Last April my brother Dick celebrated his 60^th birthday.  60 is always a major milestone.  In Dick’s case, it was quite a bit more than that, because when he was about nine years old our mother was told that Dick would never live to see 30.

Dick was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney disease when he was very young – about four years old.  Eventually the disease started to take its toll. Shortly after he turned 29 Dick was told his kidney function was down to 5%, and he’d need a transplant.   Our brother Fred, the oldest, volunteered to give Dick one of his kidneys, and Dick received Fred’s kidney in November of 1981.  As you might expect it was a joyous event.

Dick’s new kidney lasted about seven years before it started to fail, and Dick went back on dialysis.  He was set to undergo a second transplant in May of 1989, this time from me, but the transplant was called off, two days before the surgery, when it was discovered that a blood transfusion Dick had received in the last two months had suddenly caused us to be incompatible as donor and recipient. It was devastating news.  Dick had to go back on dialysis, and also go on the national transplant waiting list, and hope he would someday be matched with a compatible kidney.

He waited, and waited, and waited hoping he would get a call.  He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep going.  Finally, he got that magical call, and he received a kidney in January of 1994, or as he puts it, “Four years, eight months, three weeks and two days” after the date he had originally been scheduled to undergo his second transplant.

What’s strange about receiving a call like this of course is that you’re aware that your gift is the result of someone else’s tragedy.  But to be perfectly honest, this realization, at the time of the transplant, is like a mustard seed.  It occupies a small part of your heart, given that most of your heart is filled with joy.  But over time that mustard seed grows and grows.  And every year we think of that donor more and more.  In fact, just recently I sent a letter to Virginia Mason Medical Center, where Dick had his second transplant, asking if they could forward a note of thanks I had written to the donor family.  I’d like them to know how incredible their gift of life has continued to give after all these years.

Dick’s second transplant was over 17 years ago.  Thanks to that indescribably generous gift, my three daughters, who weren’t even born when all this happened, have had the joy of sitting on their Uncle Dick’s lap, having Uncle Dick read to them, having Uncle Dick go on walks with them, and having Uncle Dick look bemused while my two older daughters, when very little, delighted themselves by tying Uncle Dick to a chair in rolls and rolls of ribbon.  But what I think is most important is that my girls been able to know the member of our family who hands-down has the most courage, toughness and generosity of any one of us.  (He once literally gave me the sweatshirt of his back).  And my sister and brothers and I have had the gift of having Dick in our lives for these last 16 years, and God willing many more.  And that’s a gift that’s impossible to put a value on.

Dick with his nieces.

The team at the summit of Mt. Rainier

2,468.2. That’s a big number! It’s the number of miles that my best friend, Debbi, and I had driven just to meet them. It had been a remarkable journey, I thought, as I stood in front of the “Welcome to Homer” sign and looked over the railing at the sea. What had begun nearly four years ago was reaching another milestone. I was meeting my donor family in person and all of Homer, it seemed, for the first time and I was terrified!

I was terrified of not being ‘good enough” to give just a little bit of closure to Kate’s (my donor) family. Was my life worth their loss? Would they find comfort in the fact that I was walking, talking and back to living my rather ordinary life because of their extraordinary gift? I carried within me the “Heart of a Hero,” their daughter, sister, niece and friend. Would they all see the miracle that is the Gift of Life? Would they feel my gratitude?

Three years later, and I am now reading a Facebook message from my heart’s aunt and on the 13^th of July I will celebrate my heart’s birthday as it turns 30 years old. It was perfectly normal for me to feel that I would be judged by them, but I never knew I would be accepted into their family. They know that I honor Kate’s legacy daily and am trying to live my life the way Kate wanted when she decided to become an organ and tissue Donor. She wanted someone to live and saved not only my life, but helped 11 other people.

Because of her Gift my journey continues…

Randy hugging Bridget, his donor Kate’s mom.

“Our new brand symbolizes our commitment to saving lives and being inextricably linked with a larger system including donor families, recipients, transplant programs, donor hospitals, and many others,” said Kevin O’Connor, president and CEO for LifeCenter Northwest.

“We decided to rebrand LifeCenter Northwest to reflect our transformation to an organization that will never be content with the status quo,” O’Connor said.  “We understand collaboration with all other stakeholders is the only way we can succeed in our quest to help more people in need of life-saving organs and tissues.”

The new identity was developed by Seattle-based design firm Studio Rayolux.  ”LifeCenter Northwest was perfectly situated for rebranding. A cultural shift had already happened internally, and we were helping them recognize that fact externally—to announce this new refocusing of priorities to the world,” said Thad Boss, principal of Studio Rayolux. “LifeCenter Northwest is all about relationships and collaboration, and we’re proud to be one of those relationships—and to give them the tools they need to commemorate and celebrate their new identity in the wider community.”

The new logo was designed to embody the Company’s values and evoke the feeling of hope and renewal that organ and tissue donation brings to the community.  The LifeCenter Northwest symbol incorporates three visual allusions: a heart, which evokes love and compassion as well the literal representation of one of the body’s most vital organs; a checkmark, which echoes the life-affirming decision to join the donor registry; and an infinity symbol, which relates to the continuum of live and the virtuous cycle of sacrifice and renewal.

Another key component to the new visual identity is the Company website.  The site was developed to serve as a resource for all of LifeCenter Northwest’s stakeholders: from the donor family searching for bereavement information at the bedside of their loved one in the hospital, and the ICU nurse looking for the latest resources on donation procedures, to the community member researching information so they are able to make an informed decision when registering their donation decision.

“Our new look and feel inspires us to seek out new partnerships, strengthen existing ones, and move forward united in our efforts to help others in need,” said O’Connor.  “It is a new day at LifeCenter Northwest, and we are very optimistic about the future.”

Here is a look at just a few of those who make up the team for donation:

In the words of kidney recipient, Jim LaMunyon:

“Decribing how the gift of one more chance through transplantation has enriched our lives and allowed me to regain a higher quality of life is difficult to describe in a few words or sentences.  It has far greater depth than can be said here.  It has made a tremendous difference in how my family and I are able to spend our time.  I am no longer tied to the dialysis routine three days a week and have regained a lot of the energy and stamina I had lost.  I thank my donor every day for helping me redefine what is normal for my everyday living.”

LifeCenter Northwest would like to express our deepest gratitude to the hospitals and staff we work with to make saving lives through organ and tissue donation a reality. It is a gift that not only saves the lives of those waiting for a transplant, but gives the donor families a reason to live after losing a loved one – the gift of hope and healing in a time of terrible pain. None of it would be possible without you.

Thank you.

2,400,000          Deaths per year

950,000             In-hospital Deaths per year

15,000                Potential Organ Donors per year

8000                   Actual Organ Donors per year

141                      LifeCenter Northwest Organ Donors in 2010

544                      Patients Transplanted!

Less than 1% of all deaths are eligible to be organ donors.  Less than 1% are given the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, to be a hero.  Yet the impact of this rare opportunity is immeasurable – from the gift of comfort given to the donor’s family to have something positive rise from their heartbreaking loss to the gift of life given to the recipients and their loved ones who get even one more moment together, no other action can have such a lasting impact.

To the nurse in the ICU, the family member at the bedside of a loved one, the doctor caring for a dying patient, the friend consoling a friend through a tragic loss – if you find yourself in the midst of a donation opportunity, think about the significance of giving a lasting gift.  Always remember just how important 1% can be.

This transplant journey began in October, 2007 the day after Katie had taken her first born child, Zach, home from the hospital. Katie was immediately re-admitted to the hospital and was diagnosed with Pericardium Cardiomyopathy. It was amazing she was able to carry Zach to term and had survived the delivery.

Two months later, Katie went through the surgical procedure of having an LVAD placed and her wait on the national transplant waiting list began. Her husband, Mike, was now home with her caring for both Katie and Zach.

Two long years later on December 22, 2009 Katie received her gift of life at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. In expressing her gratitude towards the staff of the hospital Katie states “Because of Sacred Heart and the doctors and nurses that work there, I am alive and able to be a mom to my son. The CICU Nurses are extremely special to me, I felt so safe in their care. They are very dedicated to caring for their patients.”

Katie recently received a letter from her donor family. Katie said, “Reading the words from my donor’s wife, and the memories of her late husband left me speechless. I am so grateful to my donor, and getting to know his family means everything to me and my family.”

Katie shares from her heart the passion and gratitude she has for donation and donor families by volunteering as a Community Advocate with LifeCenter Northwest educating our communities about the need for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Sharing Taylor’s story and having her image, created in flowers, adorn the float meant so much to those who love her.  Taylor’s mom, Jamie Peterson said, “Being able to celebrate my daughter on the Donate Life Rose Parade Float was a great honor for my family.  In our hearts we were not only honoring Taylor but also my niece Alex who gave the same gifts of life when a tragic accident took both their lives.  Meeting so many wonderful families who chose something positive in their greatest sorrow was a life changing experience.”

The soaring kites on the float remind us of the exhilaration that comes from seeing them lift off, creating a precious memory shared with family and friends. The tails of the kites, adorned with dozens of memorial ‘floragraph’ portraits of deceased donors, lift the hopes and lives of transplant recipients into flight.  Jamie said “Our family will forever be part of the LifeCenter Northwest family and we will continue to honor Taylor and Alex by telling their stories, wearing our Donate Life bracelets and pins, and being community advocates for organ donation.”  Raising awareness and honoring the gift of life through organ and tissue donation, the Donate Life Rose Parade Float exemplifies the impact of the Power of One Celebration.