2012 Donate LIfe Rose Float floragraph families were invited to a brunch on December 30, 2011 to meet one an other and to personally meet volunteers who helped with floragraphs for out of town families unable to make it to Pasadena prior to the parade. Many of the out of town families held events in their hometown to complete and honor their loved-ones, their stories are posted here in the Organ & Tissue Donation Blog.
Beginning with the first decorating session on December 3rd, it was a pleasure for me to document in photos the floragraph decorating activities of volunteers and donor families. For many the emotions were palpable ranging from relived grief and sorrow to celebrating the life a a hero.
Untitled from Glenn Matsuki on Vimeo.
On December 30th, I had the honor to speak at the brunch and share my experience as a 2010 float rider and as a heart transplant recipient of 16 1/2 years. Below is my speech:
JUST IMAGINE, ONE MORE DAY
I am sure for some of you that I have met these past few weeks wonder what is my connection to the donation community; to some, I am the creator /editor of the successful Organ & Tissue Donation Blog to others I am the Asian with the camera, both titles I wear proudly.
Until now however, I would venture to say you did not know that I had the privilege of riding the 2010 Donate Life Rose Float “New Life Rises” because I am a heart transplant recipient celebrating my 16th year. Sixteen years ago, I could never have imagined that I would have one more day let alone 5,850 precious days, and if I am so blessed, many more. So thank you for the honor to be here to share my experience and thoughts as a float rider.
I received my transplant at the age of 45 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center sixteen years ago after contracting a viral flu that attacked my heart and within five weeks I progressed to congestive heart failure; medical diagnosis idiopathic cardiomyopathy. I was on the transplant wait-list for eleven weeks - the longest eleven weeks of my life, it was frightening and a time of uncertainty whether I would live or die. There were constant reminders that my heart was failing. There came a point that I was sure I would not survive.
Thankfully I did receive a deceased donor heart, regretfully I never met my donor family even though I wrote to them for several years on the anniversary of my transplant and on holidays. However for many years I mourned; the fact someone had died in order for me to live and a grieving family had to make the decision to donate was a grief nearly insurmountable for me. I do know that all transplant recipients mourn the fact that an individual died to give us a second chance at life. It was very clear that I needed to do something to pay it forward. It was fate that I joined the liver and kidney transplant team at Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Transplant Center rising to the transplant administrative coordinator position. Despite our national efforts our patients on the wait-list were dying because the list continue to grow exponentially and there were insufficient numbers of donors and so when offered a position at OneLegacy, the southern California Organ Procurement Organization I leaped at that opportunity because I wanted to, no it is a passion to help to eliminate deaths on the wait-list. This year over 127 organs were transplanted from my two assigned hospitals an increase over previous years.
The honor to ride the 2010 float was unforgettable - truly the ride of a life time; an experience I could never have imagine ever happening - but thanks to the team at Cedars-Sinai I had that privilege. Every float rider inspired the nation with their stories however the one thing we were all aware of is that we would not have this experience without the generosity of the donor and donor families. Riding down Colorado Boulevard, we felt the presence of our donors represented in floral portraits looking down on us and along with their families they accompanied us on a five mile journey making an impression to the over 60 million viewers. When I looked up towards the floragraphs they provided me with comfort and gratitude. I know our experience will be similar for our 2012 float riders. I am also sure you have noticed the painstaking attention the media gave many of our floragraph families leading up to the parade. One word, “Hero” our donors are heroes.
On behalf of all recipients we express our sincere gratitude. Thank you donor and donor families without whom one more day, one more precious lifetime is a reality for many and not left for someone to image.
Finally, my personal thanks for the opportunity to meet all of you, to hear your stories and to be inspired by every one of you. To be here with you today is the best gift ever, because today is my 61st birthday. UNIMAGINABLE!
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment