April is National Donate Life Month. Donate Life Illinois is a coalition of statewide donation agencies focused on an 18-month effort to register 3.5 million Illinois residents in the state's new organ/tissue donor registry by the end of April. The effort calls attention to the 4,700 Illinoisans who are waiting for lifesaving transplants. During the month of April, Donate Life Illinois will be traveling throughout the state to their "Drive for 3.5" hosting donor registration drive. It is crucial that Illinois residents understand that you need to RE-REGISTER after Jan. 1, 2006 to join the new registry. Donor families, recipients and advocates are gathering to call on fellow Illinoisans to register as an organ/tissue donor. Donate Life Illinois mascot Morgan D' Organ will join Donate Life Illinois Volunteers at 2 locations in Glen Ellyn. A special guest appearance will be made by Secretary of State Jesse White at 10:00a.m. at the BR Ryall YMCA and the at 10:30a.m. at the Glen Ellyn Public Library.
We went. I was going to post this before the date, which was on the 5th, but I forgot. It was Alexandria's Birthday on Saturday (update on her Birthday celebration and pictures to come) so we were very busy. So sorry to anybody who might still be reading this blog, for the lack of updates and blogging. I am going to catch up on reading blogs I promise.
Anyway, it was fun! People were registering which was exciting. It was great to be there so people could see the miracle of organ donation in Anna, and other recipients there. The girls were a little afraid of Jesse White, but I did get a picture of Mary and Anna with him (Alex wouldn't go anywhere near him). They got a kick out of Morgan D' Organ, who was a giant Liver! So funny to see a giant liver standing outside of the public library! So, good times!
The other people in this picture is a family from Mary's old school in Glen Ellyn. The man standing at the end on the far right side is a kidney recipient. The man standing on the far left holding a little girl is his donor. The recipient is now a volunteer with Donate Life Illinois, and is getting near his 1 year transplant Anniversary. The other girls are his daughters, one of whom Mary was in Girl Scouts with. Very nice family!
