Thursday, March 13, 2008, is World Kidney Day. It is a day for celebrating kidney health and observing the need for more awareness of kidney disease.

The National Kidney Foundation has a message for us all. Please take a moment to read it.

Part of fighting kidney disease is just attaining and maintaining good health and nutrition. So are medicines and medical research. And, of course, organ donation.

Each of these, when accessible to everyone, improves the day-to-day lives of people around the globe.

Be part of the solution to kidney disease. Visit the National Kidney Foundation website. Maybe even donate a buck or two.

Thanks,

Paul Thompson,

Kenny's dad 

I'm not asking for money. That kind of donation is fleeting. I'm asking for a donation that will ripple through the remainder of history.

Donate life -- become an organ donor.

Take your faith firmly in your hands and give. Believe. Act. Donate. Stop talking, do it.

Five years ago yesterday, a huge void opened up in our lives. Five years ago today, our family became a donor family. Today, as the years have passed, we are comforted by the donations we made. The donations brought life to someone else. Four someone elses, for that matter. And their families.

And us? Well, we have been given healing.

So I tell you, act selfishly. Look to your own best interests. Sign up to become an organ donor. Visit the Michigan Gift of Life for more info.

Paul Thompson,

Kenny's dad

Mother?

Wife?

Sister?

Daughter?

Grandmother?

Auntie?

Yourself?

This evening I received an email from "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" with a pretty good offer. For $15 (plus shipping), you can get a special-edition copy of Garth Brooks' "The Ultimate Hits CD". From that, $10 (2/3 of the sales price) will be donated to fight breast cancer.

There are 33 songs on 3 CDs and a DVD with a video for each song. 

Don't like Garth? Buy it, anyway. Give it to someone on a gift-giving holiday. I can pretty safely bet that you know someone who likes Garth Brooks.

Really, do this for a woman you love.

Paul

Last month, my wife's cousin was seriously injured in an industrial accident in Indianapolis. Her cousin, whose father came from Mexico to Michigan years ago, was apparently hit on the head by a spring-loaded metal bar.

It was reported in the Indanapolis Star shortly after it happened.

Follow the thread of comments. Some are deeply disturbing. Now, consider that I am attending the young man's funeral on Monday.

His bride of just over a year had to make a terrible decision in ending life support. It is my understanding that, in deference to his father's beliefs and wishes, his organs were not recovered for donation.

For that, I doubly grieve. 

Paul

Every Labor Day, Michiganders by the thousands line up to walk across the Mackinaw Bridge. This year, the bridge's 50th anniversary year, was no different.

Among the walkers this year was a heart-transplant recipient. She walked the 5 miles or so to raise awareness of the critical need for donors.

Good for her. Good for her donor, too. God bless them both.

Paul

Kenny's dad 

Across the USA, places of worship will be observing National Donor Sabbath on the weekend of November 9-11, 2007. This is a time to reflect upon those who have donated organs and tissue to others.

But, it's also a good time to think about becoming a donor. If you want to know what your religious organization's view on organ donation is, visit the New York Organ Donor Network. There's a link to each major religion's perspective on donation.

Don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.

Paul Thompson,

Kenny's dad 

U.S. Representative Dave Camp has reintroduced the Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Act.

To thank Congressman Camp for his sponsorship of the bill, please contact him here.

You can also send an email to encourage your Representative or Senator to co-sponsor this legislation. Click here to find your Representative.

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H.R.3282 Title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide continued entitlement to coverage for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries under the Medicare Program that have received a kidney transplant and whose entitlement to coverage would otherwise expire, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] (introduced 8/1/2007)

To check on the status of this and other Federal bills, click here.

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Amy Olszewski, MPA Government Liaison

Gift of Life Michigan

aolszewski@giftoflifemichigan.org

1-800-482-4881 ext. 147

When we speak of organ and tissue donation, we often refer to end-of-life gifts to victims of diseases. My family was introduced to donation when we lost our son, Ken. He donated his heart, liver, pancreas and kidneys to four folks in need.

Sometimes, however, there are smaller gifts that can be given that provide significant benefit to the recipients.

Today, my daughter joins my wife and sons as a donor! She is donating much of her hair (as her mom and one brother have) to Locks Of Love, a not-for-profit organization that helps kids who have lost their hair. It's taken about two years of growth and care, but she's ready to go from waist-length to shoulder-length hair to help someone less fortunate.

I'm pretty proud of my 11 year-old for making that choice.

Paul

Kenny's dad

Becky's dad, too! 

Hey, all.... just found this group Paul started awhile back to promote Organ and Tissue Donation. Help spread the word - the life you save could be your own or a loved one!

Link   Read More »

Have you ever wondered what your religion's official stand is regarding organ donation? If so, look in the extended part of this.

The source is about 10 years old and I've seen nothing more recent but it should be a good indicator for you.

Don't take your organs to heaven... Heaven knows we need them here.

On June 4, 2007, a plane carrying 6 persons crashed in Lake Michigan. The men on board the plane were flying a mission to bring a needed organ to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for transplant into a critically ill patient.

All on board were lost. The organ harvested for transplant was also lost, creating a 7th victim. I'm praying that the intended organ recipient doesn't become the 8th victim of the accident.

In 2003, my son became an organ donor. I don't know if any of the men on the plane had been involved in Kenny's donation. If so, they were among the last to see him "alive". Even if not, they represented the hopes of hundreds, possibly thousands, of gravely sick people and their loved ones.

If it is your way, please say a prayer for these people.

Paul Thompson,

Kenny's dad 

April is National Donor Awareness Month. This is the month in which several organ donor organizations really push the importance of donation to the public.

As a father of an organ donor, I urge you to register to become a donor.