In May, Donate Life California launched a new program, Living Donation California, which invites Californians to be educated about the need for kidney donation, get informed about the risks and benefits of being a living kidney donor, and be guided through the donation process by our state’s world-class kidney transplant centers.
But, did you know it all started with Steve Jobs? That’s right. He became aware of the need for organ donation through his search for a liver while he was battling pancreatic cancer. Read more here.
High concentration of Azithromycin in infected tissues is also caused by the fact that phagocytes and macrophages transport it to the site of infection and release in the area of inflammation. Azithromycin is prescribed in case of illness or injury at the time.
Everyone in the transplant community knows that it takes power to give the gift of life through organ donation, and survive the wait and thrive once receiving a transplant. Twin sisters and double lung transplant recipients Ana Stenzel and Isa Stenzel Byrnes, and other members of the transplant community worldwide, show what power can do in the documentary film “The Power Of Two.” Called “compelling” and “poetic” by the Wall Street Journal, and an “inspiring triumph” by Golden Globe® nominated actor Jack Black, this winner of ten film festival awards has entertained, educated and inspired audiences globally.
Starting May 22, “The Power Of Two” is coming to TV across the U.S.! The film will screen on the satellite Link TV network nationally, KCET public television in Southern and Central California, and online as part of a two-hour special presentation from KCETLink featuring the full length feature film and brand new footage. For broadcast dates/times, exclusive clips, blog posts, resources on organ donation, and to watch the film online, go to www.ThePowerOfTwo.tv.
High concentration of Azithromycin in infected tissues is also caused by the fact that phagocytes and macrophages transport it to the site of infection and release in the area of inflammation. Azithromycin is prescribed in case of illness or injury at the time.
Letter submitted to Donate Life America by Janet Brooks, wife of liver transplant recipient Ray Brooks:
Ray Brooks has been a volunteer firefighter for over 14 years. Our family knows all about countless hours of volunteer work, risk, and sacrifice. Ray’s passion for protecting others’ lives and property shines through to everyone who knows him. However, last June, it was Ray who needed to be saved. Ray was born three months premature and required blood transfusions. When donating blood in his 20s, Ray learned that he had Hepatitis C. In May 2006 he underwent a liver transplant at Duke University Medical Center. That liver gave him a second chance and more time: with me, with his son Jackson, with his newly born daughter Riley, and with his community as a volunteer firefighter. But in the spring of 2012, Ray and I begin to see an all too familiar path ahead of us – the need for a new liver.
During a monthly meeting in June 2012, Ray and the Red Oak volunteer firehouse crew were preparing for a 50 year anniversary celebration and a fundraising event for Ray and our family. Ray received a call and looked down at his caller ID: a 919 area code. He knew this could be “the call.” The coordinator on the other end said the words Ray and our family had been praying for: “Ray, we have a liver. It is a perfect match.” Ray went back into the meeting room with tears in his eyes and announced the news to his brothers before rushing home to tell our family. Before this particular call we had four “false alarms” between April and June of 2012. By this point we knew this “drill” and had become pretty good at responding! What we thought would be a few hours turned into all night of waiting! (Waiting is certainly something you become good at if you are on the transplant list!) Surgery wouldn’t however take place until the following morning. It was a tedious, grueling surgery. The amount of scar tissue the surgeons found astounded them, and it took 16 hours start to finish chiseling away the scar tissue around the old liver and finally being able to transplant the new one. 10 days after surgery Ray was released from the hospital. I created a blog to keep our friends and family updated but also to share Ray’s story with others and the importance of being a donor (www.rcb2ndchance.blogspot.com).
Ray & Janet’s kids
As May begins and we remember and pay tribute to firefighters everywhere, our family also reflects on our lives at this time last year. Ray and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary on June 9.. Four days later we will celebrate his one year anniversary post-transplant! Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and show up in unexpected places. While Ray may be a “hero” to others we know that our family’s true hero gave Ray the gift of life last June and shines down on him daily!
-Janet Brooks
High concentration of Azithromycin in infected tissues is also caused by the fact that phagocytes and macrophages transport it to the site of infection and release in the area of inflammation. Azithromycin is prescribed in case of illness or injury at the time.
