Mario Awareness

We're excited to report that Mario has been invited to paricipate in an Organ Donor Awareness event this coming weekend. He'll be one of the "recipient" examples and a shortened version of his photo montage will be played at the event. Here's the press release:

UNITED FOR LIFE: MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES HEAR STORIES OF HOPE ABOUT THE GIFT OF LIFE

NATIONAL MINORITY DONOR AWARENESS DAY
AUGUST 2, 2008- MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH

COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HEALTH MINISTRIES, DONOR FAMILIES, RECIPIENTS AND TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS
HONOR MINORITY ORGAN DONORS

Seattle, WA—(July 23, 2008) – People of color make up 20% of the U.S. population yet they comprise 53% of individuals on the national transplant waiting list. On Saturday, August 2, the Living Legacy Foundation, Mount Zion Baptist Church Health Ministry and First A.M.E. Church of Seattle Health Ministry will honor and celebrate the extraordinary gift of organ, eye and tissue donation for National Minority Donor Awareness Day.

During this complimentary community reception and luncheon guests will hear stories of hope and learn about the power to individually and collectively impact this health crisis that disproportionately affects communities of color.

Mary Leitka, sister of Chief Klia of the Hoh Tribe, will share what it means to her that her brother left a legacy for both the next generation and his kidney recipient by being an organ donor. Kelly Sim, wife of organ donor Johnathan Sim, will impart what she has discovered on her journey from honoring her husband’s wish to donate his organs to becoming an advocate for donation. Recipients including Robin Prentice will share their gratitude for the gift while Dr. Jorge Reyes will talk about the extraordinary moment in a lifetime when he can save a child in need.

Chief Klia, who passed away in December 2007, served on the Hoh Tribal Council and presided at numerous tribe events. He was acknowledged as the hereditary chief of the Hoh Tribe and loved to carve canoes. He was part of the Hoh Tribe’s first Tribal Paddle Journey in 1997. “He wasn’t only a chief, but a dad, a grandfather, a brother, a mentor, a teacher. Organ donation was a vision he had of life being continued,” said his sister Mary, who, along with her family, will perform a traditional Paddle Song at Mount Zion in his honor.

Johnathan Sim’s belief in leaving a legacy of value was at the core of his being. He worked for World Vision, an international relief and development organization. Two days into a much-deserved vacation, he developed strange symptoms, keeping him off his feet at home. Within a week, he had a seizure and received emergency surgery. Three days later, he was gone. “He would have wanted nothing more than to leave a legacy of life for others in his last days,” says his wife Kelly. He did this through organ donation.

Robin Prentice, an African American recipient, went to the doctor with what she thought was the flu, but turned out to be pneumonia in both lungs. When she didn’t completely heal, a biopsy of her left lung revealed “Usual Interstitial Lung Disease.” There is no cure and she had to receive a transplant. Robin worked as a social worker for Casey Family Programs for over 12 years, working tirelessly to make an impact on her community. “I feel a tremendous responsibility to my donor and my donor’s family for this wonderful gift of life,” she has said.

“My purpose is to give those children who are alive today due to organ transplantation every chance at a happy, healthy future,” says Dr. Jorge Reyes. Dr. Reyes is currently the Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery at UW Medical Center and Director of Transplant Programs at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center. He is internationally known for his research and speaks numerous languages, including Spanish and Portuguese.

“It is our honor to recognize the heroic people who support donation, the greatest example of human generosity and kindness,” said AJ Johnson, Diversity Team Co-Chair and Organ Recovery Coordinator for LifeCenter Northwest. “We believe partnerships with the communities we serve are key to saving lives and decreasing the waiting list.”

Sponsored by the Mount Zion Baptist Church Health Ministry and First AME Church of Seattle Health Ministry, this event hopes to raise awareness of the need for organ, tissue and eye donation among all communities. To help members manage their physical, emotional and spiritual health, Mount Zion's Health Ministry staffs qualified nurse practitioners for each worship service, publishes a monthly column in the Zion News on health-related issues, provides cholesterol and diabetes screenings, blood pressure checks, administers first aid, sponsors educational seminars and hosts an annual bone marrow drive. For more information visit: www.mountzion.net. With the African American Health Care Network, the Mary Mahoney Nurses and other entities, First AME Church’s Health Ministry educates church and community members on legislation, policies, procedures and practices that affect the health care of this community. For more information visit: www.fameseattle.org.

LifeCenter Northwest is this region’s federally-designated organ procurement organization. LifeCenter Northwest facilitates the recovery of organs and tissues in Washington, Montana, Alaska, and North Idaho. The Living Legacy Foundation at LifeCenter Northwest is a nonprofit organization which provides accurate information about organ, eye, and tissue donation to the community. By empowering individuals to register their donation wishes, they hope to help the nearly 100,000 people waiting for a transplant. To register your donations wishes, go to www.donatelifetoday.com.

WHO: Multicultural community members, health ministries, donor families, recipients and transplant professionals

WHAT: Living Legacy Foundation / Mount Zion Baptist Church Health Ministry / First AME Church of Seattle Health Ministry host a free and open to the public community reception and luncheon. Door prizes include a flat screen TV and more!

WHEN: Saturday, August 2, noon - 2pm

WHERE: Mount Zion Baptist Church
1634 19th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

WHY: Honor and celebrate minority donors and learn about the power to individually and collectively impact this health crisis that disproportionately affects communities of color

HOW: MEDIA EVENT NOTE—Media is welcome at the event, and in person interviews will be available following the event at 2:00 pm. To schedule interviews in advance or with questions regarding this event, please contact Jen Bergman at 206-447-1801 -- jen@vendenbergcom.com OR Julie Monica, (206) 595-4183 -- juliem@lcnw.org.