Cobertura Reciente en los Medios

Introducing a Colorado hero at the 2023 Rose Parade®

Tanner Denton had a tremendously big heart. Tanner was best known in his hometown of Grand Junction, CO as a baseball player, but that was just a small part of why he was loved by so many. He will be adorned on the Donate Life float at the 2023 Rose Parade.

Tanner was one of the most loving people many had ever known. He was a family man that enjoyed spending time with the ones he loved traveling, cheering on his favorite Colorado sports teams and going to concerts, always taking care of those in need. He advocated and cared for those experiencing homelessness. Tanner had a soft spot in his heart for animals and would help find them forever homes. He danced to the beat of his own drum and had a true zest for life.

Tanner was just 23 when he passed away in a tragic accident in August 2016.

As a passionate advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation, Tanner’s family knew he was a registered donor. Just a few months before his car accident, he had a conversation with his family letting them know he was a registered donor. He also made sure they were also all donors.

In the days and months that followed Tanner’s death, his legacy of helping others continued through organ, eye and tissue donation. He helped save the lives of two people through kidney donation. Tanner’s corneas also helped a woman in Ireland restore her sight. He also enabled another young man to play baseball again after receiving some of Tanner’s tissue. The ripple effect from the way Tanner lived his life is far reaching and it continues. Through his gift of life and a legacy of kindness, he has saved and healed 122 lives.

To Tanner’s family, knowing how much he’s helped others through his gifts of life has given them strength. Knowing Tanner is gone but that he was still able to help and even save the lives of others was a bright spot through their darkest of days.

Tanner’s Memorial Floral Portrait on Donate Life 2023 Rose Parade ® Float

The Donate Life community is celebrating its 20th year of participation in the iconic Rose Parade New Year’s Day celebrations. This has made the Donate Life 2023 Rose Parade float the world’s most visible campaign to inspire donation. Tanner’s floragraph will be among 44 floral memorial portraits of organ, eye and tissue donors from across the country that will adorn the float.

Allison Vogel, Tanner’s mom and her family are thrilled that Tanner is being honored this year in a floragraph. In Tanner’s honor, and because organ, eye and tissue donation was so important to him, Allison shares his story to continue spreading awareness of the importance of donation and transplantation. Tanner’s family gathered at the Suplizio Stocker Stadium in November. Here, they put the finishing touches on his floragraph at an event that will honor his life and legacy.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPmzU5D41gE[/embed]

“The incredible impacts of donation and transplantation are profound, and the effects spread far and wide,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance, which is sponsoring Denton’s floragraph. Donor Alliance is the federally designated, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Colorado and most of Wyoming. “With participants from across the country, the float is a visual representation of the lives touched by organ, eye and tissue donation. It’s an honor to pay tribute to Tanner and his legacy this year, and we are incredibly grateful to his family for sharing their story. With nearly 1,500 people in Colorado waiting for a lifesaving transplant, we are hopeful that Tanner’s story will inspire Coloradans and people across the country to register to be donors.”

Join us and tune in to the 2023 Rose Parade ® on January 2

Tanner is a wonderful example of this year’s theme, Lifting Each Other Up. It celebrates the power of organ, eye and tissue donation, with donors and recipients working together to support one another. A spectacular Chinese street dragon is the centerpiece of the float. The colorful dragon will be winding through flowering trees, lanterns and fans, and be emblazoned with the floragraphs, which represent those, like Tanner, who have given the gift of life.

El Regalo De Vida: Uno de Los Regalos Más Exclusivos Para Regalar en esta Navidad.

El Regalo De Vida: Uno de Los Regalos Más Exclusivos Para Regalar en esta Navidad

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="alignnone" width="698"] Image by mariadetarosarinda on Freepik[/caption]

Registre su decisión de ser donante de órganos y tejido en línea hoy y regalar esperanza a través del #RegalodeVida en el futuro.

Donor Alliance les Desea Felices Fiestas

El regalo de la vida es verdaderamente uno de los regalos más exclusivos para dar en esta temporada navideña. Representa cómo la pérdida puede convertirse en esperanza y es un acto de amor y coraje extremadamente desinteresado.

“Las fiestas navideñas son temporada para dar. Una temporada para honrar a aquellos que han dado y recibido el regalo de la vida. Mirando hacia atrás en 2022, casi 800 trasplantes de órganos que salvaron vidas ocurrieron como resultado de la increíble generosidad de casi 275 donantes de órganos con miles de trasplantes de tejidos sanadores que fueron posibles gracias a los casi 1900 donantes de tejidos en todo Colorado y Wyoming. La donación y el trasplante se encuentran en la intersección de la pérdida y la esperanza y solo es posible gracias a los valientes actos de los donantes, las familias y los receptores en nuestra área. La pérdida profunda se ha convertido en esperanza para otros, por eso celebramos este increíble regalo durante esta temporada festiva. La donación y el trasplante son verdaderamente un milagro.

En el espíritu de la temporada, lo animo a que hable con sus amigos y su familia sobre su decisión de ser donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos. Esta época del año nos permite inspirar y educar a nuestros amigos y familiares sobre este gran regalo de la vida, un regalo que puede cambiar la vida de las 1500 personas que esperan un trasplante que les salve la vida y les cure en Colorado y Wyoming.

“Me gustaría aprovechar esta oportunidad para desearle a usted y a los suyos todo lo mejor durante esta temporada navideña y mucha felicidad en el año que viene”.

Con gratitud,

Jennifer Prinz

Presidente y Director Ejecutivo, Donor Alliance

Acontecimientos Navideños en Donor Alliance

Denver 9News Parade of Lights: Celebrando regalos especiales para dar

Donor Alliance esta orgulloso de haber sido patrocinador del 47º Desfile Anual de Luces 9NEWS PARADE OF LIGHT. La ruta del desfile de dos millas en el centro de Denver es el escenario de la tradición navideña más brillante de Colorado. Este fue nuestro undécimo año en unirnos al desfile. Nuestra carroza fue escoltada por destinatarios, familiares de donantes, donantes vivos, voluntarios y más conectados con el regalo más singular para dar: ¡el Regalo de Vida #GiftofLife!

Festival de Luces en Colorado Springs

¡Donor Alliance está orgulloso de haber sido parte del Festival anual de las luces de Colorado Springs el 3 de diciembre! El desfile es siempre el primer sábado de diciembre de cada año y cuenta con casi 100 entradas bellamente iluminadas y decoradas. Empresas y organizaciones locales, grandes y pequeñas, crean fantasías navideñas para compartir con niños de TODAS las edades. ¡Nuestra carroza fue escoltada por beneficiarios, familiares de donantes, donantes vivos, voluntarios y más!

Iluminación de Árboles en Aurora

Durante el encendido de los árboles navideños, presentado por la ciudad de Aurora, Donor Alliance instaló nuestra caja de regalo interactiva navideña Done Life para que la disfruten los residentes de Aurora. Dentro de la caja, presentamos información sobre la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos, y le dimos la opción a las personas de compartir su conexión con la donación. Durante el evento hubo baile, canto, comida gratis y diversión.

Recuerde, algunos de los mejores regalos para las fiestas son simples; La donación de órganos es un regalo generoso y desinteresado. Este año, apoye el Regalo de la Vida #GiftofLife y regístrese como donante de órganos en línea hoy.

Staff Spotlight: Matt Gilchrist

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 share who we are and why we work at Donor Alliance. In this month’s staff spotlight, meet Matt Gilchrist. Matt is a Clinical Onsite Specialist at Donor Alliance and has been part of the team for 1.5 years.

Meet Matt in our December 2022 Staff Spotlight

Tell us a little about your role with Donor Alliance.

A brief summarization of my role is to respond onsite to new Organ referrals at the hospitals in the Denver Metro area. Provide suggestions or donation insight to Medical/Nursing teams at said hospitals. Referral candidacy and viability work-up on potential Donors in regard to DCD vs BD donation (resource for hospital partners: How to declare/Derangement identification, etc). Develop Plan of Action with hospital team regarding Approaches, and how we collaboratively move forward pending decisions into the Case Start phase.

What do you enjoy most about/what’s the most rewarding aspect of your role?

Building relationships with Frontline Staff at our hospital partners and fostering a sense of teamwork between Donor Alliance and said hospital – helping to increase our number of Donors and increase knowledge about donation.

Tell us about a time at work that really moved you. What’s the most meaningful interaction you’ve had at a Donor Alliance event? Most moving experience you’ve been a part of? (answer if able)

• • Really our “Connect to Mission” moments, help to pull things full circle.
  • I would give a generalization vs specifics – But being On-Site at a hospital and helping to plan our next steps with the hospital staff and seeing everything collaboratively “Come Together” in regard to potential Donors. I really feel Donation can be a niche sub-sect of Critical Care and helping to explain things and clear up misconceptions on face-to-face basis really clears the way forward for not only a single case, but all others to follow.

If you change anything about your life, what would you change?

I would be more of a “Free-Spirit” and take chances without the need to plan everything and have structure.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?

• • Road-trips
  • Weekend Flights
  • Reading on a mountain side
  • Exploring the thrill-seeking outdoor activities

Check out our career openings here if you would like to be a part of this amazing organization!

Altar de Día de Muertos, ofrendas a nuestros seres queridos

La Muerte como Símbolo de Vida en el Altar de Día de Muertos

Según la tradición mexicana, el 1 y 2 de noviembre, son los días en que las almas de nuestros difuntos vuelven a casa, al mundo de los vivos, para convivir con la familia y nutrirse de la esencia de los alimentos y ofrendas puestos en su honor en cada Altar de Día de Muertos.

En esta celebración de Día de Muertos, la muerte no representa una ausencia, más bien representa una presencia viva; la muerte es un símbolo de la vida que se materializa en el altar. Se trata de una celebración de enorme trascendencia popular que comprende diversos significados filosóficos y materiales.

Día de Muertos es una tradición que sobrevive al paso del tiempo, que une e integra a nuestra comunidad que se prepara para recordar y honrar LA VIDA de nuestros seres queridos que ya no están en este plano. Unidos y en familia vemos la muerte como un símbolo de vida que se materializa en cada uno de nuestros coloridos rituales.

Los hermosos altares donde las familias colocan sus ofrendas son tradiciones de tiempos prehispánicos. Día de Muertos es una mezcla armoniosa entre tradiciones católicas e indígenas. Los pueblos originarios mexicanos trasladaron la veneración de sus muertos al calendario cristiano, la cual coincidía con el final del ciclo agrícola del maíz.

¿Y tú ya tienes listo tu altar de Día de Muertos?

¡Te dejamos algunos ítems que no pueden faltar en tu altar!

Para decorar tu altar te recomendamos tener siempre:

• Flores de cempasúchil
• Papel Picado
• Calaveritas de azúcar
• Pan de muerto
• El platillo favorito de tu ser querido a quien vas a honrar, no te olvides de algo para beber.
• Velas e Incienso
• Fotografías de tus seres queridos que ya no están
• ¡Puedes poner tu altar en una mesa o elegir cuantos niveles quieras!
• ¡El color no debe faltar!

¡Puedes agregar lo que tú crees que a tu ser querido le encantaría encontrar en su regreso al mundo de los vivos!

¡Hoy Queremos Honrar a Quienes dieron el Regalo de Vida!

Hoy, queremos Honrar a aquellos miembros de la comunidad Latino-Hispana que a través de la donación de órganos y tejidos dieron el regalo de vida a otros en un acto de inmensa generosidad.

La donación de Órganos, ojos y tejidos ha sanado y salvado las vidas en nuestra comunidad. Sin embargo, en Estados Unidos aún hay más de 24 mil latinos esperando por un trasplante que salve o sane sus vidas. Acompáñanos hoy honrando la memoria y la vida de quienes donaron, también dando esperanza a quienes están esperando. ¿Cómo? Apoyando esta gran causa, diciendo Sí, a la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos cuando retires o renueves tu licencia de conducir en las oficinas del DMV o Informate sobre la Donación en nuestro sitio web DoneVidaColorado.org o Registrate Hoy mismo dando clic en el siguiente botón.

¡Regístrate Aquí!

¡Todos tenemos el don de dar y de recibir el regalo de vida de la donación si lo necesitamos, por esto debemos unirnos como comunidad y decir Sí a la Donación de órganos y tejidos!

Harnessing the Power of Hollywood

By Tenaya Wallace, Guest Blogger & Founder, Donate Life Hollywood (DLH)

Recently I asked a group of organ donation educators to raise their hand if they had ever spoken to someone who cited a television storyline as the reason they were NOT a donor.

Every hand in the room went up.

Around the country, OPOs and their volunteers work tirelessly to debunk myths and fears that have been ingrained in our society because of Hollywood. After years of giving high school presentations and training volunteers, I knew first-hand how television shows impact people’s perception of donation. In 2007 there was finally proof of this cause and effect.

Dr. Susan Morgan published a series of research articles proving that people were less likely to register as a donor after watching a myth-based storyline. She also highlighted the reason WHY: because organ donation is so rare. Most people don't have a personal experience with our cause, and because Grey’s Anatomy makes transplant storylines so realistic, viewers believe what they see. Unlike other medical and social issues, viewers can’t draw from personal experience to counter scripted inaccuracies.

In response to this research, OneLegacy launched Donate Life Hollywood.

What is Donate Life Hollywood?

Donate Life Hollywood (DLH) is a project of the OneLegacy Foundation with national support from DLH Partners like Donor Alliance. We have three goals:

1. Increase the number of authentic and positive donation storylines
2. Eliminate #HollywoodMyths about donation
3. Build relationships with the entertainment industry to help save lives

In working with Hollywood, I have found that writers aren’t trying to do us wrong. They simply don’t know that their storylines have such an impact. That means it is up to us to offer help, hold them accountable and create meaningful partnerships.

DLH built a deep relationship with the medical drama “Three Rivers” on CBS, which focused entirely on transplants. By working collaboratively with DLH, the show led to a 6% increase in the public’s willingness to register as a donor in a single year. While the show aired, I had emails daily from OPO’s around the country saying that people were consenting to donation in the hospital because they wanted their loved one to save lives, “like on that show.”

Donor Alliance supports the DLH Inspire Awards

Every year at the DLH Inspire Awards we honor television storylines that get it right. The Inspire Awards build impactful relationships with top writers, producers and networks, especially from medical dramas where our cause is so pervasive.

At the 2022 DLH Inspire Awards, “The Resident '' on Fox was celebrated for their episode “The Long and Winding Road,” which had the most accurate and positive portrayal of organ donation we’ve ever seen. I spoke with writer Joy Blake and medical advisor Dr. Daniela Lamas about how and why they were able to craft such a uniquely authentic storyline. Their answer was simple: they asked for help.

The writers were so in awe of the information that a brain death expert shared that they included almost all of it in this very important storyline where fans say goodbye to the beloved character, Nic – played by actress Emily VanCamp. Emily left the show to focus on her own children, so in the storyline, Nic became an organ donor.

[caption id="attachment_34816" align="alignright" width="300"] Pattei Schutte, Donor Alliance Advocate at the DLH Inspire Awards[/caption]

Because of the care taken by Joy and Dr. Lamas, this fictional character also helped people understand the organ donation process and the power of donation. Hollywood got the very complicated subject of brain death very right.

Hollywood donation myths in the news

Just a few months later the national news media struggled with the concept.

Coverage of the tragic death of actress Anne Heche and her generous donation failed to communicate the concept of brain death and did nothing to help the public understand the donation process.

But Donor Alliance, DLH and Dr. Lamas helped set the record straight.

As a DLH Inspire Awards sponsor, Donor Alliance brought volunteer Pattei Schutte to Los Angeles to present the award to “The Resident.” During dinner conversation, Donor Alliance PR/Communications Director Cheryl Talley spoke with Dr. Llamas about the Anne Heche coverage. Inspired by this conversation, and the powerful real-life stories at the event, Dr. Lamas wrote an Op-Ed for the New York Times entitled “What Happens When the Brain Goes Quiet but the Heart Continues Beating?”

This piece was the best news article ever written about brain death, from the collaborator of Hollywood’s best storyline on donation.

How can you help?

The entertainment industry is like every other constituency, they need information and inspiration around our cause. They need to know better to do better. They need to hear from everyone personally touched by donation, not just me!

DLH has created the DLH Activate App for you to help hold Hollywood accountable and share your personal stories with writers. Download the app today to be part of the DLH movement:

• Register your connection to donation/transplant through the app so that we can provide casting opportunities that would be a fit for you.
• Allow for notifications to receive an alert whenever there is a transplant storyline.
• Take action! Go to RESPONSE and at a touch of a button you will amplify a pre-written message to the writers through your personal social channels.
• When you see a show with a transplant storyline, click REPORT-A-MYTH to let us know so we can create an immediate response.
• Through the ADVO-KIT you can share your story to help DLH inspire writers to get it right.

Together we can harness the power of Hollywood to turn the greatest storytellers on earth into our greatest partners in saving lives.

Additionally, you can register your decision TODAY to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

In Colorado? Say YES to donation HEREIn Wyoming? Say YES to donation HERE

-Tenaya Wallace was born in Hollywood and grew up on sets with parents who worked behind the scenes on some of television’s most iconic shows. She is the CEO of Crowd Advocacy and founder and director of Donate Life Hollywood, a project of the OneLegacy Foundation that serves as a liaison between the organ donation community and the entertainment industry with the goal of seeing more authentic and empowering stories about donation and transplantation.

El Color Rosa en el Mes de la Concientización Sobre el Cáncer de Mama

El Color Rosa en el Mes de la Concientización Sobre el Cáncer de Mama

Muchos saben que Octubre es el Mes de la Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Mama, un momento para pensar sobre la enfermedad y aumentar la conciencia general sobre esta enfermedad. Lo que muchos no saben es que la donación de tejidos y la donación de tejido mamario suelen desempeñar un papel importante en la reconstrucción de la mama.

Según la Oficina de Prevención de Enfermedades y Promoción de la Salud, aproximadamente una de cada ocho mujeres nacidas en la actualidad padecerá cáncer de mama, por lo que es muy importante que las mujeres de todas las edades sean proactivas con respecto a su salud mamaria. Los expertos afirman que la detección precoz es la clave: si se detecta a tiempo, la mayoría de las mujeres pueden sobrevivir al cáncer de mama.

Donación y Reconstrucción de Tejido Mamario.

Este mes también nos da la oportunidad de hablar de la capacidad de ser un heroico donante de tejidos que cambie la vida de las supervivientes de cáncer de mama. Los tejidos donados, como la piel, suelen ser una gran opción para las mujeres que recurren a la cirugía de reconstrucción mamaria.

- El proceso - Aunque cada situación es única para cada persona, una opción para el tratamiento del cáncer de mama es la mastectomía, o la extirpación de toda la mama, seguida de la reconstrucción mamaria. Según el Centro de Educación sobre Reconstrucción Mamaria, a través de diferentes técnicas de cirugía plástica, la reconstrucción mamaria ayuda a devolver a la mama su forma, aspecto y tamaño normal. En algunos casos, las mujeres pueden utilizar un autoinjerto, es decir, que el tejido se toma de una parte de su cuerpo y se injerta en otra, pero eso no funciona para todo el mundo. Otra opción habitual es tomar tejido donado, o un aloinjerto de un donante de tejido y utilizarlo como lugar de descanso para un implante. El tejido proporciona el espacio y la estructura para sostener el implante líquido o de gel.

- El impacto - Sorprendentemente, ¡un solo donante de tejido puede ayudar hasta 10 pacientes de reconstrucción mamaria! A menudo, cuando se habla de donación, lo primero que se piensa es en la donación de órganos, pero la donación de tejidos resulta increíblemente impactante, mejora la vida e incluso algunos receptores la califican de salvadora. Puede obtener más información sobre el proceso de donación de tejidos aquí.

Cómo Apoyar a los Sobrevivientes de Cáncer de Mama.

¿Sabías que inscribirte como donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos te hace elegible para curar a alguien que necesita una reconstrucción mamaria? Muestre su apoyo a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad en Colorado y Wyoming que están luchando contra esta agresiva enfermedad inscribiéndose como donante. También puede inscribirse como una forma de honrar a las mujeres especiales de su vida. ¡Inscribirse es muy fácil! Simplemente diga "Sí" a la Donación de Órganos, Ojos y Tejidos la próxima vez que obtenga su licencia de conducir o identificación estatal, o inscríbase en cualquier momento en línea en DonateLifeColorado.org o DonateLifeWyoming.org.

Exciting Events at the Transplant Games of America

The Donate Life Transplant Games of America were held in San Diego, CA on July 29-August 3, 2022. This event occurs every two years and brings together people all around the nation who have been a connection to organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. This year was especially exciting as the Games hadn’t been held since 2018!

Team Rocky Mountain

Representing Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, Team Rocky Mountain, was comprised of 11 people. The team had a blast this year and proudly took home many medals. They competed in a variety of events. These events ranged from running, to track and field, to ballroom dancing and Texas Hold’em. Overall, Team Rocky Mountain brought home 30 medals from the San Diego Transplant Games: 15 gold, 11 silver, and 4 bronze. Additionally, they finished 9th in the team cup award.

Most Rocky Mountain Team members reside in Colorado, and it was exciting to see the camaraderie develop among the team and their loved ones. Many members of Team Rocky Mountain expressed how touching the experience of the Transplant Games was for them to be with the thousands of people who are connected by their stories and so grateful to be alive. Many made new friends all over the nation and friends they hope to meet again at the next games.

Yvette Matthews - Former Advocate for Life and Transplant Games Contestant

Former team member and Advocate for Life, Yvette Matthews, came home with a bronze medal in the 5k race, a silver in 1500m race walk and team trivia, and gold medals in shotput, long jump, softball throw, discus, and 100m run for Team North Carolina. Yvette is a liver recipient who was featured in our My Hero Said Yes campaign. We are excited for her and our partners at Donate Life North Carolina.

Yvette started participating in the games in 2014 when they were held in Houston, TX. The games in San Diego were her 5^th games to date. Yvette is the “most proud of [her] gold medal in the 100m race because this year was the first time that [she] participated in this event since Houston where [she] came in 4^th place.”

In 2001, Yvette was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. During this time, she was put on the transplant list in 2006 and got a liver transplant at University of Colorado Hospital from an anonymous donor in 2013. By participating in the games, Yvette’s goal is to “honor [her] donor by living a full life. It is important for people to know that there is life after transplant.”

Yvette tells us, “the Transplant Games of America are a great way for people in the transplant community to get together every 2 years. You don’t have to be an athlete to participate. Non-sport events include, ballroom dancing, team trivia, corn hole, lyrics for life, quilt making, darts, and Texas Hold‘em. You just have to get to the games and let the momentum of the people and the atmosphere of the crowd carry you along for a week of adrenaline that can’t be matched anywhere.”

If you are interested in attending the Transplant Games of America as a participant, please visit the Transplant Games of America website or email Michael Wells with Team Rocky Mountain at

Learn more about donation and transplantation here. To register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit DonateLife Colorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.

Thousands Celebrate Life at the 23rd Annual Donor Dash 5k

On Sunday, July 17th, 2022 in Denver’s Washington Park, thousands gathered to celebrate life at the 23rd Annual Donor Dash 5k! This year, the event attracted 4,203 participants. Everyone came together from across the nation, representing 46 states.

The Donor Dash is a 5K run/walk that honors the lives of organ, eye and tissue donors; celebrates the lives of organ, eye and tissue recipients; and recognizes those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.

The event featured some old favorites like the Diaper Dash. In addition, it had touching ways to pay tribute to all of the heroic donors. We celebrated those who gave the gift of life through tributes like the Donate Life Memorial Garden and Wall of Honor. 5280 A Capella Group helped us close out the event with a beautiful rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow''.

After we had to pause this in-person event after 2020, we were able to hold it in person once again this year, making the event extra special.

As always, we want to extend a big thank you to all of the participants, sponsors, volunteers and organizations who helped make the 23rd annual Donor Dash a huge success! Watch the 23rd Annual Donor Dash recap video below:

Enjoy the Donor Dash 2022 Recap

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw-6bl4A2VE&t=108s[/embed]

If you couldn’t make it out to the event this year, no worries! You can show your support any time year-round by saying Yes to organ, eye and tissue donation at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org. If you’ve already said Yes, we encourage you to share your decision with your family.

Be sure to save the date for the 24th Annual Donor Dash scheduled for Sunday, July 16th, 2023.

Book Reviews: Need Summer Reading Ideas?!

Summer is only halfway over and parents are ready for kids to be back in school! Vacations are mostly over, school supplies are on sale and back to school clothes are out in the stores. It’s also when we remember that there is probably a summer reading assignment hiding in the backpack that hasn’t been opened since May. We have a few ideas of how you can start the donation conversation and tackle that summer reading project all at the same time.

While we have a list of books written for adults and young adults on our website, we’ve never ventured into providing ideas for elementary age children. Fortunately, we have some great resources provided by the Donate Life America Youth Education Committee and a family with a Colorado connection. We also included the reading age or grade level with each book.

Honoring Their Donor with a Story about Generosity and Kindness (ages 2-8)

Clayton Sparks Leaves His Mark is inspired by the story of Clayton Sparks, a young man who became an organ, eye and tissue donor in Colorado at the age of 24. Clayton was a kind and generous person and his liver recipient’s wife, Abby, wanted to honor him by writing a book that shared about his life. Abby was expecting twins when her husband, Reid, received the news that he was to receive the gift of life, a liver transplant in 2019. Through the aftercare process, they were eventually connected with their donor’s family and learned that Reid’s liver came from a young man, Clayton Sparks.

After the transplant, Clayton’s parents and the Greys developed an unbreakable bond. The Sparks shared so many stories of what an incredible person Clayton was. Abby said, “I wanted a way to not only share his legacy with our children, but to inspire other children to give selflessly in the way that he did. I wanted to be able to read the story to my two year old twins but also open the conversation about organ donation with other families”. The book is geared towards children ages 2-8 but is a great read for anyone, and encourages others to make an impact on those around them. Abby’s hope is to inspire others to give more, and it opens the conversation about organ donation within families.

The Howl Series (3^rd grade or 630 lexile rating)

Living kidney donor, Brenda Cortez, decided to write a children’s book about her experience after reading her daughter’s college essay about donation. Her book series centers on Howl the Owl and how he and his friends find ways to Help Others With Love. Book 2 – Howl Helps Bella – tells the story of donation through the eyes of Bella as she works to understand what it means when her dad becomes an organ donor.

You can purchase one book or all eight on the Donate Life America website. Purchasing through DLA assists with their mission “to increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissues available to save and heal lives through transplantation while developing a culture where donation is embraced as a fundamental human responsibility.” Better yet, ask your local library to purchase the books so they are available to anyone!

No matter what book you have your kids pick up this summer, each one is an opportunity to start the donation conversation. Find out more ways to talk about organ, eye and tissue donation at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.

Are you ready for the 23th Annual Donor Dash?

We are back in person dashing for a cause and bringing awareness to organ, eye and tissue donation in the 23^rd Annual Donor Dash 5K run/walk! Thousands will join us on Sunday, July 17th at Denver’s Washington Park to honor organ and tissue donors, celebrate transplant recipients and recognize those still waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Take the time to also enjoy the Diaper Dash with your kiddos and honor your loved ones in the Donate Life Memorial Garden.

How can I join in on the celebration? Team registration closes on Sunday, July 10^th and online registration closes on Thursday, July 14^th. You can also register the morning of the race at the Registration Tent in Washington Park located near Franklin and Mississippi Streets.

We still are looking for volunteers! Want to attend the event but don’t want to run or walk? Please volunteer! We are always looking for race day volunteers to help us make the Donor Dash a success. Check out volunteer opportunities and sign up here. 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.

Where does the race take place? The 5K run/walk and Donate Life celebration all take place in Washington Park. The start line is located near S. Franklin St and E. Mississippi Ave. Join us for our program beginning at 9:30am on the stage in the Expo Area. Click here to view the course map.

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 for those who need it 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 news about the balloon release: This year we have a beautiful, new element for the program to replace the balloon release. While we recognize that the balloon release has been a longstanding and impactful element of Donor Dash, Donor Alliance has decided to change this part of the program to be in compliance with Denver Parks and Recreation guidelines. We are actively evaluating more environmentally friendly alternatives to respectfully memorialize the heroic donors gave the gift of life. We invite you to participate in some of the other Donor Dash activities to honor your loved one including submitting their name for the Wall of Honor or requesting an Honorary Sign to be placed in the Donate Life Memorial Garden or along the racecourse.

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 in the Expo Area with speeches from donor family members and transplant recipients

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 go to donatelifecolorado.org or donatelifewyoming.org, anytime!

Kids Need Transplants Too: National Pediatric Transplant Week 2022

Every year during the last week of National Donate Life Month, we celebrate National Pediatric Transplant Week, a time to talk about efforts to end the pediatric transplant waiting list and recognize those that have been touched by pediatric organ, eye and tissue donation.

Throughout the week, clinical partners are encouraged to share patient stories, transplant recipients can share their gratitude, and donor families whose children have saved and healed lives through organ, eye and tissue donation are honored.

Donation & Transplantation Pediatric Stats:

Local (Colorado & Wyoming):

• 30 children under 18 are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.*
• The organ most in need for those waiting locally is the kidney.
• There were twelve pediatric donors in 2021.

National:

• 1,850 children under 18 are on the national transplant waiting list.*
• 1,766 children received transplants in 2020.
• There were 860 pediatric donors in 2020.

*as of 4/25/22

Local Children’s Transplant Center:

Children’s Hospital Colorado has helped change the lives of children through transplantation for 25 years. As the only pediatric organ transplant center in our region, Children’s Hospital Colorado has performed more than 1,000 lifesaving organ transplants since 1990, including transplants from generous living donors. Their heart, kidney and liver transplant programs achieve outcomes among the best in the nation.

Children’s Colorado is also home to the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, offering the region’s most experienced pediatric blood and marrow transplant and cellular therapy program where they’ve performed 1,000+ pediatric bone marrow transplants in their 25-year history. The hospital’s Blood Donor Center facilitates lifesaving blood and platelet donations to fulfill 95% of the hospital’s needs.

Local Students Create Children’s Books about Donation and Transplant

Through Donor Alliance’s educational partnership with the Northglenn High School STEM program, two classes of anatomy students created children’s books dealing with the themes of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. These books were presented to Donor Alliance staff and Advocates during Pediatric Transplant Week. We hope to print hard copies of these books and provide them to local transplant centers throughout the coming months.

Ways You Can Get Involved:

• • Share this article or one of the local stories above with your friends and family on your social media pages, be sure to use, #KidsTransplantWeek.
  • Have a story of your own you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Share here if you’re in Colorado, or here if you’re in Wyoming.
  • Remember, the best to support National Pediatric Transplant Week is to make sure you are a register donor! Sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor after death when you obtain or renew your driver license or any time online at org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.

As a reminder, for anyone under 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must authorize donation. When obtaining a driver license, 15-17 year-olds may sign up with the intent to be a donor, but until they are 18, a parent or legal guardian makes the final donation decision. Have this important conversation with your teens! Share your donation decision with those you love.

Personas como yo mueren en la lista de espera todos los días, pero hoy estoy aquí gracias a mi donante de riñón.

Mi nuevo riñón me ha dado una segunda oportunidad para disfrutar la vida. Por lo tanto, este mes, en reconocimiento del Mes Nacional de Done Vida y en agradecimiento mi donante, invito a todos los residentes hispanos y latinos de nuestra comunidad a decir Sí a la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos y a ayudar a dar esperanza a otros pacientes como yo. En este momento, en nuestra región hay alrededor de 1,500 personas esperando un trasplante que salve su vida.

Yo sabía que tenía una enfermedad renal hereditaria, pero en gran parte estaba latente. Después de venir a los Estados Unidos en el 2010, me hice un examen físico de rutina y descubrí que tenía una infección renal, lo que después conllevó a necesitar un trasplante. Después de estar en la lista de espera para recibir un trasplante, mis amigos y familiares comenzaron a hacerse pruebas para ver si podían donar en vida. Mi hermana era compatible. En noviembre, en medio de la pandemia, mi hermana viajó desde Perú para ser mi donante en vida. Estoy muy agradecida porque mi hermana pudo ser mi donante en vida, pero sé que no todos son tan afortunados como yo.

Quiero asegurarme de que la comunidad hispana/latina está al tanto de la importancia de la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos. Quizá no todos pueden ser donantes en vida, como mi hermana, pero cualquiera persona puede registrarse para ser un donante de órganos, ojos y tejidos después de fallecer. Actualmente, un gran número de personas en la lista de espera pertenecen a comunidades de color debido a una mayor incidencia de enfermedades, como la diabetes y la hipertensión, que conducen a la insuficiencia orgánica terminal. Aunque los órganos y tejidos donados no necesitan ser trasplantados entre receptores de la misma etnia, los trasplantes de órganos realizados entre personas del mismo grupo étnico, por ejemplo, de un hispano a otro hispano, pueden ser más compatibles. Por eso es tan importante que más personas de color, incluidos los hispanos y latinos, nos registremos como donantes.

También es importante que los hispanos/latinos y los inmigrantes latinos de nuestra comunidad sepan que todas las personas de color tienen acceso equitativo a los órganos disponibles para trasplantes, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Cualquier persona puede ser considerada para recibir un trasplante de órgano. El estado migratorio no determina si un paciente es agregado o no a la lista de espera de trasplantes o si es seleccionado para un trasplante.

El Mes Nacional Done Vida honra a las personas que han sido donantes, celebra la vida de los receptores de trasplantes y busca inspirar a la comunidad para registrarse como donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos. Hoy comparto mi historia para ayudar a crear conciencia sobre la necesidad de más donantes de órganos, ojos y tejidos, especialmente entre los hispanos y otras comunidades de color.

Tengo la esperanza de poder ayudar a inspirar a otros a decir Sí a la donación de órganos, ojos y tejidos. DoneVidaColorado.org es un excelente recurso con la información necesaria para tomar una decisión informada sobre la donación y registrarse como donante en línea.

Guadalupe (Lupe) Kerr

Receptora de trasplante de riñón