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By Cheryl Rainford
Life threatening illnesses aren't usually a laughing matter. Fortunately, once I got used to the idea that my kidneys were in failure, I was going to start dialysis and I needed a transplant, many people in my life pointed out the humor in my situation. For no reason other than that they wanted to, my husband, some generous friends and healthcare providers found unusual ways to get the laughter rolling, and boost my resilience.
Read Cheryl's story
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By Steve Ferkau
In the season of giving – I hope this little essay was a reminder that the greatest gift of all is life… Some of us are lucky enough to get a second helping – a second chance through organ donation… And we will never, ever forget the person, and family who gave us that gift…
Please take a moment, during this season, to consider the gift of organ and tissue donation – and after your long, happy life, someone out there will never, ever forget you…
Read Steve's essay on the greatest gift of all
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Right now, thousands of people are waiting... waiting for a new chance at life. My Angel Foundation is devoted to giving these individuals hope for tomorrow. Every month the Foundation features one individual who has been directly affected by organ and tissue donation. This month’s focus on compassion is Cheryl who received a kidney transplant in 2002.
Read Cheryl's story.
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By Steve Ferkau
In the weeks leading up to it, I wrote 13 posts about the Rose Bowl Parade and the Donate Life float on the Revive Hope blog. After a little bit of emotional exhaustion – this is a partial recap in pictures… Not of the parade, or the events surrounding it – but of some of the people I met in the past week. Looking at them over and over, along with images of their loved ones, makes me smile – it even makes me well up a bit…
The people I met will be in my heart forever. Maybe that's why it didn't hurt as much to leave as I thought it was going to – because that goofy song keeps playing over and over in my tiny mind – I've kept a part of all of them with me…
Read about the people Steve met at the Rose Bowl Parade
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The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) expanded its National Donor Memorial Web site (www.donormemorial.org). This tribute-driven site honors organ and tissue donors in this country, highlights the impact of their gift of life on the lives of so many others, and underscores the critical importance of increasing organ donation.
Click here to visit www.donormemorial.org.
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