Music and multimedia are coming to the San Francisco March 11 for a cause. This week, media gathered at UCSF to find out how that event –Share the Beat– benefits organ and tissue donation.
Among others, they heard from a CTDN executive about the 110,000 people nationally who are still waiting for organ transplants. And they heard from two special CTDN people – a mother and wife who has twice donated organ and tissues of her loved ones; and a man whose life was saved by donation, but who still suffered a tragic loss.
With San Francisco spread out in panorama seven floor below them at the UCSF Connie Frank Transplant Center, two CTDN Donate Life ambassadors and Denise Kinder, the network’s vice president for Clinical Operations, appeared at a press conference this week, promoting the need for more people to become organ and tissue donors
Among others, they heard from a CTDN executive about the 110,000 people nationally who are still waiting for organ transplants. And they heard from two special CTDN people – a mother and wife who has twice donated organ and tissues of her loved ones; and a man whose life was saved by donation, but who still suffered a tragic loss.
With San Francisco spread out in panorama seven floor below them at the UCSF Connie Frank Transplant Center, two CTDN Donate Life ambassadors and Denise Kinder, the network’s vice president for Clinical Operations, appeared at a press conference this week, promoting the need for more people to become organ and tissue donors
“Anything that spreads awareness of about donation and transplantation is something that CTDN wants to be involved in and promote. …we want to say ‘Yes’ to donation and ‘No’ to deaths on the waiting list,” she said.
”Share the Beat “promotes that cause.
It’s a March 11 music and multimedia event at the Regency Center in San Francisco. It is sponsored by the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness and the American Society of Transplantation.
Denise and the two ambassadors joined by liver transplant recipient and Robert Redford’s son, James; society President Dr. Maryl R. Johnson and Dr. Flavio Vincenti, UCSF kidney and pancreas transplant specialist.
Catherine Tran, a Network volunteer, is a donor mother and wife. Her husband died in October, 2005, after battling lung cancer.
“Within 24 hours, his corneas were transplanted to a woman and a man to restore their sight. One year and four months later … my son, my only child, died.”
Again, she agreed to donate. In the first 10 months, 10 people received life-giving tissues or organs as a result.
“The recipient happiness and their well being confirmed I made the right decision to donate my loved one’s organs and tissue.”
Fellow CTDN volunteer, Vicente Agor of San Francisco, received a kidney and pancreas transplant at UCSF in 2002 after living with juvenile diabetes since age 12. Post transplant, Agor reordered his life, leaving the investment field and turning to jewelry design.
Four years ago, his sister, also diabetic since her childhood, died.
“She was on the transplants list and she did not make it. There is much work to be done. “
The activity to raise awareness about the life-saving need for donation will feature, among others, Greg Barnhill, Grammy nominated songwriter; singer and songwriter Chris Pierce; and Alex Band of The Calling. For more information and ticket information – sharethebeat.org
To register as an organ and tissue donor, check "YES! I want to be an organ and tissue donor" when you apply for or renew your driver license or ID card through the California DMV or Sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor with the Donate Life California Registry at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.o
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