August 1, is a day that can help bring restoration of health to the lives of many.
NOT FOUND: resstoring health.jpgIn 1996, former President Clinton recognized August 1 as National Minority Donor Awareness Day. Created by the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program at Howard University, this date is observed annually to increase organ donation awareness among minority populations.
There are 102,446 people waiting for their bodies to be restored. Nearly half of the national waiting list, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), is minorities. For those waiting for organ transplants, August 1 is the beginning of restoration.
James Reed knows about restoration.
He was in attendance at this year’s Juneteenth celebration, not as an attendee, but as a
volunteer. Reed called out to passersby from behind the Donate Life California
booth, asking them if they had a moment to possibly save someone’s life and restore their
health.
Formed in 2004, Donate Life California is a nonprofit organ and tissue donor registry
dedicated to saving the lives of Californians awaiting life-saving transplants (There are
over 5 million people on California’s registry). Donate Life California educates the
public on organ and tissue donation through advocacy, classroom presentations and
community events like Juneteenth. There are over 20,000 Californians waiting for and
organ transplant. Nearly 68% are minorities.
Many have never thought about organ donation even though the issue is becoming more mainstream. Popular television shows have featured transplant story lines. In the fall CBS will debut Three Rivers, a medical drama looking at the complex lives of organ donors, the recipients and surgeons at a preeminent transplant hospital.
Hollywood and sport stars have also shed light on the importance or organ donation, not as a spokespeople, but as recipients. Former NBA superstars Alonzo Mourning and Sean Elliot have received kidneys. Singer Natalie Cole underwent transplant surgery after receiving a kidney from a deceased donor in May. George Lopez received a kidney from his wife in 2005. When asked about his transplant, Lopez said that he viewed his kidney surgery anniversary like another birthday, saying that “it’s the second stage” of his life.
Like George Lopez, Reed is also in the second stage of his life.
In June of 2004, Reed’s health was restored and he began his second stage of life after he received a life saving liver transplant. Being an ambassador with Donate Life California is his way to give back. That’s why he was staffing the booth at Juneteenth, registering people for the state’s registry. On this day Reed and other Donate Life California ambassadors would be engaged in a war of the words, dispelling myths that shroud minorities and organ donations. The following is a sample of some the reasons people gave for not signing up for the registry:
• One woman and her family thought the booth was taking sign ups for a raffle.
• A couple thought that the booth was for information about the Juneteenth celebration.
• A young man refused to sign up because he thought his information would be used to assassinate him so that government could get his organs.
There is still a lot of confusion amongst minority populations regarding organ donation. Betty King, a resident of North Natomas, believes that organ donation misconceptions surrounding are due to the lack of organ donation education.
“Minorities have accepted progress in so many areas, but not with organ donation,” says King. “They don’t understand. They don’t know.”
Kings knows plenty about organ donation. She is a transplant recipient.
This 80-year-old African American had her health restored when she received a kidney transplant two years ago after waiting for 5 years. In the Sacramento transplant community, King is referred to as the lady with the traveling kidney. Her transplant story begins with a man who was on dialysis and needed a kidney. His wife donated one of her kidneys to her ailing husband, but unfortunately his body rejected the organ. His second kidney was given to him by his sister, but sadly fate was not on this man’s side. He later died and King received his kidney. “They say that the third time is the charm,” says King.
In all seriousness, King is extremely grateful at her second chance at life. She is baffled why minorities, especially African Americans, are so reluctant to donate. “We accept the donation, but fail as being the donor. Progress is here to serve us all. Give life a chance; it crosses all racial barriers.”
The need for organs is important? Every 12 minutes another name is added to the waiting list. Every day 18 people will die due to the lack of organ donors. For more information about organ and tissue donation or to join the registry go to www.donatelifecalifornia.org.