News

Sanchez family knows their son's the real champ

3/8/2010

One little Washington C.H. boy has something in common with a celluloid hero. "He has a new infatuation with Rocky and Ian says 'I'm the little guy, but I'm a fighter and I'm a champ,'" said Stacey Sanchez. Stacey and Harold Sanchez are the parents of four children, one of which has dealt with more in his short life than most deal with in a lifetime.

Life, the ultimate gift — Sunbury resident featured in statewide organ and tissue donation campaign

3/8/2010

Sunbury resident Debby Rice remembers her father, Denny Hile, for his faith, positive attitude and words of encouragement. So when doctors told Hile that after receiving two triple bypass heart surgeries he was going to need a new heart, it’s not surprising he took the news in stride. Hile was placed on a waiting list for the transplant and he carried a pager for 21 months, waiting day after day for it to notify him a suitable organ donor had been found. “He never gave up hope,” Rice recalled. “He always talked about when, not if he would get his transplant.”

Resident marks 19th anniversary of heart transplant

3/8/2010

In October 1990, a seemingly terminal heart condition left Jo Anne Pavlic feeling hopeless and faced with her mortality. Today, the Pickerington woman won't disclose her age, but she's pleased to talk about her life 19 years after a Feb. 23, 1991 heart transplant.

Philanthropy Friday: Lifeline of Ohio

2/8/2010

The Need For Organ And Tissue Donors Right now, there are 105,508 Americans waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, including more than 3,000 Ohioans. Sadly, 18 men, women and children die every day in the U.S. because a transplant didn’t come in time.

Process of organ donation often misunderstood

2/2/2010

Friends and family members remember Jeff Robinson and Maci Randall as selfless, giving people. Both Licking County residents were able continue to help others after their deaths by being organ donors. Randall, 17, of Utica, and Robinson, 48, of Pataskala, were killed in January car crashes. Randall died on Jan. 6, two days after she was injured in a car crash on U.S. 62. Robinson died Jan. 27, two days after a driver, who police say was fleeing a traffic stop, slammed into his vehicle on Ohio 79.

Man's unexpected new heart leads him into new decade

1/11/2010

Douglas Whaley has been ringing in 2010 with a heart full of gratitude. Whaley, 66, received a new heart as he underwent heart transplant surgery Nov. 23 at the Ross Heart Hospital at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Newark Man's Donation Inspires Rose Bowl Float

1/11/2010

LOS ANGELES — Before the big game Friday, the 121st edition of the Tournament of Roses parade will step off and one Ohio family will be watching closely, 10TV's Jeff Hogan reported Thursday. Mike Vyrostek and Mike Craig, are forever connected, thanks to organ donation.

Schoolmates mourning loss of Utica senior

1/11/2010

UTICA-- The halls of Utica High School were quiet Wednesday morning as students mourned the loss of Macine "Maci" Randall, a 17-year-old senior who friends said always made them smile.

Couple urges parents to think about organ donation now

1/6/2010

CENTERVILLE — Isaiah Jerome Jones was supposed to have a long life, but instead he will have a legacy. After 7-month-old Isaiah died and his donated organs saved the lives of two other children, his aunt signed up to be a donor. So did a cousin who just earned her driver’s license. And there will be those touched by the image of the chubby-faced boy with the cowlick on the Donate Life Rose Bowl float. Tim and Leighann Jones hope others will be inspired to sign donor cards.

Local parents honored at Rose Bowl parade

1/6/2010

By the time Isaiah Jerome Jones was six months old, he had two teeth and was conquering milestones like rolling over, learning to crawl and standing with assistance. He was a good eater, weighing in at 23 pounds. He loved his cat, his dog and the music on his Baby Einstein tapes. “As long as he had a bottle and Baby Einstein, nothing could go wrong,” said his mother Leighann Jones, 22, of Centerville.

Local couple donates baby's organs

1/6/2010

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - A local couple donates their baby's organs and gets national recognition. When little Isaiah Jones got sick in his crib, his parents could not imagine his eventual death would create so many benefits.

Lifeline Of Ohio Honors Donor Families

12/30/2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tuesday night at the Columbus Airport Mariott, Lifeline of Ohio honored pediatric organ and tissue donors who gave the “gift of life” in 2009. Each of the families that attended the ceremony received a replica of a dedicated rose that will ride on the Donate Life Roase Parade Float during the Tournament of Roses Parade on Friday in Pasadena.

Woman gets second chance at life

12/30/2009

NEWARK - Karen Cowger has many reasons to celebrate the holiday season this year and is looking forward to doing each one. This will be her first Christmas since having a lung transplant operation last January. "This is my second chance at life," the Newark resident said. "I am doing as much as I can in my church; doing stuff with my grandkids again that we weren't able to do before."

Organ donation is truly giving the ‘gift of life’

12/30/2009

The season of giving is upon us. As we enjoy shopping for the perfect gifts to give, we should consider those who are hoping for a gift they won’t find wrapped neatly as a holiday present — a second chance at life. Right now, more than 105,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Sadly, not enough people say “yes” to give the “Gift of Life” through organ and tissue donation.

Teacher to honor Craig in Rose Parade Floral portrait bears face of Johnstown man who became tissue donor

12/30/2009

Licking Heights High School teacher and coach Mike Vyrostek will represent and honor the late Mike Craig of Johnstown when he rides on the Donate Life float Jan. 1 in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. Vyrostek, known as "Mr. V," helped finish decorating a floral portrait of Mike Craig at Columbus' Lifeline of Ohio on Dec. 11, along with Craig's wife Gail and adult children Chris and Molly Craig.

Marion man gets new liver, another holiday

12/28/2009

There's power in the words painted on Jim and Ann Eckard's family room wall. They read, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Jim's moments are told by dates.

Gift helped player fulfill many dreams

12/21/2009

Mike Vyrostek is already indebted to a good friend for rescuing his doomed football career and introducing him to his future wife. Now he can thank Chris Craig for a trip to the Rose Bowl, too. Vyrostek, 25, of Pataskala, will participate in the nationally televised Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day, riding on the Donate Life float with 23 other transplant recipients.

College Football: Put kindness on display

12/21/2009

Mike Craig's organs could not be donated in 2003, but his tissue could. That revelation opened doors Craig's widow, Gail, never could have imagined.

Give the gift that keeps on giving -- organ donation

12/16/2009

The holidays are a time of giving and joy, so why not sign up to donate one of the greatest gifts of all -- your organs. This seemingly gruesome topic may be worth a few minutes of conversation this year. Sit down with your family to discuss the benefits and satisfaction of giving the gift of life. Of course, this is your decision, but I encourage everyone to strongly consider being an organ donor.

December Community Volunteer of the Month

12/14/2009

Rachel Doseck lives united by volunteering for Life Connection of Ohio and spreading the word about organ donation. Volunteer Connection is pleased to name Rachel as Community Volunteer of the Month for December.

November is the time to give a truly lasting gift

11/20/2009

November is the time to give a truly lasting gift November is the month many of us gather with family and friends to give thanks for all that we have. In my family we get together because we are thankful we have the chance to be together, but we also remember our family that is no longer with us.

Celebrating the gift of life

11/20/2009

Hope for Holidays event honors organ donors, their families ZANESVILLE -- If there's one thing that Suzy Crossin has learned, it's that life is precious.

Organ Donation Celebrates The Gift of Life

11/20/2009

While many are still trying to find the perfect gift for this holiday season, others are giving the gift of life. Around 50 organ donors and organ recipients gathered Wednesday night at Good Samaritan Hospital for the 2nd annual "Hope For The Holidays". The event is put on by both Genesis and Lifeline Of Ohio. People were invited to make ornaments honoring those who donated their organs. The ornaments will hang on "Trees of Life" in Good Samaritan and Bethesda Hospitals.

Late coach to be honored in parade float

11/20/2009

The Peach Bowl, where Johnstown-Monroe's Big Red Band will perform on Dec. 31, isn't the only national bowl that will claim Johnstown's attention over the New Year's holiday. There'll be special interest locally in a float in the Rose Bowl parade that will honor the late Mike Craig.

Lifeline honors Crown City resident

11/18/2009

COLUMBUS — Lifeline of Ohio, a nonprofit organization promoting and coordinating organ and tissue donation in central and southeastern Ohio, hosted its annual “Ambassador Appreciation” dinner to thank volunteers for their dedication to promoting donation. Crown City resident Tonya Warren received the Shining Star Award for contributing between 20 and 29 hours of service to promote organ and tissue donation.

Pastors Urged To Discuss Organ Donation

11/18/2009

National Donor Sabbath is an annual event held two weekends before Thanksgiving to coincide with the Season of Giving. While religious leaders can make the decision to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation at any time of the year, this national observance gives them an opportunity to affirm their support for organ and tissue donation.

Waiting, hoping

11/18/2009

Thousands of people like him, waiting and hoping for a donor to save their lives. "No matter what happens to me, if I get a kidney or not, I want others to know how important organ donation is," said Wicker, 24, of Zanesville. "I want people to understand that there are thousands of us just waiting day after day, hoping that we'll get that one thing we so desperately need."

Organ donor's family meets recipients

11/12/2009

Three families from across the country come together for the first time because of the one thing that will link them forever.

ABC Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode featured the recent Beavercreek, Ohio home build.

11/10/2009

On Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, the ABC Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode featured the recent Beavercreek, Ohio home build. Life Connection of Ohio staff and Donate Life Ambassadors were on site during the build, hosting a weeklong organ and tissue donor registry drive. Watch the ABC22’s special that aired following the EMHE episode, featuring Life Connection of Ohio’s donor registration efforts.

Toy drive honors Kilbourne student's generous nature

11/6/2009

As a child, Kasey Burleson loved dropping off toys for Christmas toy drives at Fire Station 27 on Smoky Row Road. That love of giving continued through her last year, in 2005, when she lost her life at age 16 after a car accident.

Volunteer's survival story is inspiring

10/30/2009

Want to organize a parade in Grove City? Talk to volunteer Andy Furr. Ever heard of Genetic Alpha 1 Anytripsin Defect? Andy can tell you about it. Maybe you want to know what his gift of life entails or what the 127 liver functions are? That's right, Andy is your man.

MELISSA'S JOURNEY: Despite long odds, she never gave up and today is alive with donated kidney

10/22/2009

Six months ago Melissa Flowers had little hope of receiving a new kidney. She was one of more than 100,000 people on a national waiting list for a kidney donation and she was already the recipient of one "new" kidney in 1997, which her body rejected three years later.

Second lease on life

10/22/2009

During her teens and early 20s, Kara Snyder was a healthy young woman who was in control of her Type I diabetes. In August 2002, she underwent what was supposed to be a routine surgery to have her wisdom teeth removed, and many difficulties arose from there. She developed a dry socket from the surgery, and was admitted to a hospital in northern Ohio for dehydration and vomiting that accompanied a spike in her blood sugar levels. While there, Mrs. Snyder suffered the effects of an infiltrated IV in her hand.

Cleveland Clinic staff sets record for lung transplants during a single year

10/21/2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Clinic, long known for its treatment of heart disease, took the lead in another medical specialty this week when it set the world record for the most lung transplants performed at a hospital in a single year.

UD Coach Gives From The Heart

10/20/2009

In the last 10 years, more than 2,000 Ohioans have died waiting for an organ transplant. UD's men's basketball coach Brian Gregory and 9-year-old heart transplant recipient Pierce Blalock have teamed up with Life Connection of Ohio to advocate organ donation awareness in hopes of reducing that number.

Help Ohio State Retain the Trophy and Beat Michigan in the 2009 Buckeye - Wolverine Challenge For Life!

10/14/2009

Lifeline of Ohio and The Ohio State University Chapter of Students for Organ Donation has accepted a challenge from the “state up north!” Which University can register the most new organ and tissue donors before November 19th? Taking just a few minutes to register your wish to be a donor at the time of your death can potentially save eight lives through organ donation and heal more than 50 lives through tissue and eye donation. More than 103,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a life-saving transplant and 18 of those will die today while waiting. Nearly 3,000 of those waiting for a life-saving organ transplant are from Ohio. By registering your decision to be an organ and tissue donor, you are giving hope to those awaiting a life-saving organ transplant or a healing tissue transplant. To participate in the Challenge For Life, simply log on to www.lifelineofohio.org and click on the “Register Now” option, found at the top of each page on the Lifeline of Ohio website. From there, you will be connected to a secure website maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you live outside of Ohio, visit the Lifeline of Ohio website to learn how you can register to be an organ and tissue donor in your state. Register as an organ and tissue donor and become a Buckeye For Life! If you have questions about the Challenge or organ and tissue donation, please e-mail Lauren Fitting at lfitting@lifelineofohio.org. If you are interested in helping Students For Organ Donation to promote organ and tissue donation on campus please contact them at ohiostatesod@osu.edu. Let’s start a new Ohio State tradition that saves lives! Register as a donor and become a Buckeye For Life!

Transplant patient gives dose of reality

10/13/2009

MARION - Ray Haines stood quietly off to the side, as the two representatives of Lifeline of Ohio spoke to the health care professions class. The Marion resident began assisting the independent, non-profit organ procurement organization in its informational presentations about a year after he received a kidney/pancreas transplant.

Some Heroes Unknown, but Save Lives

10/7/2009

For some, their hero may be a professional athlete, a doctor, or a family member. But for Frank Lloyd, his hero is someone he's never met. In fact, all frank knows about her is that she was 26 years old when she saved his life.

'Ride for a Cause' promotes donation

10/5/2009

ALBANY — Horses and riders will take to the trails around Lake Snowden today, and they ride to send a message: Support organ and tissue donation.

Girl earns recognition for sharing her story about organ donation

9/16/2009

CHILLICOTHE — Taylor Brown's life changed dramatically when she was 6 years old and her 29-year-old father, Joe, died unexpectedly. After six years, she and her older brother, Michael, still grieve for their dad, but they take solace in knowing he helped four people continue living. Joe's liver, pancreas and both his kidneys provided a second chance to four men in their 40s, Taylor said.

Organ Donors Scarce in the African American Community

9/1/2009

The number of organ transplants performed on Black Americans in 2008 was less than one fifth, or 20%, of the number of Black Americans currently waiting for a transplant.

Longest living heart transplant recipient passes away

8/14/2009

Tony Huesman, Life Connection of Ohio Donate Life Ambassador and founder of the Huesman Heart Foundation passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2009 due to melanoma. At age 20, Tony was given three months to live. Thanks to the generous gift from an organ donor, Tony continued to touch the hearts and souls of others for 31 more years. His legacy continues, as his family asks the community to consider honoring Tony by registering as an organ and tissue donor.

More than 400 bid farewell to Tony Huesman

8/14/2009

In the end, it was not his heart that got him. When I heard that Tony Huesman died from melanoma, it struck me as horribly unfair, after how hard he had fought, from a very young man, to fight heart disease. After all he had already lost to the disease — his beloved mother, Carol Lee Huesman, in 2003, and his sister, Linda Lamb, in 1991 at the age of 29. (When she received her heart transplant in 1983, they became the first brother-sister transplant recipients in the nation).

Unsolved Slaying Leaves Grieving Mom With 2 Missions

8/14/2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A family is still awaiting answers about their son's slaying but has found a way to remember him. Dustin Hart's body was found outside his car on the street in April 2007, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.

Giving the Gift of Life

8/10/2009

Not many people are comfortable discussing the subject of death, especially their own. However, it can be easier on your family if certain decisions are made ahead of time. Making your wishes known can help a grieving family make it through a difficult period. Of course, planning for your funeral is a priority, but even before the funeral, people need to make another decision. Whether or not to "Donate Life" with their tissues and/or organs. The need for donations is large, as the national waiting list is over 102,000 people. In comparison, last year there were only 30,000 transplants performed. Many people die while waiting to receive help.

Transplant recipient now needs new liver

8/7/2009

A 12-year-old Cardington boy who has survived 10 years on a small intestine and liver transplant now needs a second donor to replace his failing organs.

Extreme Home Makeover in Beavercreek on the news!

8/5/2009

WHIOTV Northern Bureau reporter Steve Baker reports on one teen’s efforts to increase organ donor registration during the Extreme Makeover Home Edition build in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Extreme Home Makover: Promoting organ, eye and tissue donation

8/4/2009

While people go the extra mile to volunteer for extreme Makeover, ABC22/FOX45 anchor Candace Hunter brings you the story of Life Connection of Ohio’s Donate Life Ambassador, Rachel Doseck and tells of another way you can lend a hand by registering as an organ and tissue donor.

Aug. 1 was National Minority Donor Awareness Day

8/3/2009

Dear Editor, Imagine a ball park during the World Series. Imagine tens of thousands of fans, packed into the stadium, waiting to cheer on their team. That’s how many minorities, more than 54,000, are waiting for a life-saving transplant in the U.S. They’re not waiting to cheer on their team; they are waiting for a second chance of life.

Area Teen asks Community to Provide the Ultimate Extreme Makeover to Those in Need by Registering as Organ and Tissue Donors

7/29/2009

DAYTON, Ohio, July 27, 2009 – Seven years ago an organ donor made a difference in Rachel Doseck’s life, and now she puts her heart into making a difference in the lives of others. In 2002, when Rachel was a 10-year-old, she received a life saving heart transplant. This week, as a Donate Life Ambassador with Life Connection of Ohio, she will be at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition construction site offering the opportunity for volunteers, spectators and community members to join the Ohio Donor Registry as organ and tissue donors. The donor drive location is one of special interest to Rachel. After her heart transplant, Rachel met Try Pennington through Make a Wish Foundation. “It was exciting to meet Ty, and I am just as excited to be a part of this opportunity. The show has the power to change lives in our community, and so do organ donors.” There are more than 102,000 men, women and children on the national transplant waiting list. Of those, nearly 3000 are Ohioans. In 2008, one Ohioan died every other day while waiting for an organ transplant. “The good news is one organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and restore health to more than 50 additional people,” said Cathi Arends, Director of Community Relations for Life Connection of Ohio. “By joining the Ohio Donor Registry during the Extreme Makeover: Home Addition build, our community has the power to bring hope to those in need of a transplant and ultimately save the lives of our friends and neighbors.” Organ and Tissue Donation Registration Life Connection of Ohio will be at the construction site on July 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m to 5 p.m. on August 1, providing information and registering volunteers, spectators and community members to become organ and tissue donors. Everyone who registers or shows their donor designation on their driver’s license enters to win a home improvement prize pack. “We’re excited to be a part of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Dayton project because it will not only provide a home to a family that needs one, but also will help Life Connection of Ohio potentially save hundreds of lives by adding organ and tissue donors to the Ohio Donor Registry,” said Michael G. Phillips, President and CEO of Life Connection of Ohio. “Every episode, the show makes a real difference in people’s lives and inspires others to volunteer and give back to their communities. This spirit of giving is crucial to Life Connection’s ability to provide life-saving organ and tissue donations for those in need. “A great example of this generosity is 17-year-old Botkins resident, Rachel Doseck, who met Ty Pennington through Make a Wish Foundation after receiving her heart transplant. Now, she is giving back to her community as a Donate Life Ambassador with Life Connection of Ohio and by volunteering during the Dayton episode. Her ability and desire to help others is a testament to the show and to the compassionate individuals in our community who share the gift of life as organ and tissue donors.” Build Schedule July 24: Pep Rally, 8 a.m. July 30: Family is notified, also known as the “Door Knock” July 31 or August 1: Braveheart Walk, also known as the kickoff of the build. August 6: House Reveal, also known as the time for “Move that Bus!”

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Aids Family and Three Local Nonprofit Organizations: The Foodbank, Community Blood Center and Life Connection of Ohio

7/29/2009

DAYTON, Ohio, July 27, 2009 – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Coventry Fine Homes team up with three local nonprofit organizations in the Miami Valley region—The Foodbank, Community Blood Center and Life Connection of Ohio—to make a positive impact on our community. “We bring communities together to make a difference—not just in a family’s life—but in their own,” said Conrad Ricketts, Executive Producer for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “Whether you are nailing shingles on the roof, signing up to become an organ donor, donating blood or a can of food, you are making a difference for the betterment of this community.” Food Drive “In the past two years we have seen nearly a 50 percent increase in demand—from handing out 3 million pounds of food two years ago to our expected rate of 5 million pounds of food for this upcoming year,” said Linda Crouch-Roepken, Associate Executive Officer of The Foodbank in Dayton. “Summer is usually our busiest time, but our slowest time for donations. Any donation you make is appreciated.” Throughout the build, donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the building site at a shed—provided by Lowe’s—and marked with a Foodbank banner. Also, volunteers and community members are asked to bring two cans of food to the house reveal, also known as the “Move that Bus” scene, on August 6. Blood Drive The Miami Valley’s Community Blood Center (CBC) will be at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition construction site for volunteers, spectators and community members to donate their blood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., July 31, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 1. Every blood donation can help save up to three lives. “We’re excited to be a part of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition event,” said Dr. David Smith, CEO of Community Blood Center. “This event will bring local and national attention to the ongoing importance of blood donation. I commend the show and its producers for making this a regular feature of the program." Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 16 years of age (16 year old donors must have parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1(800)388-GIVE. Organ and Tissue Donation Registration Also at the construction site on July 31 and August 1, will be Life Connection of Ohio to register volunteers and community members to become organ and tissue donors. “We’re excited to be a part of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Dayton project because it will not only provide a home to a family that needs one, but also will help Life Connection of Ohio potentially save hundreds of lives by adding organ and tissue donors to the Ohio Donor Registry,” said Michael G. Phillips, President and CEO of Life Connection of Ohio. “Every episode, the show makes a real difference in people’s lives and inspires others to volunteer and give back to their communities. This spirit of giving is crucial to Life Connection’s ability to provide life-saving organ and tissue donations for those in need. “A great example of this generosity is 17-year-old Botkins resident, Rachel Doseck, who met Ty Pennington through Make a Wish Foundation after receiving her heart transplant. Now, she is giving back to her community as a Donate Life Ambassador with Life Connection of Ohio and by volunteering during the Dayton episode. Her ability and desire to help others is a testament to the show and to the compassionate individuals in our community who share the gift of life as organ and tissue donors”

PROFILE: Motorcyclist, organ transplant recipient Tim Jones promoting "Live On. Ride On' campaign

7/23/2009

Five years ago when most of the country was getting ready to celebrate Independence Day, Tim Jones and his wife, Karen, were cautiously celebrating Tim's new lease on life. On July 2, 2004, Tim received a new heart. Since that day, and especially on the anniversary date of his transplant, Tim says, that although he will be eternally grateful to his donor and her family, "I think about the family of my donor, and that overshadows my joy thinking about what her family has lost."

Local Woman Wanted To Do More

7/20/2009

Traveling the state for Lifeline of Ohio, Pati Dyer of Sciotoville, participates in presentations and health fairs to help educate people around the state about the importance of organ donation. But Dyer wanted to do even more, and she made two life-saving promises — one to God, and another to a woman she never before.

Lifeline of Ohio needs your support

7/11/2009

There are a million causes worthy of our support, but according to statistics released by Lifeline of Ohio, Scioto County is in desperate need of organ donors. Only 39 percent of Scioto County are registered as organ donors —compared to 56 percent of the rest of the state. There are 102,209 people on the national organ transplant waiting lists today, and 18 will die every day because a transplant didn’t come in time. In Ohio alone there are 2,900 people waiting, but only about 300 people donations.

Kent Holloway of Ohio Receives Achievement Award From Organ Donation Association

7/6/2009

MCLEAN, Va., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday June 18th, 2009, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) recognized Kent Holloway by presenting him with the Association's 2009 Achievement Award. The AOPO award was supported by CryoLife. The winner must demonstrate significant professional and/or personal contributions to AOPO. Mr. Holloway received the AOPO Achievement Award because of his tireless efforts to ensure data accuracy and quality assurance among Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs). As the leader of the AOPO Data and Information Committee since 2003, Holloway has lead AOPO to a significant increase in its annual survey participation. The annual survey is a key instrument for information sharing and proliferation of "best practices." His techniques have allowed the OPO community to benefit from a broad range of perspectives regarding many vital business units. His efforts have helped OPOs become more efficient in their efforts to help save lives across the nation. Mr. Holloway is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lifeline of Ohio Organ Procurement Agency (LOOP), where he previously served as their Chief Financial Officer (2000-2002). Holloway was also instrumental in the launch of the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Inc. and acted as their Vice President of Finance and Operations. Mr. Holloway possesses an undergraduate degree in math and business from Ball State University and a graduate degree in finance from Walsh College. Mr. Holloway is an active member of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations. In addition to heading the AOPO Data and Information Committee, he has also participated on the AOPO Strategic Directions Committee. Mr. Holloway was the co-author of the chapter entitled "The Economics of Organ Donation and Transplantation" in the North American Coordinator's Organization's (NATCO) A Clinician's Guide to Donation and Transplantation. He has served in many leadership capacities, which include his role as Content Expert for Development of Physician Compliance Education at the Healthcare Finance Mangers' Association. About AOPO AOPO is a non-profit, national organization representing all federally designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs). The association represents and serves the OPOs through advocacy, support and development of activities that will maximize the availability of organs and tissues and enhance the quality, effectiveness and integrity of the donation process. SOURCE Association of Organ Procurement Organizations

Buckeye Games draw competition

6/30/2009

GAMBIER — Jonathan Cope is 46 going on 13; 58-year-old Nick Carson celebrated his sixth birthday on May 1. Nancy Hrivnak, a 54-year-old newspaper editor, will soon celebrate her 16th birthday. The three were among more than 100 transplant recipients and family members who gathered this weekend for the 2009 Buckeye Transplant Games held in Knox County. They’re celebrating life — and their second chance at it. Cope, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., received a double-lung transplant Oct. 31, 1996, following a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis. “I got my lungs from a 12-year-old boy,” he said.” I never heard the story of what happened to the boy.” Several years later, however, his job took him back to the Birmingham hospital where he had his transplant surgery, and he met the man who received the heart of the 12-year-old boy. Cope, who competed in tennis and swimming events, said life expectancy after a double-lung transplant is five years; thus far, he’s beaten the odds. He has had a few setbacks since his transplant, but no major complications. Active all of his life, Cope said the transplant gave him new life.

Buckeye Transplant Games coming to area

6/29/2009

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County will play host to over 100 competing athletes this weekend when the 2009 Buckeye Transplant Games take place at the Kenyon Athletic Center in Gambier. The games, which will include transplant recipients, living donors and donor families, celebrate the gift of life while giving opportunities to participants to share their stories.

Organization seeks organ donation promoters

6/29/2009

FREMONT -- Life Connection of Ohio, the organ procurement organization that serves northwest and west central Ohio, is looking for individuals to help promote the lifesaving message about organ and tissue donation. An informational program will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 13, at Memorial Hospital in Fremont in the Chestnut Café.

Family knows organ donation saves lives

6/29/2009

SPENCERVILLE - Organ donation didn't just save Greg Dawson's life. It also saved the lives of his older brother, two uncles and a cousin. And it more than likely will save the life of other relatives in the future. "We would not be here, without a question," he said of their prognosis without organ donors.

Number of patients who die awaiting kidney reaches new high

6/23/2009

The shortage of donor organs has been a problem for many years, and it isn't getting any better. A study published today found that 46% of patients age 60 and older currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant will die before receiving an organ from a deceased donor. The study is published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Tim Heidler, world's first larynx transplant recipient at Cleveland Clinic, is doing well: Whatever happened to . . .?

6/15/2009

Whatever happened to Tim Heidler, who got the world's first total larynx transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in 1998? Heidler never realized his dream of returning to firefighting once he could talk without an electronic larynx.

Former CJ athlete’s heart saved life of pro golfer

6/7/2009

Isaac Klosterman was living life to the fullest. A tall, good-looking 26-year-old in perfect health, the former Chaminade Julienne and University of Dayton athlete was living in Columbus with some UD friends when he decided to take a trip to Florida with a few of his motorcycling buddies 13 months ago.

Florida golf pro receives heart from C-J grad

6/6/2009

In what was shaping up as one of the most unbelievable stories in sports, Erik Compton was working his way toward a spot near the bottom of the leaderboard at Murfield. Fifteen holes into the third round of Memorial Tournament Saturday, June 6, the Florida golf pro with the heartfelt Dayton connection was 2 under par. He’d carded three birdies in his last six holes and with a couple more, he’d be in great shape.

Compton wants to show heart at Memorial after receiving transplant

6/4/2009

DUBLIN, Ohio — If not for a 28-year-old named Isaac, Erik Compton would not be alive. So when Compton had the opportunity to play on a sponsor exemption this week at the Memorial Tournament in suburban Columbus - where Isaac lived before he was killed in a hit-and-run accident - it seemed like a fitting tribute. Compton's heart, the third that has beat in his chest, is Isaac's.

Compton's remarkable journey continues with invite from Nicklaus

6/4/2009

DUBLIN, Ohio -- A year ago this week, Tiger Woods lamented the stress fracture in his left leg he had just learned about, the one that would make for a historic U.S. Open but also -- known only to him -- would end his season prematurely. Erik Compton was dealing with a different kind of distress, only a few days removed from his second heart transplant surgery. Glad to be alive, he lay in a hospital's intensive care unit watching the Memorial Tournament on television.

Battle of the bands benefits kidney transplant patient

6/2/2009

A “battle of the bands” fundraiser will be held this weekend to benefit a Fremont man.

Transplant success story - Cardington boy approaching 12th birthday

5/14/2009

CARDINGTON - Ten years ago Trevor Coleman received a small intestine and liver transplant. In June, he will be 12 years old and his mother and doctor say it's amazing that he has done so well. Survival statistics for children who have small bowel transplants have improved since he had his surgery.

With a new face, she can be a human being again

5/7/2009

When the Cleveland Clinic announced it had performed the country's first face transplant -- on a severely deformed woman in December -- rumors quickly spread that the recipient was probably a former bar owner in this tiny town of 800 a little more than an hour from Pittsburgh. Residents were hopeful the recipient was Connie Culp, 46, whose face was horribly disfigured in 2004 when her husband shot her in the face with a shotgun in an attempted murder-suicide inside the couple's Main Street bar, sadly named -- in retrospect -- the OK Corral.

Face Transplant: 'Resilience' Saw Woman Through

5/6/2009

Connie Culp, 46, Said She Is Grateful for the Ways the Surgery Changed Her Life

Organ donors, recipients walk to honor sacrifice

5/2/2009

They walked for those whose deaths saved others, and for those who died before they could be helped.

Clayton woman meets two who received gift of life from her son

5/1/2009

On April 18, Brenda Dunham and her daughter Jessica, Zach's sister, met two of the recipients for the first time -five years after their transplants - at the Dayton office of Life Connections of Ohio. One day later, and Tim Baker of Elida would likely not be around today to tell the family of an organ donor how grateful he is to be alive.

April is Organ Donor Awareness month

4/28/2009

April is Organ Donor Awareness month. This is a cause that needs to be in the media all year long, but particularly now. I would like to throw out a few facts to readers and bust some common myths. I feel qualified to do this, as I am a kidney recipient, not once but twice! I received a deceased donor kidney in 1996 and a living donor kidney from my son, Billy, in 2008.

Donating an Organ Through Your Belly Button

4/27/2009

American Association Of Kidney Patients Honors Representatives Camp And Stark For Their Commitment To Kidney Patients

4/27/2009

Lewis Center BMV wins 'best in state' award

4/25/2009

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles agency in Lewis Center will be shut down by the state of Ohio June 27, but until then it can bask as the "best in the state" winner of the Donate Life Ohio's 2008 "Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Front Line Award."

Local BMV gains praise

4/25/2009

Agency recognized for organ, tissue donor efforts

71% agreed to donate organs

4/24/2009

Lewis Center BMV honored for getting most sign-ups in '08

Stephanie Tubbs Jones' organ donation created 'Stephanie Effect'

4/24/2009

huge rise in online registrations to be organ donors

Organ donors are heroes who save countless lives

4/23/2009

If you could be a hero and save or improve the lives of up to 50 people, would you do it? Most of us won’t have the opportunity in our lives to make an impact this tremendous. But, we can be heroes after death: Through organ and tissue donation.

Donate Life

4/23/2009

April marks Organ Donation Awareness Month and Thursday Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital raised a flag to support the cause of giving the gift of life.

Thornville man doesn’t take anything for granted

4/22/2009

George Karl went to the doctor for a routine physical in May 2006 and was shocked when his blood test showed that his liver was failing.

Candlelight Vigil of Hope, Remembrance and Celebration

4/22/2009

Organ donation group works to dispel myths

4/21/2009

Fifty-five percent of Allen County residents are organ donors, slightly better than the state average of 54 percent, and Lifeline of Ohio wants to see that increase.

Walk, stories aim to inspire organ donation

4/19/2009

Fundraiser organized by Lifeline of Ohio

Organ donation: the ultimate gift

4/19/2009

Austin Melvin was just like any other 17-year-old boy - a well-liked, popular athlete at Miami Trace High School who had high hopes for the future. Unfortunately, Austin's future was cut short.

A call for organ/tissue donors; Public supports concept, but participation unsatisfactory

4/18/2009

You don't have to pull a person from a burning building to save their life. You can do it with a simple stroke of the pen or click of a computer mouse -- by agreeing now to be an organ or tissue donor upon your death.

Newark Catholic high-schoolers to learn about organ donation

4/16/2009

Newark Catholic High School students on Friday, April 17, will learn about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor.

In death, donor saved the lives of three

4/13/2009

April is Donate Life month in the State of Ohio. There were 303 Ohioans who shared the Gift of Life by donating their organs upon death in 2008. Most people don’t want to talk about what will happen to them post-mortem, especially younger folks, who feel they have their whole life ahead of them.

Heartfelt

4/12/2009

Ian Sanchez is only 3 years old, but already he has endured more than most adults. When he was 2 months old, Ian was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a serious disease in which the heart muscles become inflamed and don't work as well as they should.

Donor-awareness flag-raising at GCH

4/11/2009

Galion Community Hospital representative Del McGinnis, former director of human resources and 10-year heart transplant recipient was greeted by dozens of former co-workers to raise a flag for Donate Life Month. He recalled the emotional days between learning of his need for a heart and receiving one from an anonymous donor.

Reps from Lifeline pay visit to Pike BMV

4/10/2009

Residents educated about benefits of organ donation

Katie Couric's Notebook: Organ Donation

4/10/2009

You may have heard of Anne Pressley. She was a young and promising local news anchor in Arkansas. Anne died after a brutal attack in her home, and the story made headlines all across the country.

Organ-donation group names award in memory of Stephanie Tubbs Jones

4/10/2009
Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

Mervyn Jones II and Barbara Walker, the son and sister, respectively, of the late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, will be presented with the inaugural Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hero Award by Cleveland MOTTEP.

Lifeline Of Ohio Raises Awareness About Organ Donation

4/9/2009

A ceremony was held Thursday in Mansfield to bring attention to the 101,000 Americans who are waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Flag flies for organ donation awareness

4/8/2009

Celebration of National Donate Life Month under way

St. Joseph's Hospital Celebrates Life

4/8/2009

April is national donate life month, and St. Joseph's Hospital is one of more than 2,000 hospitals in the nation that's getting involved.

Second chances seen during April

4/8/2009

We've written many words in this space acknowledging the willingness of members of our community to volunteer to help each other in their times of need.

Local woman faces slim chance of getting second donated kidney

4/7/2009

Of the 78,948 people on a national waiting list for a kidney donation, Cambridge resident Melissa Flowers, afflicted with chronic kidney failure, knows she will be on the waiting list for a long time, and the chances of her receiving a donated kidney are very slim.

April is organ donation month

4/5/2009

In 2008, 303 Ohioans shared the gift of life through organ donation at the time of their death.

Organ, tissue donation is a gift of life

4/5/2009

In Ohio more than 2,900 people, including 500 in Central Ohio, are waiting for an organ transplant.

Community Health Fair educates area residents

4/5/2009

How healthy are you?

SPEAK OUT: April is Donate Life Month in Ohio

4/3/2009

Be a hero. You have nothing to lose.

Donate Life Ohio Month

4/1/2009

As new life blossoms this spring, Lifeline of Ohio is celebrating: by honoring the generosity of organ and tissue donors.

Katie Couric's Notebook: Organ Donation
You may have heard of Anne Pressley. She was a young and promising local news anchor in Arkansas. Anne died after a brutal attack in her home, and the story made headlines all across the country.

Organ-donation group names award in memory of Stephanie Tubbs Jones
November 20, 2008 22:53PM
Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer
Mervyn Jones II and Barbara Walker, the son and sister, respectively, of the late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, will be presented with the inaugural Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hero Award by Cleveland MOTTEP.

Organ donation bill honoring Stephanie Tubbs Jones signed by Bush
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sabrina Eaton - Plain Dealer Bureau
Washington - Cleveland Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones died in August, but her organ donation legacy lives on.