APRIL IS DONATE LIFE AWARENESS MONTH

National Donate Life Month was established in 2003. Every day in April, people across the U.S. make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and to encourage more Americans to follow their fine example. Did you know that more than 95,000 people are in need of an organ for transplant. Each day, about 77 people get the organ transplant that gives them a second chance, but 17 to 19 others die because they did not receive an organ transplant. If you would like to read more about my personal experience with organ donation, click HERE.

Laurie and I in November...2007

Know what is funny? Not really funny, but ironic? In March my friend Laurie and I were going to do a photo session with Grant Oaks. I wanted to show our scars in the image, with something that said donate life...I was just looking for a donate life image to put with my top post...and came across this image:

This was taken by photographer Bryce Fields in Kentucky who's wife received a kidney from a friend in 2007. All my best to her and her friend.

Truly a selfless gift.

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OK, another funny story about a kidney...Mike and I went to Vegas with our friends Ali and Tony in February of this year. Mike and I are playing poker at Caesars Palace. I have cashed out, and am walking out to the lobby area, and Jennifer Harman walks right by me...She was there doing some taping for a poker tournament. What do I do? What do I do...??? I tapped her on the shoulder. Yes, tapped her on the shoulder. She is really little, I am 5'4". I Said hi... and right away told her I wasn't a freak or a crazy fan. One of the reasons Mike had 'agreed' to my kidney donation was because of Jennifer. She had received a kidney in 2004 from a relative, and is doing wonderful. So here I am in the lobby of Caesars talking to Jennifer Harman, telling her this kidney story. She was super nice. I then asked her if I could introduce her to my husband in the card room? She said 'sure'. Do you know what Mike felt like when I walked up the the poker table he was sitting at with 10 other guys, dealer included, and said, "Mike...I want you to meet Jennifer Harman...Jennifer this is my husband Mike..." It was like one of those Visa commercials...PRICELESS! Thanks again Jennifer, for your kindness....Oh, and of course I usually always carry my camera, EXCEPT for this night!