An Invitation to Save Lives

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt

Next week, our friends at Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network will start a new project to reach potential organ and tissue donors. They are “inviting” residents in Edgar, Greene and Brown counties to join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry and help save lives through organ and tissue donation.

Over the next few weeks, residents of these counties will receive one of two direct mail pieces asking them to save lives by taking just 30 seconds to register as donors. One is designed to look like a party invitation and features Luke, a huggable young boy waiting for a liver transplant. The other looks like a thank-you card and features Drew, a cute little guy who’s now living an active life thanks to the heart transplant he received.

Gift of Hope chose Edgar, Greene and Brown counties for the direct mail campaign because of their manageable sizes and relatively low registration rates. For example, only of 47 percent of Edgar County residents have registered as donors compared with the statewide average of nearly 58 percent. We hope this direct mail campaign will help build awareness and register organ and tissue donors in each of these counties.

Here’s a look at the direct mail pieces being used for the campaign. Let us know what you think of them by leaving a message on our Facebook page. And if you’d like to see how your county’s donor registration rate compares with the statewide average, visit the interactive map posted on DonateLifeIllinois.org.

Register your decision to save lives through organ and tissue donation at DonateLifeIllinois.org!

A Valentine for Donor Families

February 14^th, is a day that is synonymous with love for several reasons.  Not only is today Valentine’s Day, but it is also National Donor Day.  On this day, we remember those who lovingly gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. 

George Mrazek, an advocate and volunteer for Donate Life Illinois, composed the following letter to thank donors and donor families.

The Mrazek Family

Twenty-six short months ago my life, as well as the lives of my family members, changed forever when I received my lifesaving liver transplant just before Christmas. As my 8-year-old son said at the time, it was the best Christmas gift we had ever received; life.

Organ Donation means everything to me. After years of suffering and uncertainty, my hopes and prayers were answered. Organ donation not only restored my health and gave me the ultimate “gift of life”, it also restored my hope in others.

Receiving my organ was the most amazing and humbling experience of my life. It is a very similar feeling to my children being born. Both experiences are so humanly rich and filled with love. Due to the unselfishness of another family, my family has the opportunity to celebrate all life has to offer. Organ donation has awakened me to everything good that surrounds our daily lives. It has reminded me of the biblical verse, “Give and it will be given to you”, because just as I was given the ultimate gift I now live my life with the constant reminder to give back to others.

– Geo Mrazek

To register your decision to be an organ and tissue donor, go to DonateLifeIllinois.org!

Thank You – A Tribute to Organ Donation

Last week, we posted about the video we created about the Gulottas, a special donor family here in Illinois. In watching the video, you may have noticed a special tune playing in the background. Anne’s son, J.R., happens to be quite the amazing musician and was kind enough to offer up the song for the video. While we were filming the spot, we thought it would also be a treat to gather some footage of J.R. playing the song on its own.

What makes this song so special?

As you’ll hear in the beginning of the video below, J.R. explains how the song evolved as a tribute to his father.

Without further ado, thank YOU J.R.

-Nick