Beech Tree News Network

For more than a decade the month of April has been about saving and healing lives.  Donate Life champions across the country fill the month of April with powerful testimonials to demonstrate the lifesaving message of donation and transplantation.  The goal of National Donate Life Month is to make LIFE possible by educating and motivating individuals to register their decision to be organ, eye, and tissue donors.
One of those champions is your Butler County Circuit Clerk, Melissa Cardwell, “This April is especially momentous because Kentucky has a very exciting announcement to make.  I am honored to share that Kentucky has surpassed the national goal! Today, 50% of Kentuckians are registered donors!  This is a point of pride for our Commonwealth and a symbol of hope for all those waiting for lifesaving transplants.”
Since 2007, the Circuit Court Clerks and their deputies have asked every Kentuckian getting a driver’s license or ID to join the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry.  “It’s a question we are required to ask, but knowing what a difference it makes to families, give this question even greater meaning.  Joining the confidential Registry is stating your willingness to save lives, if you can.  Every person who says “yes” gives hope and shows support for patients in need,” says Cardwell.
The national artwork foe 2016 National Donate Life Month is inspired by sunflowers, which is especially meaningful to one passionate Kentucky family.  “Carissa was a beautiful young woman with a heart of gold.  She was full of energy, a hard worker, loved to make people smile and could never do enough to help others,” says Carissa’s mom, Cathy Mattingly.
In 2009, Carissa and her two children, Rance and Adie, died in a horrible automobile accident.  In the worst moments of her life, Cathy recalled a conversation with Carissa.  “She said to me, “Mom, if you have something in this house you don’t need you give it to Goodwill.  Why wouldn’t you give your organs to those who need it?” I knew that she wanted.  Carissa saved three lives that night.  Cathy has met her daughter’s kidney recipient, Matt.  Matt travels the world and sends Cathy postcards showing where Carissa’s gift has taken him.  Cathy has listened to her daughter’s heartbeat again thanks to their heart recipient, Elezerine.  Cathy says, “Elezerine is a firecracker, just like Carissa was, and I just love her.”
Cathy’s family has grown sunflowers in their garden in Meade County for years.  A favorite of Carissa, Rance, and Adie’s.  Cathy loved that sunflowers were picked as this year’s Donate Life Month artwork.  The face of a sunflower contains as many as 2,000 seeds.  One sunflower has the potential to create an entirely new field of flowers.  Everyone has similar potential-to make LIFE possible for many by registering as a donor.  One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, give sight to two people through cornea donation and heal countless others through tissue donation.
Since 1992, the Butler County Circuit Clerk’s Office has worked for this mission by collecting $1 for the Trust For Life’s educational initiatives.  The number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number or organs donated.  More than 121,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life.  On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time.  Regardless of age or medical history, everyone can register to be a hero, like Carissa, when they renew their driver’s license or ID.
“Carissa was a hero.  Every “yes” is a heroic step towards saving those in need.  Thank you Butler County for your generosity,” says Cardwell.  Now Kentucky continues to fight towards the next goal of reaching 75% on the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry.  You can help.  Everyone can register to make LIFE possible at www.donatelifeky.org or call the Trust For Life with questions or help registering 1-866-945-5433.