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Mile Bluff Medical Center celebrates Organ & Tissue Donation Month By Amanda Emery
Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston held an organ and tissue donation fair on April 29 to provide education and answer questions about organ and tissue donation. Pictured at the event with the ‘Eternal Fan’ quilt are (left to right): Reverend Jeff Fairchild from Mile Bluff’s Organ and Tissue Procurement Team, Brenda Knighton from RTI Donor Services, Carla Stemmer from Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, Cindy Meinholtz from the University of Wisconsin Organ Procurement Team, and Nicole Waite of RTI Donor Services. Ninety percent of Americans say that they support organ and tissue donation, but only 30 percent actually know the essential steps that need to be taken in order to become a donor. In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of becoming a donor, and to celebrate National Donate Life Month (April), Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston held an organ and tissue donation fair on April 29. Representatives from the University of Wisconsin Organ Procurement Organization (an organ donation group), Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin (an eye donation program), Regeneration Technologies (RTI) Donor Services (a tissue donation organization), and Mile Bluff’s Organ and Tissue Procurement Team were available to provide education and answer questions regarding organ and tissue donation. Reverend Jeff Fairchild, Mile Bluff’s Organ and Tissue Procurement Team chairperson, said that this year’s event was the most well-attended to date. “We have been holding this event for the past five years, and this year was by far the biggest success yet, with around 50 people stopping by. About 30 of these individuals took advantage of the new donor registration methods, and signed up to become donors right at our event.” The newest ways to register involve having people sign up on-line as an organ and/or tissue donor with the organ procurement organization that serves most of Wisconsin. Reverend Fairchild explains this new process, “If someone decides to become an organ and/or tissue donor when he or she renews his or her drivers’ license, that individual is automatically registered in this database. However, individuals who have not renewed their license recently need to register their donation status on-line. The orange dot on the drivers’ license is still important because many hospitals will check for that sticker first, but being listed in the database is the best way to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled.” During the fair, there was also a quilt on display that memorialized individuals who had donated tissue through RTI Donor Services. The special quilt was entitled ‘The Eternal Fan.’ It was created by families of donors to serve as a testament to the love, passion and dedication each individual embraced during his or her life. The squares showcase each of the donors’ unique talents, interests, character traits … and love for the Green Bay Packers! One of the squares was made in remembrance of Harley Hicks of New Lisbon who donated his tissue after his passing in June of 2002. If you missed Mile Bluff’s organ and tissue donation fair, but would like more information on how to become a registered organ and/or tissue donor, please contact Reverend Jeff Fairchild at 608-847-1285. |
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Mile Bluff Medical Center/ 1050 Division St./ Mauston, WI 53948 / 608 847 6161 Mile Bluff Medical Center, 1050 Division Street, Mauston, WI 53948 608 847 6161 or Toll free in WI at 800 252 4377 © 2008 Mile Bluff Medical Center |
