Medfield Woman Spurs Town to Participate in "National Donate Life Month"

At the April 5th Medfield Selectmen meeting, Medfield resident Liz Sandeman spoke about the importance of organ donations and her personal connection to this cause. Sandeman grew up in England, and 16 months ago, her sister, Teresa, lovingly known as "T", was battling a rare lung disease and was in need of a lung transplant. Sadly, her sister was on the waiting list for 2 years and never received a lung and passed away. "She had no significant past medical history and never smoked before she was diagnosed with a rare lung disease," said Sandeman.

This personal tragedy is the driving force pushing Sandeman to make people aware of the crucial need for people to sign up to be organ donors.

She continued by saying, "My sister, Sue, donated a kidney and transformed the quality of life for her recipient and my 16 year old son recently required ACL surgery. His surgeon was able to use his own hamstring, but if that wasn't an option, my son would have received a donated ACL."

Many people are designated as donors, and if you are, there is a small red heart on your driver's license. But many people have heard myths about being a donor, and have not signed up. Sandeman is compelled to dispel these myths and give the facts about being an organ donor.

Signing up and being designated as a potential a Donor is what Sandeman hopes everyone will do. Creating awareness and telling the FACTS is what she is doing.

In the spirit of this awareness, Sandeman contacted Town Administrator, Mike Sullivan, about Medfield participating in the National Donate Life Month. Sullivan wrote a Proclamation, and Sandeman was presented with this Proclamation from Selectman, Mark Fisher. Sandeman presented the Selectmen with a "DONATE LIFE" flag, and it is currently hanging on the front of the desk on the first floor lobby. Sandeman was joined by two of her children, and posed with the Proclamation.

THESE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT ORGAN DONORS:

~ ANYONE can be a potential donor REGARDLESS of age, race, or medical history.

~ If you are sick or injured and admitted to a hospital, the number one priority is to save YOUR life. Organ, eye, and tissue donation can only be considered AFTER you are deceased.

~ Someone who id declared brain dead is clinically and legally dead. Brain death is different than being in a coma or persistent vegetative state.

~ There is NO COST to the donor's family and an open casket funeral is possible.

~ Out of all the people who die every year in America, only 1% die in circumstances that would allow them to become potential donors.

~ You are 3 times more likely to need an organ, or tissue transplant than to become a donor!