Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National … of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor

Gift of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team Philadelphia at the Transplant America Games Donor Recognition Ceremony Student Summit Donors Are Heroes THE Party Camp Jeremy Jessie’s Day Phillies Donor Awareness Game Gift of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team Philadelphia at the Transplant America Games Donor Recognition Ceremony Student Summit Donors Are Heroes THE Party Camp Jeremy Jessie’s Day Phillies Donor Awareness Game Gift of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team Philadelphia at the Transplant America Games Donor Recognition Ceremony Student Summit Donors Are Heroes THE Party Camp Jeremy Jessie’s Day Phillies Donor Awareness Game Gift of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House

Volume 18 Number 3FALL 2014

A publication of Gift of Life Donor Program, the region’s organ and tissue transplant network, serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.

GIFT OF LIFENeWS

Gift of Life’s Gospel Program shared inspirational songs and stories on Sunday, August 3rd at the Church of Christian Compassion in West Philadelphia. More than 2,000 people came out for the Gospel Program and over 120 of them registered as organ and

tissue donors. The evening was filled with music from two of Philadelphia’s largest church choirs, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Male Chorus and Sharon Baptist Church, along with headliner and national gospel recording artist Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy – motivating people to stand up, dance and sing along in celebration of National Minority Donor Awareness Week. Praise 103.9’s radio personality, Dezzie, hosted the event and shared information throughout the night about the myths and misconceptions surrounding organ and tissue donation within the minority community. For those who were unable to attend the program, they could tune in and listen live on 900 AM WURD.

The powerful musical performances were equally matched by the emotional testimonies of those who have been personally affected by donation and transplantation. Speakers included heart transplant recipient, Janet Dennis; donor mom, Tracy Bright and David Allen who has been on the transplant waitlist since March of this year. These real-life, meaningful stories allowed the crowd to put a face on donation – making the life-saving impact of being a donor real and encouraging them to take action and register.

continued on page 2

GospelGospelGIFT OF LIFE’S 18TH ANNUAL

INSPIRES AND EDUCATES

ABOVE: One of Philadelphia’s largest gospel choirs, Sharon Baptist Church, performs at Gift of Life’s Gospel Program. FAR RIGHT: National recording artist and headliner

Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy inspired the crowd.

PROGRAMPROGRAM

| 2 |

GOSPEL PROGRAM, continued from page 1

National Minority Donor Awareness Week is a great opportunity for Gift of Life to connect with minority communities and educate them about organ and tissue donation. Currently, more than 6,300 people in the region are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant – and 55% of those waiting for a kidney transplant are minorities. Efforts such as the Gospel Program are a crucial step in increasing awareness about donation, registering more donors and ultimately, saving lives.

Team Philadelphia was ready to go for the gold when it traveled to Houston, TX from July 11-15 to participate in the Transplant Games of America. The Team dominated at the Games, bringing home 97 medals – 27 bronze, 26 silver and 44 gold in more than 20 sports! Congratulations to Team Philadelphia and kudos for its continued determination to win – even in the warm and humid Houston weather!

ABOVE, LEFT: A moment from the Compassion Dancers performance at the 2014 Gospel Program; RIGHT: Praise 103.9’s radio personality, Dezzie, hosted the program.

For the 12th year, the Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship raised money to

benefit four college bound transplant recipients. Each student will receive a $2,500 scholarship to help lighten the burden of the expenses associated

with earning a college degree.

Funds for the scholarship are raised primarily through donations and Jessie’s Day – the Jessica Schwartz Scholarship’s largest fund-raising event, which was held on September 14th at the Urban Saloon in Philadelphia. Jessie’s Day was coordinated by the Schwartz family and Gift of Life Donor Program and has proudly awarded more than 40 scholarships since the program was founded in 2003. This year’s Jessie’s Day was a huge success, with more than 160 people in attendance and over $15,000 raised. Thank you to everyone who attended Jessie’s Day and helped support the academic dreams of young transplant recipients! If you missed the event, contributions are still being accepted at jessiesday.org.

Jessica Beth Schwartz was a heart transplant recipient who was able to experience eight and a half additional years of life because she

Jessica Schwartz Scholarship Helps Make College a Reality for Transplant Recipients

received the gift of life – a new heart. Jessica was a devoted student, whose life ended before she could earn her degree, which inspired the creation of the Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship.

“Receiving the scholarship is a symbol of how far all of the other recipients and I have come. It symbolizes us being healthy and happy so we can continue our education, despite whatever health obstacles have been in our past.” —Jackie Robbins, past recipient of the Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship

ABOVE: Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship co-founders Laura (L) and Janice (R) Schwartz with Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program.

Team Philadelphia Returns Home with Nearly 100 Medals!

Team Philadelphia went head to head with over 1,000 athletes from across the country, medaling in track and field, swimming, basketball, bowling and more! Team Philly members, made up of 63 transplant recipients, 8 living donors and 16 donor families, showcased their athletic abilities and proved that transplantation works! Along with Team Philly athletes, approximately 45 donor family members traveled as part of the team to cheer on competitors and honor their loved ones through a butterfly release ceremony.

Visit our news section at donors1.org for Jim Melwert’s KYW coverage of the Transplant Games.

Team Philadelphia Returns Home with Nearly

This year’s Team Philly included more than 13 children who received their transplants at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Gift of Life helped kick-off the children’s journey to the Games at a send-off event held at A.I. duPont on July 11th. Families and siblings cheered on the young athletes as they left for the airport, holding handmade signs and sending well wishes for safe travels and good luck at the Games.

Team Philadelphia, organized by Gift of Life Donor Program, has been in existence since the Transplant Games was founded in 1990 and was once again the largest traveling team.

To see pictures from the Games, visit Gift of Life’s Facebook page. To see the entire list of Team Philadelphia medalists, visit donors1.org/teamphillymedals.

LEFT PAGE, L-R: Team Philly athlete, Derek Fitzgerald, went home with several medals for swimming – two bronze in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle and two team gold medals for the mixed 200 and 50 yard relays; Donor families participated in a butterfly release ceremony at the Games in recognition of their loved one who was a donor.

ABOVE, L-R: Jim Melwert proudly displays the medals that he won while competing in the Transplant Games of America; Team Philadelphia carries its banner at the opening ceremonies held in BBVA Compass Stadium; Team Philly athlete, Alex Johnson, goesfor a layup as he competes against Team Kentucky in the championship game.

LEFT, TOP-BOTTOM: Team Philadelphia 2014; Taylor Dyer is all smiles at the Transplant Games of America.

| 3 |

GIFT OF LIFE AND

STARBUCKS JOIN FORCES

TO BRING DONATION EDUCATION

TO THE COMMUNITY

Donna Babij, a Starbucks store manager in West Philadelphia, spoke to fellow employees at the Forum and shared her father’s story about receiving a life-saving double lung transplant nearly four years ago – after struggling for years with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and emphysema. “He waited for almost a year and couldn’t even do normal things like go to family functions because he was so sick. Now, even he is surprised with all that he can do. He’s teaching smoking cessation courses and is back to being the outgoing person I’ve always known him to be,” Donna said. “I would tell everyone to be an organ donor. Someone made a choice to save a life and now my Dad can work again and be a grandfather.”

ABOVE, L-R: Caitlin Durkin, Store Manager, Bellevue Starbucks; Jan L. Weinstock, Esq., VP, Administration and General Counsel, Gift of Life Donor Program; Rodney Hines, Director, Global Responsibility, Starbucks; and Benjamin Trinsey, District Manager, Starbucks.

| 4 |

One of the ways Gift of Life is working to increase organ donation in the region is by encouraging the passage of the Donate Life PA Act (Senate Bill 850). This legislation will update Pennsylvania’s Anatomical Gift Act, improve clinical processes and ensure that Pennsylvania students receive education about organ and tissue donation.

If you are interested in getting involved, visit www.SaveALifeNowPA.org to see how you can help.

GET INVOLVED!

Donate Life PA Act50%

Gift of Life and Starbucks successfully partnered this summer to offer an in-store promotion about the life-saving and life-enhancing impact of organ and tissue donation at 135 Starbucks stores throughout the region! Participating Starbucks locations displayed promotional materials – sharing the stories of real people in the community who became donors or received the gift of life.

Gift of Life also had an opportunity to share information about organ and tissue donation with approximately 200 Starbucks employees on July 17th at the regional Starbucks Forum, held at Gift of Life’s headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. At the Forum, Starbucks announced that it has raised nearly $700 in gift cards for Family House and awarded Gift of Life a Bravo Award for its commitment to bringing donation education to the community.

Delaware Leads the Region in Registered Donors!In July, Gift of Life hit the 50% mark for designated organ and tissue donors in Delaware. Currently, 50.14% of Delawareans with DE driver’s licenses or state IDs are registered as donors. Gift of Life has been able to achieve this goal because of the tremendous support and commitment of the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Through a strong partnership, Gift of Life and DE DMVs have been able to reach a greater number of Delaware residents with the message that organ donation saves lives.

Although this milestone is one that Gift of Life is proud of, it is a reminder that there are still Delawareans who are not registered and that Gift of Life’s work is far from done. Today in Delaware, there are 629 men, women and children who are still awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.

Dr. Vincent Armenti

Camp Jeremy Offers Summer Fun for Young Transplant RecipientsCamp Jeremy, held August 4th-8th, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with its largest group of children in attendance to date, welcoming 22 young transplant recipients and their siblings ages 6-17. The children had fun in the sun and participated in a variety of sports – from basketball to rock climbing. Throughout the week, they challenged themselves and created memories with other children who have gone through similar experiences.

Camp Jeremy is held each year at Mermaid Lake in Blue Bell, PA, which boasts a 65-acre complex offering archery, swimming pools and water slides, a ropes course and room for any outdoor activity imaginable! Throughout the week, the Camp Jeremy group cooled off in the pool, swimming several times per day and making the most of August’s hot summer days. Several children learned to swim and proudly showed off their new skills.

ABOVE, L-R: Gift of Life staff and the children from Camp Jeremy take a minute from the day’s fun activities for a picture; Victoria and Luke Schrader learning how to shoot bow and arrows from Mermaid Camp’s “Bull’s-eye Bob.”

The idea for Camp Jeremy was inspired by Jeremy Clemens, who received a heart transplant at age eight and worked as a Mermaid Country Day Camp counselor for several years. He loved his job and after he passed away his brother Josh, along with his wife Allison, formed the camp to bring happiness into the lives of children who have gone through so many challenges at such a young age.

Gift of Life is sad to report that Dr. Vincent Armenti passed away on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 at the age of 61.

Dr. Armenti was a gifted transplant surgeon, medical researcher, educator and talented musician. He was an alumnus of Seton Hall Prep, Rutgers College, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Medical College, and enjoyed music, baseball and being with his family and friends. As a transplant surgeon, Dr. Armenti worked with Gift of Life for more than 25 years. In 1991, he founded the National Transplantation

Pregnancy Registry (NTPR) to study the outcomes of pregnancies in female and male transplant recipients. The NTPR is a valuable resource for both recipients and health care providers who are seeking information regarding parenthood after transplantation. The NTPR team joined Gift of Life Institute in early 2013.

Our condolences are with Dr. Armenti’s wife, Dawn, who is a research coordinator at NTPR, and their two children, Stephen and Kathleen.

Dr. Armenti will be missed by the many transplant recipients, colleagues and families whose lives he touched.

Dr. Vincent Armenti bb

| 5 |

CLINICALORNER

continued inside

PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITALS SHINE IN HAP CAMPAIGNFrom February 28th through May 14th, participants of Phase II of the HAP (Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania) Donate Life Hospital Challenge held activities to inspire and increase donor awareness and designations within their hospitals, capturing their events and activities promoting donation on a scorecard. The goals of the initiative were to improve the donation process within hospitals and health systems and to increase the number of Pennsylvania drivers designated as donors on their driver’s licenses or state I.D. cards. The Pennsylvania Donate Life Hospital Challenge is part of HAP’s partnership with the American Hospital Association and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration’s Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.

After tallying up all of the scorecards, winners were announced on July 11th. Congratulations to the winners and to all of the participating hospitals and health systems that went above and beyond to promote organ and tissue donation within their hospitals and communities!

Highest Total Points Achieved by a Health System: Awarded to the health system that achieved the highest points statewidePENN Medicine

Highest Total Points Achieved by a Hospital: Awarded to the hospital that achieved the highest points statewideTemple University Hospital

ABOVE, L-R: Donor family, Ron and Lin Moyer, State Representative Rosemary Brown, Liver Recipient Kevin Geklinsky, Rachel Stine (Lin and Ron’s daughter) and their granddaughter Ella at the HAP Awards Ceremony at Pocono Medical Center.

Dr. Vincent Armenti

Widest Variety of Activities Achieved: Awarded to the participant that completedthe widest variety of activities on the score card

Pocono Medical Center

Platinum-Level Achievers: Achieved at least 1,000 score card points Abington Health Aria Health Einstein Medical Center MontgomeryLehigh Valley Health Network Main Line Health System Mercy Health System PENN MedicinePocono Medical Center St. Luke’s University Health Network Temple University Hospital

Gold-Level Achievers: Achieved at least 500 score card points Crozer-Keystone Health System Doylestown Hospital Einstein Medical Center PhiladelphiaGeisinger Medical Center Hahnemann University HospitalLancaster General HospitalMount Nittany Medical Center Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center PinnacleHealth Thomas Jefferson University Hospital WellSpan Health

Silver-Level Achievers: Achieved at least 250 score card points Geisinger Community Medical Center Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center

continued from other side

1972 1974 1984Greater Delaware Valley Society ofTransplant Surgeons(GDVSTS) founded by Dr. Aaron Bannett(Einstein) and Dr. Clyde Barker (HUP).

GDVSTS establishesDelaware ValleyTransplant Program(DVTP) and hires first transplant coordinator. KIDNEY-1 phone number becomes an icon.

First liver and heart transplants performed in region at Jefferson,Hershey and Temple hospitals.

1988 1990 1993 1994Medicare certifiesDVTP as the OPO foreastern half of PA,South Jersey, andDE hospitals.

TEAM Philadelphiatransplant athletes arelargest team at thefirst US TransplantGames.

DVTP establishes tissue recovery services.

PA Act 102 passedestablishing routine referral for hospitals and driver’s license registry. Gift of LifeDonor Medal created for donor families.

1998 1999 2004 2005DVTP organdonations increase43% in 3 years,leading the nation.Routine referralmodel adopted asnational standard.

DVTP changes nameto Gift of Life Donor Program and enlarges Board of Directors.

Gift of Life Donor Program coordinates highestnumber of organdonors (387) andtransplants (1137)ever recorded nationally.Gift of Life Institute is established.

Gift of Life Donor Program movesto its first permanenthome. Through thegenerosity of donors and their families, more than 22,000 organ transplants andmore than 300,000tissue transplants have been coordinatedsince 1974.

2006 2007 2009 2011Performed the firstorgan and tissuerecovery at the new Gift of LifeDonor Program’sheadquarters.

Hosted the International DonationCongress.

35th Anniversary of Gift of Life Donor Program.

Welcoming transplantfamilies home,Gift of Life Family House opens.10th Anniversary of Gift of Life Eye Bank.

2013 2014National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry joins Gift of Life Institute. 20 years of providing tissue recovery services.National record with 447 organ donors and highest number of transplanted organs (1,228) through GLDP.


Timeline_updated2014_2_fixed_Layout 1 9/24/14 3:48 PM Page 1

YEARS OF LIFE-SAVING WORK



















| 6 |

In July, Gift of Life Donor Program President & CEO, Howard M. Nathan and Theresa A. Daly, Director, Gift of Life Institute, along with Lisa Coscia and Dr. Vincent Armenti from the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR), attended the World Transplant Congress (WTC) in San Francisco.

One of Gift of Life’s poster presentations was entitled, “A Five Year Summary of One OPO’s Changing Pool of Potential Donors,” prepared by Gift of Life’s Howard M. Nathan, Gweneth O’Shaughnessy, Sharon West and Richard Hasz, found that there has been a steady increase in the overall volume of referrals, potential and donors over the past five years.

Another poster presentation was entitled, “Successful International Collaboration Improves Family Donation Conversations Resulting in 22% Increase in Organ Donations,” that was a result of the work Gift of Life Institute has been doing in Australia since 2011. The abstract was authored by Patricia Mulvania, Cherry Wise, Theresa A. Daly, Howard M. Nathan and Robert Norden of Gift of Life and Yael Cass and Eva Mehakovic of the Organ & Tissue Authority (Canberra, Australia).

Four presentations at WTC came out of Gift of Life Institute’s National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR). The NTPR is a research study that collects data from transplant recipients and transplant centers throughout North America regarding pregnancy after transplantation. This year, the NTPR presented information about 111 kidney recipient mothers who have had their transplanted kidney for more than 20 years after their baby was born. Other NTPR presentations included updates on pregnancy after heart, lung and pancreas-kidney transplant. For more information, contact the NTPR toll-free at 1-877-955-6877.

The WTC brings together the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), The Transplantation Society (TTS) and the American Society of Transplantation (AST), providing a forum to present and discuss new scientific and clinical information relevant to transplantation. The WTC is a great opportunity for Gift of Life to share information with transplant physicians, scientists, nurses, organ procurement personnel, pharmacists, allied health professionals and other transplant professionals from around the globe, allowing Gift of Life to showcase the innovative work that it does.

Gift of Life Presents Research at the 2014 WTC

ABOVE L-R: Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program and Theresa A. Daly, Director, Gift of Life Institute present their posters at the World Transplant Congress.

PA 46.07%NJ 33.3%DE 50.14%

Driver’s LicenseRegistries

YEARS OF LIFE-SAVING WORK



















by Alex Joynt, Heart Recipient

My ThoughtsI was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in January of 1993. when I was just two months old Basically my heart was enlarged – specifically the left ventricle was not working as it was supposed to. Doctors told my parents at the Hershey Medical Center that there was no cure or surgical repair that could fix my problem. My only hope would be to receive a heart

transplant. I went through many tests and ultimately was listed for a new heart in late April of 1993.

I was lucky that I didn’t have to wait long for my heart transplant. Approximately one month after being listed on the transplant waitlist, I received the gift of life. The transplant was performed at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on May 28, 1993. It’s been 21 years since receiving my new heart and I’ve been very healthy and active for all of these years.

There are no words that can express how thankful my family and I are for my donor, Jonathan, and his family for making the life-saving choice to turn tragedy into something greater.

Within the last year, I’ve been fortunate enough to have met so many amazing people and had many great experiences. In May, more than 100 family, friends and Gift of Life staff came out to the Harrisburg Senators vs. Erie Seawolves game to cheer me on as I threw out the first pitch of the game in honor of the 21st anniversary of my heart transplant. I also had the honor of being a member of Team Philadelphia for the first time and traveled to Houston, TX to compete in the 5K, singles golf, singles table tennis and basketball. I proudly brought home a gold medal in golf and a silver medal in the 5K run.

My parents and I also started a non-profit organization called The 2nd Chance Foundation in appreciation of my donor family and as a way to give back to the community. The main goal of the foundation is to share my story in hopes of raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. For more information, visit our website at www.the-2nd-chance.com.

| 7 |

DONOR SABBATH Aims to Educate Faith-Based Communities About DonationGift of Life Donor Program has a strong presence in the religious communities that it serves and hosts several events throughout the year to offer organ donation education – such as the annual Gospel Program and Donor Sabbath.

Each year, alongside the religious community, Gift of Life celebrates National Donor Sabbath, held this year from November 14th-16th. Donor Sabbath is observed annually on Friday through Sunday, two weekends before Thanksgiving, and seeks to educate faith-based communities about organ and tissue donation. During this national event, faith leaders from many religions, donor families, transplant recipients, and medical professionals participate in services and programs to increase awareness about the need for the life-saving and life-enhancing gifts that organ and tissue donation offer.

Since people often turn to their faith leaders for help when dealing with issues regarding death, National Donor Sabbath provides an opportunity for faith communities to share their views on organ and tissue donation and to join in on the conversation. All of the major religions across the world support organ donation. In fact, most openly support donation and recognize this life-giving gesture as the ultimate act of charity, compassion and generosity.

You can help! Gift of Life provides speakers, brochures, materials, and religious resources free to faith-based organizations and houses of worship to promote Donor Sabbath. Contact Tammy Buscher at 215-557-8090 for materials. You can also plan a Donor Sabbath activity such as inviting a Gift of Life representative to speak, holding a donor registration drive, hosting a donor workshop or organizing a candle lighting ceremony. For more information about how to get involved and share the life-saving benefits of organ donation in your house of worship, visit donors1.org.

Documents

Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National … of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor