Organ Donor Awareness Tree Planting Ceremony 2009 & Lunch on the Riverwalk Afterwards

We've now attended 3 Tree Planting ceremonies put on by the Local Organ Recipients volunteer group, 'Vital Alliance'. They are the BEST group of people to work with. They truly show their appreciation, love and respect for organ donors and their loved ones. I recently had the opportunity to go and speak with a dear friend of mine, who is also a lung recipient of 4 years. She and I were able to go and speak to a group of medical staff about our individual experiences with organ donation. I (the donor family member) always speaks first, and then the recipient goes 2nd. I talk about Johnny and how we were so young when we first talked about organ donation and what we'd want done with our organs if we were stuck on life support. I talk about what we went thru in the hospital, how we were approached about organ donation, and then the aftermath. I talk about the ceremonies we attend, such as the tree planting and some other neat things that are held to honor the Organ Donors and recipients. That speech went great..and THAT very day I received a letter from Johnny's Left Kidney recipient. It was a very long awaited letter and I can't even begin to describe the feelings that I felt. I was handed the letter BEFORE I had to speak...and I thought I could wait until afterwards to read it, but I tore into it as soon as I said I'd wait. I just couldn't help it. The lady was very thankful and even gave her email address. Due to the strict HIPPA laws, we couldn't exchange contact info yet...but I've signed my waiver to disclose my personal info and contact #, and I hope she will do the same very soon .

I then was asked to teach a class with my same friend, Debra the following Saturday. We were having a 'Linked for Life' event and it was kind of like an educational event put on by TOSA (texas organ sharing alliance.) We were going to introduce all of the wonderful things that TOSA offers to some of the new donor families and recipients. Deb and I lead the class about the Tree planting ceremony and the quilt ceremony. Deb is in charge of planning and heading up the tree planting b/c she's with Vital Alliance, and I was in charge of the Quilt Ceremony topics b/c I was a speaker at one of those events back in 2007. That whole 2007 ceremony was dedicated to Johnny and our family. I get to speak again later this month, but it's my most favorite class to speak to b/c it's the medical staff from University Hospital..which is where Johnny was treated, and was able to donate his organs.

Here are some pics from this year's Tree Planting Ceremony 2009...

Debra is here in the choir...2nd from the left in the yellow jacket. She was able to meet her Donor's parents the week before this ceremony. He was a 16 year old who was killed in a car accident back in 2004.

All the little papers hanging from the tree are leaves with the named of an Organ Donor put on there. We hung Johnny's name on this tree and then helped to plant it. The same plaque quote is placed by each tree that we plant from year to year. This is the 20th Annual Tree Planting in San Antonio, TX.

Johnny's quilt square from the 2007 quilt ceremony is there next to my hand on the bottom corner. We plan on attending again this year and making antoher square to attach to a new quilt. Last year we didn't attend b/c the one in 2007, where I spoke..was too emotionally upsetting for the girls. This year we shall try again though. Hopefully my Mother in law can attend with me before she heads back to Australia.

This is Darla, she was the TOSA rep who approached me in the hospital the night Johnny died. She sat with me for the couple of hours it took to get all the paperwork signed. She is also the one who helped to find homes for all of Johnny's perfect organs. His heart, Kidneys and Liver. Also for his corneas.

The cute little green ribbon chocolate lolli pops that someone made to pass out for all the children. They were a big hit.

AND THEN....We needed to have some FUN and smile a bit. So, since Rollie had a job interview downtown on the River walk..we decided to drive out there with him and go to lunch down on the river. Ashley (my little sis), went with us too. Here are some FUN pics to top off our emotional day. So we went to The Rainforest Cafe right out on the Riverwalk, downtown. It was GREAT! Expensive...but great.