My First Health Fair, Ohio

Source: LifeLine of Ohio

Donate Life Ambassador and kidney transplant recipient, Judy Jackson, recently volunteered at her first health fair! All of our ambassadors go through training to learn the facts about donation and help central Ohioans make educated decisions about the “Gift of Life.” Judy put her knowledge to good use at our booth during the 10TV Health and Fitness Expo. She was excited to share her story and register five new organ and tissue donors. Below are her reflections on the experience:

How did people react when you approached them to discuss organ and tissue donation?

I was excited that the majority of the people that I met were already organ and tissue donors and a few of them were very willing to show their Driver’s License for verification. Other people had questions or concerns about the process.

What were the main concerns you heard from attendees?
There were many people who wanted to think about donation more and others with misconceptions. Some people were afraid they would feel pain during the donation process, so I explained organs and tissues are only recovered after death. Others didn’t think their religion supported it, while all major religions do support donation, and some were told they couldn’t donate any organs because a disease. I informed them that it’s up to the medical professionals to decide what organs and tissues are viable for procurement at the time of brain death.

How did it feel to register new donors?

It felt great successfully signing up my first organ and tissue donor. After the first sign up, it was so much easier and I felt much more comfortable talking to people about donation. I could hardly believe that I managed to sign up five people at my first health fair!

I was so happy knowing that I was able to give back to the community and to those who are still waiting for THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE! That was one of my most rewarding experiences! I feel challenged to double that number at the expo next year. After all, I owe my extended life to my unknown kidney donor.

You had the chance to share your story on the Donate Life stage, what was that like?

At first I was hesitant to share my story with the world. After some deliberation, I felt that it would encourage people to become organ and tissue donors after they hear from someone who was touched by donation. Secondly, it would give hope to those who are still patiently waiting and fervently praying that one of these days, their prayers will be answered with a transplant.

The interview was easy and fun and I hope we impacted the people in our audience!

Is there anything you’d like to say to the people who stopped by our booth and registered as donors?

To all of you who signed up as donors, we sincerely appreciate your unconditional willingness to help those who are still hanging on to dear life and have been patiently waiting for many, many years for a generous donor to give them THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE! We are very, very grateful and commend you for taking that extra step to make an impact on somebody’s life.

Feel proud of yourselves as every donor can potentially save eight lives and enhance 50 more. Please help us spread the importance of organ and tissue donation!