COLBY FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
FOUNDATION NEWS
OUR MISSION IN ACTION: THE IMPACT OF THE COLBY CASSANI ENDOWED LECTURESHIP SERIES
IMPACT: “The Colby Cassani Endowed Lectureship made me go home and speak to my family about organ and tissue donation. I told them about the lectures we had at school and that it had opened my eyes to the importance of discussing this topic with them” says Stephanie Reed, a third year medical student at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Beyond that, it helped plug this topic into my mind and made me think about how I would talk to my patients about this important topic. As medical students, we don’t get much exposure to organ and tissue donation and I don’t think many students give it much thought. We are given numerous ethical scenarios, and we try to consider how we would react. I can see now that one donor can benefit and save the lives of so many people, and that in itself has changed my perspective significantly.”
This was the hope of founders, John and Starla Cassani when they began the Colby Cassani Endowed Lectureship Series. Beyond raising awareness about organ and tissue donation, they have a strong desire to have an impact on physicians of the future. They want physicians to talk about organ and tissue donation with their patients before a crisis point. In discussing this with Stephanie, she said, “There could definitely be more discussion and information given to future physicians about addressing this topic with patients in a holistic and preventative way … it makes sense with the osteopathic traditions.” Stephanie states that the speakers were helpful and they put the information into practical terms. “I wasn’t aware of all the different donations that could be made … I really appreciated that they reminded us that organ donation is done with integrity and is all about honoring the donor and their family. I will definitely educate my patients on the importance of organ and tissue donation and I am committed to staying current on this important issue.”
NATIONAL NEWS
ANNUAL NATIONAL EVENTS RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING ORGAN DONATION
National Donor Sabbath is observed every year, two weekends before Thanksgiving as members of faith communities focus on the life-affirming gifts of hope passed to others by organ, eye, tissue, marrow and blood donors. Every major religion in the United States supports organ, eye and tissue donation as one of the highest expressions of compassion and generosity. Many faith leaders participate in services and programs on November 14, 15, and 16 to educate their congregations about donation and transplantation and the critical need for donors. In some states (like North Carolina) the entire month of November is set aside to spread this important message. For more information about religious viewpoints, please click here.
PERSONAL NEWS
ORGAN DONATION, ONE FAMILY's STORY OF HOPE
JEFFIE - THE COLORS OF FALL ARE BRIGHTER SINCE HER TRANSPLANT
After their beloved son Colby died, the Cassanis' decision to donate his organs saved the lives of three others. The Cassanis' story is one of hope experienced through donation. Others have experienced the life-saving gift of hope through receiving a donated organ. This month we are pleased to introduce you to Jeffie.
It is a beautiful autumn day, the kind that Jeffie enjoys most; where she can go out and see the changing leaves and the bright colors of fall. The fall of 1999 was not looking quite so bright due to the fact that Jeffie was in full kidney failure and spending much of her time connected to a kidney dialysis machine or trying to recover her strength just to do some day-to-day chores. However, her life changed drastically when she received a kidney transplant in May of 2000. “I have been doing really well ever since the transplant,” says Jeffie. “I wrote a letter of appreciation to the family, but I have never heard anything back from them. The donor was a four year old, so I am sure that the pain of their loss was terrible!”
Jeffie, now a vibrant 62 year old woman, enjoys writing poetry, taking long walks and looking at the leaves and the flowers. None of these things was possible when she was in kidney failure. She states that she has to take three anti-rejection medications but she does that gladly due to the sacrifice that the donor family made for her. “We just had a new grandchild born, and I would not have been around to see him enter this world if it were not for the donor family.” Jeffie’s daughter, Shermoin, is grateful for the donor family as well. “My daughter will graduate from high school this year and my mother is here to watch her walk across the stage. We are grateful to have her here and we appreciate the gift of life that the donor family was able to give to us.”
Please consider signing up to be an organ donor and let your family and friends know of your decision. Your decision and gift of organ donation could save many lives! Click here to learn more about becoming an organ donor.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES: SUPPORTING OUR MISSION
ANNUAL SUPPORT OF THE COLBY FOUNDATION:
Thank you to our many generous supporters! We will kick off our annual Fall Fundraiser in November 2008. Please consider the Colby Foundation as part of your annual giving. Our goal this year is $15,000.
SEARCHING THE NET SUPPORTS THE COLBY FOUNDATION...IT REALLY DOES!
People often search the internet using a search engine like Google or Yahoo or MSN. But what if you knew that the Colby Foundation earned a penny every time you searched the Internet using another search engine called GoodSearch? Would you possibly do your internet searches via GoodSearch? We sure hope you'll consider it!!
GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations to the Colby Foundation add up!
Just use the GoodSearch icon (top right of this page) or go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter the Colby Foundation as the charity you want to support. Search away, know how much we appreciate it...and, be sure to spread the word!
