Last modified: 11 May 2000
TRIO New England will be celebrating its 5th anniversary this October. It has been time well spent. I think I have met, had a phone conversation, or corresponded with all of you over this period, and you probably all know me well enough to know that I love what I am doing.
Our development has been phenomenal, and something we can all be proud of. We have grown from a manila envelope to a 3-cubicle office. Our membership has grown from 15 to over 450, making us the largest chapter in the world. Every year we have surpassed our goals and objectives, and the transplant community has accepted us as an important part of it.
Over the last five years, we have attended and facilitated over 200 health fairs or other public events to raise organ donor awareness, published a monthly newsletter, researched and published a resource guide for patients (currently in its second edition), and co-sponsored two donor family receptions and a living-related donor reception. We have initiated a mentor program and a speaker's bureau, conduct monthly educational and support meetings (currently held in MA, RI, ME, and VT; coming soon to CT and NH). We also serve as a help-desk to anyone seeking information about transplantation, both through our office phone and on-line services such Prodigy and the World-Wide Web. And we had two highly publicized dinner tributes (one to Doug Flutie, the other to Jess Cain), which raised both donor awareness and money for TRIO's projects.
The list of accomplishments goes on and on. And none of them would have been possible without the hard work and ideas of a group of very active volunteers.
As we look ahead to the next five years, I would like to see our chapter move to the next level, which would require staffing the office with two full-time employees. Such a staff would ensure that the phone was always manned, would enable better coordination of volunteer efforts, would allow us to be more responsive to advocacy issues, and would give us the ability to create new programs to further our mission of support, education, awareness, and advocacy.
There are significant grants available to organizations like ours to fund such projectsÄbut without a professional grant writer we have little chance of success in applying for one. So if you know of a grant writer who would be willing to do some pro bono work for us, please let me know.
And remember, ideas from all of you are what has gotten us to where we are today. We continue to need your input and your strength. We are only on the first step of this journey. Please help us continue our sojourn. Let's work together to ensure that TRIO New England is around for 5 more years.
Sincerely,
Marty Smith
Recent changes to the Massachusetts DMV's procedures led us to take a look at the programs in all the New England states, and here is what we found.
Connecticut asks applicants if they would like to be an organ donor on written license applications and renewal notices. If an applicant responds affirmatively, then the word ``DONOR'' is imprinted on the front of his/her license. A separate donor card, signed by two witnesses, is required.
Maine also uses a separate organ donor card and distributes literature and the cards (provided by the Lion's Club) at the DMV offices. In addition, all licenses have the following statement imprinted prominently on the back: ``Anatomical Gift: When accompanied by a completed organ donor card, the license holder has made a declaration of anatomical gift.''
Massachusetts asks applicants if they would like to be organ donors, but does so verbally rather than as part of the written application process. A positive response results in the word ``DONOR'' appearing on the face on the driver's license. (This is a new procedure, implemented in January 1996.) Also new in Massachusetts is the inclusion of organ donor literature with renewal notices, which ensures that such information will reach all licensed drivers over the next five years. Literature will still be available at Registry offices, and a separate donor card is still used.
New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island have all made the organ donor card part of the license itself. All three licenses allow donors to indicate whether they want to donate any organ or only specific organs.
Next time you renew your license, pay special attention to your state's method of ``recruiting'' organ donors. Policies change all the time, and we like to hear about these changes when the occur.
Not far behind are Mary Sullivan (kidney, Hartford Hospital) who is celebrating her ninth anniversary, Rene Hebert (heart, MGH) who had a transplant eight years ago, and Harry I'Anson (liver, NEMC), who was transplanted seven years ago.
Six-year honors go to Adam Jankelowitz (liver, Children's Hospital), while Tom Baisley (kidney, NEDH), Michael Dutra (liver, NEMC), Robert Foster (liver, NEDH), Ken Leary (heart, NEMC), Pamela Mikulis (liver, MGH), and James Tynan (liver, NEDH) are all celebrating the fifth anniversary of their transplants. It's been three years since David Keyo (liver, NEMC), Phyllis Cove (liver, NEDH) and Roger Morin (kidney, NEDH) had their transplants. Happy second anniversary to Christine Murch (liver, MGH) and special congratulations to Michael Regan (liver, NEMC), who received his ``second chance'' one year ago this month.
This month, we want to tell you about a book that will be invaluable to transplant patients who are struggling with the problem of explaining their illness to a child. How to Help Children Through a Parent's Serious Illness was written by Kathleen McCue, M.A., C.C.L.S. The author is supervisor of the child life program at Cleveland Clinic Foundation and president of the National Child Life Council. Her book gives practical advice on what and how you should tell your children about your illness, describes early warning signs you may see when your children aren't handling the crisis, explains how to prepare children for visiting a sick parent in the hospital as well as how to prepare them for the sick parent's return home. It also suggests ways to deal with illnesses that won't go away and with special family situations (like single parents, hereditary diseases).
Published by St. Martin Press, this book is available at or can be ordered through your favorite bookstore (ISBN 0-312-11350-1). It lists for $18.95. You can also borrow it from the chapter library.
Ken donated the profits of this tournament (almost $8000 to date) to TRIO New England. We will use this money for educational programs, beginning with the second printing of the Resource Guide.
As they have in the past, WMTW-TV did a live remote broadcast with anchor Jeannine Lauber doing spots on the 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 newscasts promoting organ donation. We want to thank her and WMTW-TV for the continuing effort to promote organ and tissue donation.
TRIO New England has recently received memorial gifts in memory of: Francis McAree and Deborah Livingston.
Lahey Clinic
August 22. ``Psychological Impact of Transplantation,'' presented by Gail Gaffey, RN, CS, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist at MGH.
September 26. ``Liver Transplantation,'' presented by Roger Jenkins, MD, Chief of Transplant Surgery at New England Deaconess Hospital.
Maine Medical Center
August 7. Bruce White, senior transplant coordinator at Maine Medical Center, will speak on organ recovery and UNOS allocation rules.
September 4. Len Jordan from Lifelines of Maine will speak on exercise as a part of good health.
OTHER MEETINGS
In addition to the educational/support series described above, TRIO New England sponsors meetings at the following locations:
Martin Smith, Director
TRIO New England
Lakeside Office Park
607 North Avenue, Door 14
Wakefield, MA 01880
Phone: 617-224-1270
Fax: 617-224-1929
BYGJ31A@prodigy.com