their state ID or driver license at their local DMV, there are other ways in which you can sign up to be a donor.

If you don’t have access to a driver's license or state ID or simply forgot to say Yes to donation during your last visit to the DMV, you can still sign up anytime without having to make an extra trip to your local DMV office. Keep reading to learn the many ways you can register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

Additional ways to sign up as an organ, eye and tissue donor

• Sign up Online: All Colorado and Wyoming residents can sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors online anytime regardless of age, medical condition or immigration status. The process only takes a few minutes and NO further legal documentation is necessary. Colorado residents can learn more and sign up at DonateLifeColorado.org. Wyomingites can say Yes to donation at DonateLifeWyoming.org.
• Request a hard copy registration form: You can also sign up as a donor by completing a hard copy registration form. Request one by contacting us here. Once you receive it, simply complete the form and mail it back to us. Once we received the completed form, your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor will be registered.
• Sign up at community events: Another easy way to sign up as a donor is to visit our donor designation stations at one of the more than 150 community events we participate in throughout the year. Check out our events calendar and stop by the event closest to you.

Now that you know all the different ways in which you can say Yes to donation and transplantation, we encourage you to discuss donation with your loved ones and encourage them to consider giving the gift of life. Learn more and sign up anytime online at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming. Once you have signed up, please share your decision with your family.

Aclarando el mito más común sobre la donación: “Soy demasiado viejo para donar”

Este mito es FALSO. Cualquier persona de cualquier edad puede decir Sí y registrarse para ser un donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos, sin importar su edad. No te excluyas; ¡tú puedes salvar vidas! A menudo escuchamos que las personas se descartan y piensan que no pueden registrarse como donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos debido a su edad o estado de salud, sin embargo, no hay límite de edad para registrarse como donante. Las personas con diabetes, hepatitis y otras condiciones médicas pueden posiblemente ser donantes de órganos. Así que no te descartes, di Sí a la donación y deja que los profesionales médicos decidan si eres candidato para donar después de fallecer.

Comparte tu decisión con tu familia:

Cuando dices Sí a la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos, tu decisión de ser un donante tiene prioridad sobre las preferencias de tu familia. Hablar con tus seres queridos sobre la donación les ayudará a entender y apoyar tu decisión. Además, tener estas conversaciones ayuda a que tus seres queridos se sientan más tranquilos durante ese momento tan difícil ya que sabes cuál era tu decisión. Date el tiempo para tener una conversación sincera con tu familia y comparte tu decisión de ser un donante, ya que esta es una de las conversaciones más importantes que puedes tener con tus seres queridos.

Nunca eres demasiado grande o viejo para donar

• La edad promedio de los donantes de tejidos en Colorado y Wyoming es de 65 años
• En 2018, el donante de tejidos más grande en Colorado tenía 103 años
• En 2018, el donante de tejidos más grande en Wyoming tenía 100 años

Obtén los hechos sobre la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos y compártela con tu familia.

¡Recuerda, puedes visitar DoneVidaColorado.org en cualquier momento para aprender más y registrarte como donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos!

Staff Spotlight: Patrick Vestal

[caption id="attachment_22847" align="alignright" width="334"] Patrick Vestal, Donor Alliance Systems Administrator[/caption]

We’re so proud to work with each and every one of our staff members here at Donor Alliance. In our Staff Spotlight, we like to take a minute to let you learn more about who we are and why we work at Donor Alliance. Patrick Vestal, a Donor Alliance Systems Administrator, is responsible for making sure that all of the mission-critical information systems we use to carry out our mission are online and available 24x7, 365.! Patrick says his favorite thing about working at Donor Alliance is the people and the passion they have for the mission!

Name: Patrick Vestal

Position: Systems Administrator

Years at Donor Alliance: 1 year

Tell us a little about your role with Donor Alliance: As a Systems Administrator, my role is to insure that all of the mission-critical information systems we use to carry out our mission are online and available 24x7, 365. To that end, I make sure we have real-time monitoring of those systems, and that we have near-real-time backups of critical data and the means to recover that data quickly should the need arise.

What is the best thing about working at Donor Alliance? The people. I have worked for a variety of different organizations over my career, many of them in health care with similar life-saving goals. However I have yet to meet another group of people more passionate and dedicated to their mission as my colleagues at Donor Alliance.

What does donation & transplantation mean to you? I think there is an interesting dichotomy that exists within the donation and transplantation process. On one hand, the organs and tissues provided by gracious donors mean that the recipients and their loved ones will receive the gift of a prolonged life. But that joy that the recipients and their families experience is only possible because there is a donor family grieving the loss of a loved one. This is something I keep in mind every day I come to work at Donor Alliance.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun? I am an avid aviation buff. I enjoy building and flying large-scale radio controlled helicopters. During the spring and summer months, you can usually find me at the R/C flying fields at Chatfield or Cherry Creek State Parks. During the winter months when the weather becomes less agreeable to outdoor activities, I am at home flying jets and helicopters in an advanced computer flight simulator with my “virtual squadron” buddies online. Many of these friends are real-world military or airline pilots from all over the world.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? It may not be advice, but this quote has helped me countless times throughout my life: “This too shall pass.” I can remember my mom telling me that from a very early age. It didn’t make much sense when I was younger, but I never forgot it. No matter how tough life gets or how bad things seem in the moment, these challenges or heartache are merely temporary setbacks. You can and will persevere.

Advocate Spotlight: Jaime Tellez Jr.

[caption id="attachment_22789" align="alignright" width="500"] Jaime Tellez Jr.[/caption]

Donor Alliance volunteers and advocates are the heart and soul of our efforts to inspire and inform our community about the importance of signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in Colorado and Wyoming. Each of our volunteers and advocates has their own unique and inspiring story to tell. This month, we are featuring Jaime Tellez Jr., a cornea recipient from Aurora, Colorado.

What is your favorite memory volunteering for Donor Alliance? My favorite memory is from the parade of lights. I really enjoyed celebrating Donate Life and what we stand for.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment was overcoming my fear of water and learning to love to swim.

What song would you sing at karaoke night? For karaoke night, I’d sing whatever happens to come up at the time.

What are some of your favorite hobbies? I’m a bit of a bookworm, I enjoy swimming, running, and lifting, and enjoy playing video games, specifically those with rouge-like aspects.

If you could take an all-expenses paid vacation, where would you go? I would travel through all 50 states, because I’d like to know this huge nation at least a little better.

What is the last book you read or movie you saw? Would you recommend it? The last book I read was World War Z. Though it’s a bit dated and some sections require a huge suspension of disbelief, it’s overall a fun read. Just know that there is some strong language...

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Cheap, good, fast. Choose two.

What is your hidden talent? Speed reading!

Como Hablar con Tus Hijos Sobre la Donación de Órganos y Tejidos

En general, puede ser difícil iniciar la conversación con tu familia sobre tu decisión de ser un donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos despues de fallecer. Esta conversación puede ser aún más difícil cuando la conversación es con tus hijos. Para ayudarte a que el inicio de esta conversación tan importante sea un poco más fácil, te sugerimos cuándo y cómo hablar con tu hijos adolescentes mientras se preparan para solicitar su permiso o licencia de conducir.

Cómo funciona:

Cuando tu hijo solicite su permiso o licencia de conducir, se le harán dos preguntas en el estado de Colorado:

1. ¿Te gustaría registrarte como donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos?
2. ¿Le gustaría hacer una donación al Fondo de Concientización sobre Donación de Órganos y Órganos de Emily Keyes-John W. Buckner?

El padre o tutor tendrá que firmar una declaración de responsabilidad y tutela que otorga el consentimiento para que su adolescente se registre como donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos.

Habla con tu Hijo Adolescente para que Tome una Decisión Antes de Visitar la Oficina de Licencias de Conducir:

• Utiliza tu licencia de conducir para iniciar la conversación:
  • Si tú tienes un corazón en tu licencia: Muchos de nuestros voluntarios han compartido que ellos iniciarón la conversación con sus hijos porque ellos les preguntaron por qué tenian un corazón en su licencia o identificación. Puedes cambiar la pregunta y preguntrale a tu hijo si sabe por qué hay un corazón en la licencia. Esta es una manera fácil de iniciar la conversación.
  • Si no tienes un corazón en tu licencia pero estás registrado: tu licencia de conducir aún es una excelente herramienta para iniciar la conversación. Explícale a tu hijo porque no hay un corazón en tu licencia, cómo / cuándo te registraste como donante y qué piensas hacer la próxima vez que renueve tu licencia.
  • Si no estás registrado: Explícale a tu hijo que cuando tramite su permiso o licencia de conducir le van a preguntar si desea registrarse como donate de órganos, ojos y tejidos y donar sus órganos y tejidos después de fallecer. Es importate que tu hijo sepa que esta es una decisión personal que va a tener que tomar.
• Comparte una historia o testimonio sobre la donación de órganos o tejidos o los trasplantes:
  • Si conoces a alguien que recibió un trasplante: Comparte la historia de un familiar, amigo, compañero de trabajo, vecino u otra persona que tu conozcas y que haya recibido un trasplante de órgano o tejidos.
  • Si conoces alguien que fue donante o al familiar de un donante: Comparte la historia de la donación y cómo esa persona salvó y sanó vidas. Esta es la manera más impactante para que los adolescentes comprendan porque la donación de órganos y tejidos es importante y como salva vidas.
  • Si no conoces a receptores de trasplantes: Lee nuestras historias de esperanza y comparte estas historias de personas en nuestra comunidad cuyas vidas han sido sanadas y salvadas gracias a aquellos que dijeron Sí a la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos.

Utilice los recursos en nuestros sitios web:

• donevidacolorado.org
• donoralliance.org