SAN DIEGO, Calif., Nov. 14, 2013 – Join Donate Life California in celebrating National Donor Sabbath this November 15-17, a time for people of all faiths to honor those who have given the life-saving gift of organ, eye and tissue donation. Every year during this special time, donation and transplant organizations work closely with communities of faith to bring the life-saving message of donation to congregations across the country.
Faith plays a significant role in the decision to register as a donor. All major religions support organ, eye and tissue donation, and believe it to be a final act of kindness and generosity. To read the views of specific theological groups, read our Religious Views on Organ Donation page.
“While religions differ in many ways, one of the common points is positive, inspiring messaging. Messaging that provides hope,” says Charlene Zettel, CEO of Donate Life California “By registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, you can provide hope to the more than 120,000 men, women and children across the United States currently awaiting organ transplants and the hundreds of thousands more in need of cornea and tissue transplants.”
Make a statement of hope and faith today and register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. People of all faiths and denominations are encouraged to register as donors by visiting www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org.
About Donate Life California:
The Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry is the nonprofit, state-authorized organ, eye and tissue donor registry, which records the decision to donate in a confidential database that is searched by authorized organ and tissue recovery personnel at the time of an actual donation opportunity. It is administered by Donate Life California and California’s four nonprofit, federally designated organ recovery organizations: Donor Network West , Lifesharing, OneLegacy and Sierra Donor Services. As a state-authorized public service, the registry assures that all personal information is kept confidential and stored in a secure database, accessible only to authorized organ and tissue recovery personnel.
– One in five on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list lives in California.
– Last year, nearly 1,100 people died in our state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
– All major religions support or permit organ, eye and tissue donation.
– Anyone can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor regardless of age, ethnicity or medical history.
Please visit Donate Life California’s Stories of Hope web page to read inspiring stories about organ and tissue donors and recipients from around the state.
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.
Donate Life California & California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation Honor Families
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 13, 2013 – The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade will have extra special meaning this year for the families of California peace officers killed in the line of duty during the years 2003 through 2012. Their loved ones’ public service and sacrifice will be remembered with dedicated roses placed on the 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float, to be seen by millions worldwide on television on New Year’s Day.
The families of thirteen fallen officers attended a special Donate Life Rose Ceremony held by Donate Life California and the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation at the state capitol, during which each family wrote a message of remembrance that will be placed with the roses just days before the Rose Parade.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to remember my husband in this way. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and the sacrifice he made, especially when I look at our son,” said JoAnn Lasater, widow of fallen Pittsburg P.D. Officer Larry Lasater. “Larry and I talked about donation about a month before he died. Though he said he would want to be a donor if something happened, I knew that about Larry….it was who he was, and why he became a police officer.”
Officer Lasater was fatally shot while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in April 2005 in Pittsburg, a city east of San Francisco. His wish to be an organ and tissue donor was then carried out. As a result, his heart, liver and kidneys saved the lives of four other people. Officer Lasater’s legacy also lives on through his son, who was born two and a half months after the shooting.
“Today’s ceremony paid tribute to all of California’s fallen officers who gave their lives to serve and protect their communities, many of whom, like Officer Lasater, continue to give life through organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Kevin Mickelson, president of the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation. “We, along with Donate Life California, wish to highlight the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and to remember all donors, their families, and their recipients whose lives are forever changed thanks to the Gift of Life.”
“Donate Life California and all law enforcement agencies share a mission to save lives,” said Charlene Zettel, CEO of Donate Life California. “Our partnership with the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation reflects that commitment and continued dedication to remembering heroes from all walks of life. Organ, eye and tissue donors give recipients a second chance at life, allowing them to enjoy their loved ones and lead active and full lives without restriction from disease or injury.”
The fallen officers whose families took part in today’s ceremony are as follows (in order of End of Watch (EOW) date)*:
*The names and bios of all California peace officers killed in the line of duty can be found at www.camemorial.org under the “Honor Roll” tab.
Contact: Michelle Mendoza, California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation, cpomf@camemorial.org, 916-443-1797
About the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation:
The California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation whose mission is to recognize and honor California’s peace officers who gave their lives ‘In the Line of Duty’ serving the citizens of this great state, and provides support to the family members left behind. For more information, go to www.camemorial.org.
Individuals and families touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation shine a light on us all. Transplant recipients radiate with gratitude and renewed life thanks to the gifts of organ, eye and tissue donors; families of deceased donors rekindle their spirits by carrying on their loved ones’ dreams; and both living and registered donors are beacons of hope to patients who aspire to live longer, fuller lives. Like lanterns illuminating the night sky above or the path before us, those who give and receive the gift of life Light Up the World with their compassion and courage.
The 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float entry features a festival of lanterns illuminating 30 riders – all grateful organ and tissue transplant recipients – and 12 living organ donors walking alongside to demonstrate their ongoing vitality. Five enormous lamps are adorned with 72 memorial floragraph portraits of deceased donors whose legacies of life shine brightly. The riders are seated throughout a dedication garden filled with thousands of roses bearing personal messages of love, hope and remembrance. For more information about the Donate Life Rose Parade Float, visit the official float website at www.donatelifefloat.org.
About Donate Life California:
The Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry is the nonprofit, state-authorized organ, eye and tissue donor registry, which records the decision to donate in a confidential database that is searched by authorized organ and tissue recovery personnel at the time of an actual donation opportunity. It is administered by Donate Life California and California’s four nonprofit, federally designated organ recovery organizations: Donor Network West , Lifesharing, OneLegacy and Sierra Donor Services. As a state-authorized public service, the registry assures that all personal information is kept confidential and stored in a secure database, accessible only to authorized organ and tissue recovery personnel.
Fast Facts from Donate Life California:
– One in five on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list lives in California.
– Last year, nearly 1,100 people died in our state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
– All major religions support or permit organ, eye and tissue donation.
– Anyone can register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor regardless of age, ethnicity or medical history
Please visit Donate Life California’s Stories of Hope web page to read inspiring stories about organ and tissue donors and recipients from around the state.
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.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 22, 2013 – Donate Life California announces Joshua Christopher San Pedro as its 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float floragraph honoree. Josh’s image will shine brightly as one of the 81 memorial floragraphs that will “Light Up the World” on the 11th annual Donate Life Float. Each year, floragraph portraits on the float honor the gifts of life given by deceased organ and tissue donors.
Joshua San Pedro
Josh became a tissue donor after he passed away suddenly on Friday, April 19, 2013 at the age of 22. He had signed up to give the gift of life after the gift of tissue helped him recover from a knee injury suffered while playing football at Alta Loma High School. Joshua underwent three operations including a knee cap replacement from an allograft. Because of the gift he received, Joshua wanted to give back. He did so by registering to be an organ and tissue donor, and later working as an EMT and attending paramedic school.
After Joshua’s decision to be a donor was honored, his family soon learned that his donated tissue was used in the breast reconstruction for a breast cancer survivor, to preserve a limb for a bone cancer patient, and in the healing of a cleft palate.
Of Joshua, his family says, “Even if his time here was short, he did so much good. It is not the length of our days, but how they are spent, and Josh spent his well.” Read more about Joshua here.
The Rose Parade is seen by tens of millions of people across the U.S. and around the world on New Year’s Day. To read about all of the floragraph memorials on the 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade float, click here. To read the full news release, click 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.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Nov. 14, 2013 – Join Donate Life California in celebrating National Donor Sabbath this November 15-17, a time for people of all faiths to honor those who have given the life-saving gift of organ, eye and tissue donation. Every year during this special time, donation and transplant organizations work closely with communities of faith to bring the life-saving message of donation to congregations across the country.
