COLBY FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
OUR MISSION IN ACTION: ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR EDUCATION
John and Starla Cassani started the Colby Foundation 15 years ago after they experienced the healing that comes from being able to share the “gift of life.” Their 18–month old son Colby died in a tragic accident but three other individuals had their life spared because Colby’s heart, kidneys and liver were able to give them new hope and new life. We thought it would be a great time for our founders to reflect on the path of the Colby Foundation and give you, our supporters, an introduction to them.
Colby would have been 18 this year, that is a big birthday! How do you feel the Colby Foundation honors his memory?
Starla - I know that Colby has a remarkable legacy and his legacy has touched and saved lives. We may never be able to see exactly how much of a difference his life has made, but the passion and gift of being of service to others has truly enhanced our lives.
John - Without the ability to donate Colby's organs, I feel his short life would have been largely in vain. Having the opportunity to donate his organs gives us a reason for his life. The Colby Foundation continues to keep his life active despite his passing. He continues to provide hope for many others through the education of medical students, nursing students, and lay people. The foundation honors his memory and keeps his spirit very much a part of our and others’ lives.
What made you focus on the endowment series as the main priority of the Colby Foundation?
John - Being a physician, I realized how under-educated I was with respect to organ and tissue donation. Knowing that medical schools are deficient in their education of students with respect to organ and tissue donation, we felt we could educate and impact students in a way medical schools could not. We felt the endowment offered a way for the schools to continue to spread the word of organ and tissue donation during and after our lives.
Why did you start the Colby Foundation rather than just supporting another organization?
John - Starla is exemplary in her ability to feel the passion of organ and tissue donation. We felt we could impact people through her passion. We wanted to be actively involved, not just passively. We can direct our passion for Colby's life and his extended mission on this earth specifically through the CF as opposed to being secondarily involved through another organization.
What do you see are the next steps for the Colby Foundation and what are the priorities for the next 5 years?
Starla - In the beginning we wanted to educate the world on donation and transplantation, However we soon realized that was a daunting task. We were able to narrow our focus to something more familiar with realistic goals. We would like to continue to add schools, at a sustainable pace. Big dreams for such a little life!
DIRECTORS’ NOTES
2010 upcoming Colby Cassani Endowed Lectureship Series:
- October 21, 2010 - Lincoln Memorial University & DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN
- November 5, 2010 - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine, Yakima, WA
Annual Fundraising Campaign to benefit the Colby Cassani Endowed Lectureship Series - November 20, 2010 to January 30, 2011 - 100% of your donations go to educating individuals about organ and tissue donation.
STORY OF HOPE - IN STEVE’S WORDS - LIFE IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!
(We promised you the opportunity to meet Beckham, Jake’s heart recipient–from our last newsletter. However, Beckham is in the hospital and we will put off our story of him until next quarter. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers!)
Steve’s Story:
My name is Steve and I've lived for 50 years with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis patients usually develop very thick mucus in our lungs, harboring infections which create scar tissue. This tissue gradually builds up to a point that our lungs cease to function properly.
When I was listed for transplant in September 1997, my lung capacity was about 10% of a normal person's. I was on oxygen around the clock. I was on countless medications and required chest physical therapy. For four treatments totaling eight hours every single day for three years, someone was pounding on my chest, and pounding hard enough that we broke ribs 6 times in those three years. I waited on the list for almost three years. I had four false alarms before that call on April 8th.
My first dinner at home after my transplant, I sat at the table with my family. After dinner, and for little apparent reason, I started to cry. It had just dawned on me that we didn't have to get up and go pound on my chest.
Nowadays, I open my eyes in the morning, stretch and take a breath. I no longer hear my chest gurgling! It's been just over ten years, and I still walk around in complete awe of how this feels! After three years off, I was back at work 10 weeks after my surgery. There is a double flight of stairs from the trading floor to my offices that I hadn't climbed in 10 years. I didn't even go DOWN them in the last five years. Now, every chance I get, I bound up those stairs two steps at a time. And every time I get to the top I smile, because I know who got me there, my lung donor Kari.
I've been in contact with Kari's family and friends for almost eight years. Hearing stories about Kari and seeing so many pictures has brought her so much closer to my heart.
Kari was a leader on her high-school volleyball team. When Kari passed, her school retired her number, 13. The following year, which would have been Kari's senior year, her team dedicated their season to her. Her teammates created a beautiful t-shirt in her honor. They gave Kari's family a few of the shirts they created. On Kari's 19th birthday, her Mom sent me one of the shirts which I wear with pride at athletic events.
Kari and her family are my heroes - Kari saved my life!
For more information on Steve, you can visit his blog
Click for further stories of hope
A REMINDER ABOUT GOOD SEARCH: ANOTHER WAY TO CONTRIBUTE. SEARCHING THE NET SUPPORTS THE COLBY FOUNDATION...IT REALLY DOES!
We know that not everyone can send in a contribution but here is another way to contribute! To those of you who have already begun using GoodSearch as your search engine...we THANK YOU for your support! For those who have not yet made the switch, we hope you will consider it because the Colby Foundation earns a penny every time you use GoodSearch to search the internet.
How does that work? GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue 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!
To learn more, just use the GoodSearch icon (top right of this page) or go to www.goodsearch.com and please spread the word. We appreciate it!
