faith leaders join in the national donor sabbath …...world’s major religions accept/encourage...
TRANSCRIPT
World’s major religions accept/encourage organ andtissue donation — consider it a charitable act
Acceptance of donation acrossfaith spectrumFaith leaders, living donors, transplant recipi-ents, donor family members and advocatescame together on Nov. 15 at the James R.Thompson Center in Chicago to promote organand tissue donation. Banding together to showsupport of organ and tissue donation duringthe weekend of National Donor Sabbath, clergyand faith leaders talked about their faiths’acceptance of helping others through trans-plantation. Faith leaders agree that donation isthe most wonderful gift one human can give toanother — the gift of life.
Rev. David Potete, of Northwest CommunityChurch in Chicago, is a living kidney donor toone of his parishioners, a young mother namedKelly Roberts. Pastor Potete and Kelly were fea-tured in the Secretary of State’s National DonorSabbath PSA last year. They shared their expe-rience in a short message that was distributedto dozens of religious radio stations across the
state in advance of National Donor Sabbath.
“One of the core values of our church is servingothers,” said Rev. Potete. “I can’t tell you howgood it felt to help a friend.”
“His selfless act was a real miracle to me, and Iam so thankful for a second chance at life,”Roberts added.
The message given by all faith leaders at thepress conference was that organ/tissue dona-tion is inclusive and is considered a charitableact. As was mentioned by one faith leader inattendance, human beings have “interchange-able parts” which, when donated as lifesavinggifts, restore life to those who are critically ill.
Several members of the Vega donor familyalso attended the press conference. JesseVega, Jr., 28, died in a motorcycle accident inAugust 2019, saving four lives through organdonation. The Chicago-area family talked about
The Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor
Program observed National Donor
Sabbath the weekend of Nov. 15-17.
This serves as a time when faith
leaders are encouraged to speak to
their congregations about the
importance of registering as organ
and tissue donors. A press confer-
ence was held on Nov. 15 at the
James R. Thompson Center in
Chicago with many religious leaders
joining to support and encourage
individuals to register as donors.
The number of 16- and 17-year-
olds who have joined the donor
registry in Illinois has climbed to
almost 92,000. Many teens are
being educated about organ and
tissue donation in their high school
driver’s education classes. Donor
staff members participate in class-
room presentations to thousands of
driver’s education students during
the school year.
As we begin the New Year, I want to
thank my driver services facility
staff members who diligently ask
the donor question to hundreds of
customers every day. You are making
a difference as we strive to educate
customers about the importance of
organ and tissue donation.
Jesse WhiteSecretary of State
Faith leaders join in the National Donor Sabbath conversation
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. January 2020 — 2M — EX 34
Secretary of State Jesse White • W
inter2020
Clergy, donor advocates, recipients and donor family members gather for a press conference Nov. 15 at the James R. ThompsonCenter in Chicago in observance of National Donor Sabbath.
(cont. on pg. 2)
Employee ConnectionSecretary of State hearing officer’s wife receives kidney
Ira Maimon with wife, Barbra
For Ira Maimon, a formal hearingsemployee in Joliet, his wife’s kidneytransplant remains a pivotal moment inhis family’s life. In July 2015, BarbraMaimon of Naperville, received the giftof a lifetime — a kidney from her cousin,Gina Regnier, also of Naperville.
Barbra, mother of three daughters, beganexperiencing extreme fatigue as a resultof kidney failure (due to undiagnosedendometriosis) more than a year beforeher transplant. She underwent surgeryto help correct the endometriosis, buther kidneys were becoming less and lesseffective. She was placed on the trans-plant list for a kidney in 2013. Luckily forBarbra, she had two family membersoffer to be her living kidney donor. WhileBarbra waited on the transplant waitinglist, her cousin, Gina, was tested to see ifshe was a match, a process that tookseveral months. Barbra’s doctors werepreparing her for kidney dialysis whennews came that Gina was a good match,sparing Barbra from dialysis. The suc-cessful transplant surgery took place inJuly 2014 at Northwestern MemorialHospital in Chicago. Gina was releasedthe day following surgery. Both womenare doing well nearly six years later.
“My cousin gave me the greatest gift ofall, to be able to live my life and raise mychildren,” Barbra said. “I can’t think ofanything more beautiful that one humanbeing can do for another. In fact, mycousin told me that besides having herchildren, it was the proudest moment ofher life.”
During National Donor Sabbath, religiousleaders join in the conversation about the life-saving benefits of organ donation and thelife-enhancing gifts of tissue donation.According to the Gift of Hope Organ & TissueDonor Network and the United Network ofOrgan Sharing, most of the world’s major reli-gions accept and encourage donation to helpsave the lives of those in need. Many considerit a final, charitable act of giving from onehuman being to another.
The Roman Catholic Church views donationas an act of “charity and love” according tomany sources associated with religious viewson donation. Pope St. John Paul II accepteddonation, viewing it as an act of generosity tosave lives. Judaism views donation as pre-serving human life, an important principle ofJewish faith and law. The preservation ofhuman life is key in Judaism. Muslims alsoview donation as a selfless act of kindness toothers and, in some circumstances, an obli -gation to save lives through donation. TheHindu, Lutheran, Baha’i and Mormon faithsall agree that donation is one of individualchoice that followers are encouraged to dis-cuss with family.
Buddhist faith leaders agree that donation isa personal decision, but encourage acts ofkindness and compassion. Sikh leaders statethat donation can be considered a person’slast act of generosity. Jehovah’s Witnesses
may become organ donors if they wish.Protestantism allows individuals to followtheir conscience when making the donordecision. For Christian Scientists, spiritualhealing normally comes first, but nothingwould prevent them from choosing to receivea transplant or becoming a donor. Christianitywidely accepts donation as a charitable act.Many other religions leave the donor decisionup to the individual, not preventing a person’schoice to donate.
Dr. Deepak Mital, a kidney transplant surgeon at ChristHospital in Oak Lawn, center, stands at a donor registrationtable with his wife, Anita, left, and Shoba Nandham at aDiwali celebration at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago inLemont Oct. 27.
Program Director (Chicago)Connie [email protected]
Program Office Manager (Springfield)Lauren [email protected]
Regional CoordinatorsDamarius Blanks (St. Louis metro, southern Illinois)[email protected]
Gavin Dillon (Chicago, north suburban)[email protected]
Jan Eschen (northern Illinois)[email protected]
Elizabeth Hager (central Illinois)[email protected]
Karen Kohnke (central Illinois)[email protected]
Dan Lietz (Chicago)[email protected]
Angelique Marseille (Chicago, south suburban)[email protected]
Margaret Pearson (suburban Chicago)[email protected]
2020 Donor Program Staff List
LGO Winter 2020.qxp_Life Goes On Summer 2007 2/3/20 8:56 AM Page 1
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur observedNational Donor Sabbath on Nov. 14 with faithleaders and donor advocates celebrating thelifesaving benefits of organ and tissue dona-tion. As part of a national conversation amongfaith leaders, St. Mary’s staff and dozens ofdonor advocates presented a program thatincluded speakers, some of whom were trans-plant recipients. Candles were lit for recipients,donor families, those waiting for transplants,and health care staff.
Michael Hicks, president and CEO of HSHS St.Mary’s, welcomed the audience and spoke ofSt. Mary’s dedication to organ and tissue dona-tion. Personnel from Decatur Memorial Hospi -tal also attended the event.
The event had a special guest in attendancewho traveled from Atlanta to be part of theceremony. Kidney donor Patrick Dudra lives outof state and is a living donor to a police officer.Dudra’s mother, Susan Dudra, is a member ofthe Macon County Life Goes On Committee.Dudra, formerly of Moosehart, IL, decided tobecome a kidney donor after watching a docu-mentary about organ and tissue donation andthe need for donors. Despite many obstacles,Dudra found Charles Flood, a police officerwith the DeKalb County Georgia PoliceDepart ment and a father of three, who neededa kidney.
Dudra was tested and then informed that hewas a perfect match for Flood. In chatting,Flood and Dudra realized they had both beenassociated with Mooseheart Child City, aChicago-area residence for at-risk youth, yearsbefore they met — Dudra as a supervisoryhouse parent and Flood as a youth resident. Thesuccessful kidney transplant was performed onMarch 10, 2017. Flood said his life has dramat-ically improved since the transplant. “I am ableto function as a normal person, didn’t have toface dialysis and have even been able to com-plete a marathon,” he said. “I am so grateful forPatrick. He has been such a blessing.”
the gifts Jesse gave complete strangers. Theyalso encouraged people to sign up as donors asthey have all done in the months since Jesse’sdeath.
Other religious leaders who spoke at the pressconference included Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III,Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago; ShivaSingh Khalsa, representing the Sikh tradition;and Rev. Anthony McPherson, Mid-AmericaTransplant Services. Tracey Alston with the FirstLadies Health Initiative and Jack Lynch fromthe Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Networkwere also featured speakers. In attendancewere First Lady Monica Moss of Trinity UnitedChurch of Christ and the First Ladies HealthInitiative; Kevin Lee from Mid-America Trans -plant Services; Dr. Rasha Ali; and JacquelineBurgess-Bishop, CEO of National KidneyFoundation of Illinois.
Faith leaders join in the National Donor Sabbath conversation — (cont. from pg. 1)
Dozens of people attended a ceremony for National Donor Sabbath at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital.
The family of donor Jesse Vega, who saved four lives through organ donation, paid tribute to him at a press conference forNational Donor Sabbath on Nov. 15 in Chicago.
Jesse White promotes National Teen DriverSafety Week at safety fairReminds public that 16- and 17-year-olds can register as part of the Organ/Tissue Donor Program
During National Teen Driver Safety Week, Secretary White announced that teen driverdeaths are down 69 percent since 2007. White joined the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safetyat the House of Hope in Chicago to remind teens to drive safely. More than 500 Chicago-area high school students attended the safety fair which included rollover and drivingsimulators, a golf cart driving range, motorcycle awareness presentations and a perform-ance by the Jesse White Tumbling Team.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), since White’s efforts tooverhaul the state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws took effect in 2008, teen drivingfatalities have dropped more than 60 percent. Many cite White’s nationally heralded GDLprogram for the dramatic decrease in fatalities.
Secretary White also reminded those in attendance at the safety fair to please considerbecoming part of the state’s Organ/Tissue Donor Program. The number of 16- and 17-year-olds participating in the program continues to rise each month, and nearly 92,000teens have made the donor decision. A registration table for the Organ/Tissue DonorProgram was available for students and the general public at the fair.
Kidney donor from Atlanta attends Decatur donor sabbath ceremonyPatrick Dudra’s donation saved a police officer’s life
The Springfield Life Goes On Committee decorated a holidaytree during Springfield Memorial Hospital’s annual Festival ofTrees event Nov. 16. Area businesses bid on the decoratedtrees with the proceeds benefitting Memorial Hospital’s foun-dation. This year’s theme was Jingle Bells and Sea Shells.
ABOVE: Secretary White joined the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safety at the House of Hope in Chicago during NationalTeen Driver Safety Week. Secretary White is pictured with members of the Illinois State Police, State Farm and areahigh school driver’s education teachers. BELOW: Secretary White is pictured with members of the Jesse White TumblingTeam who performed for nearly 500 teens from Chicago-area high schools.
Charles Flood (L) and Patrick Dudra (R).
Mary Kay and husband Nick Godly stopped by the Life GoesOn table at the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton Sept. 29.Mary Kay received a kidney from her brother in 2004.
Like us @JesseWhiteSOS
Follow us@ILSecofState
@ilsecofstate@LifeGoesOn
LIFE GOES ONBE AN ORGAN/TISSUE DONOR
REGISTER AT
LIFEGOESON.COM
LGO Winter 2020.qxp_Life Goes On Summer 2007 2/3/20 8:56 AM Page 2
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur observedNational Donor Sabbath on Nov. 14 with faithleaders and donor advocates celebrating thelifesaving benefits of organ and tissue dona-tion. As part of a national conversation amongfaith leaders, St. Mary’s staff and dozens ofdonor advocates presented a program thatincluded speakers, some of whom were trans-plant recipients. Candles were lit for recipients,donor families, those waiting for transplants,and health care staff.
Michael Hicks, president and CEO of HSHS St.Mary’s, welcomed the audience and spoke ofSt. Mary’s dedication to organ and tissue dona-tion. Personnel from Decatur Memorial Hospi -tal also attended the event.
The event had a special guest in attendancewho traveled from Atlanta to be part of theceremony. Kidney donor Patrick Dudra lives outof state and is a living donor to a police officer.Dudra’s mother, Susan Dudra, is a member ofthe Macon County Life Goes On Committee.Dudra, formerly of Moosehart, IL, decided tobecome a kidney donor after watching a docu-mentary about organ and tissue donation andthe need for donors. Despite many obstacles,Dudra found Charles Flood, a police officerwith the DeKalb County Georgia PoliceDepart ment and a father of three, who neededa kidney.
Dudra was tested and then informed that hewas a perfect match for Flood. In chatting,Flood and Dudra realized they had both beenassociated with Mooseheart Child City, aChicago-area residence for at-risk youth, yearsbefore they met — Dudra as a supervisoryhouse parent and Flood as a youth resident. Thesuccessful kidney transplant was performed onMarch 10, 2017. Flood said his life has dramat-ically improved since the transplant. “I am ableto function as a normal person, didn’t have toface dialysis and have even been able to com-plete a marathon,” he said. “I am so grateful forPatrick. He has been such a blessing.”
the gifts Jesse gave complete strangers. Theyalso encouraged people to sign up as donors asthey have all done in the months since Jesse’sdeath.
Other religious leaders who spoke at the pressconference included Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III,Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago; ShivaSingh Khalsa, representing the Sikh tradition;and Rev. Anthony McPherson, Mid-AmericaTransplant Services. Tracey Alston with the FirstLadies Health Initiative and Jack Lynch fromthe Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Networkwere also featured speakers. In attendancewere First Lady Monica Moss of Trinity UnitedChurch of Christ and the First Ladies HealthInitiative; Kevin Lee from Mid-America Trans -plant Services; Dr. Rasha Ali; and JacquelineBurgess-Bishop, CEO of National KidneyFoundation of Illinois.
Faith leaders join in the National Donor Sabbath conversation — (cont. from pg. 1)
Dozens of people attended a ceremony for National Donor Sabbath at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital.
The family of donor Jesse Vega, who saved four lives through organ donation, paid tribute to him at a press conference forNational Donor Sabbath on Nov. 15 in Chicago.
Jesse White promotes National Teen DriverSafety Week at safety fairReminds public that 16- and 17-year-olds can register as part of the Organ/Tissue Donor Program
During National Teen Driver Safety Week, Secretary White announced that teen driverdeaths are down 69 percent since 2007. White joined the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safetyat the House of Hope in Chicago to remind teens to drive safely. More than 500 Chicago-area high school students attended the safety fair which included rollover and drivingsimulators, a golf cart driving range, motorcycle awareness presentations and a perform-ance by the Jesse White Tumbling Team.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), since White’s efforts tooverhaul the state’s graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws took effect in 2008, teen drivingfatalities have dropped more than 60 percent. Many cite White’s nationally heralded GDLprogram for the dramatic decrease in fatalities.
Secretary White also reminded those in attendance at the safety fair to please considerbecoming part of the state’s Organ/Tissue Donor Program. The number of 16- and 17-year-olds participating in the program continues to rise each month, and nearly 92,000teens have made the donor decision. A registration table for the Organ/Tissue DonorProgram was available for students and the general public at the fair.
Kidney donor from Atlanta attends Decatur donor sabbath ceremonyPatrick Dudra’s donation saved a police officer’s life
The Springfield Life Goes On Committee decorated a holidaytree during Springfield Memorial Hospital’s annual Festival ofTrees event Nov. 16. Area businesses bid on the decoratedtrees with the proceeds benefitting Memorial Hospital’s foun-dation. This year’s theme was Jingle Bells and Sea Shells.
ABOVE: Secretary White joined the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safety at the House of Hope in Chicago during NationalTeen Driver Safety Week. Secretary White is pictured with members of the Illinois State Police, State Farm and areahigh school driver’s education teachers. BELOW: Secretary White is pictured with members of the Jesse White TumblingTeam who performed for nearly 500 teens from Chicago-area high schools.
Charles Flood (L) and Patrick Dudra (R).
Mary Kay and husband Nick Godly stopped by the Life GoesOn table at the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton Sept. 29.Mary Kay received a kidney from her brother in 2004.
Like us @JesseWhiteSOS
Follow us@ILSecofState
@ilsecofstate@LifeGoesOn
LIFE GOES ONBE AN ORGAN/TISSUE DONOR
REGISTER AT
LIFEGOESON.COM
LGO Winter 2020.qxp_Life Goes On Summer 2007 2/3/20 8:56 AM Page 2
World’s major religions accept/encourage organ andtissue donation — consider it a charitable act
Acceptance of donation acrossfaith spectrumFaith leaders, living donors, transplant recipi-ents, donor family members and advocatescame together on Nov. 15 at the James R.Thompson Center in Chicago to promote organand tissue donation. Banding together to showsupport of organ and tissue donation duringthe weekend of National Donor Sabbath, clergyand faith leaders talked about their faiths’acceptance of helping others through trans-plantation. Faith leaders agree that donation isthe most wonderful gift one human can give toanother — the gift of life.
Rev. David Potete, of Northwest CommunityChurch in Chicago, is a living kidney donor toone of his parishioners, a young mother namedKelly Roberts. Pastor Potete and Kelly were fea-tured in the Secretary of State’s National DonorSabbath PSA last year. They shared their expe-rience in a short message that was distributedto dozens of religious radio stations across the
state in advance of National Donor Sabbath.
“One of the core values of our church is servingothers,” said Rev. Potete. “I can’t tell you howgood it felt to help a friend.”
“His selfless act was a real miracle to me, and Iam so thankful for a second chance at life,”Roberts added.
The message given by all faith leaders at thepress conference was that organ/tissue dona-tion is inclusive and is considered a charitableact. As was mentioned by one faith leader inattendance, human beings have “interchange-able parts” which, when donated as lifesavinggifts, restore life to those who are critically ill.
Several members of the Vega donor familyalso attended the press conference. JesseVega, Jr., 28, died in a motorcycle accident inAugust 2019, saving four lives through organdonation. The Chicago-area family talked about
The Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor
Program observed National Donor
Sabbath the weekend of Nov. 15-17.
This serves as a time when faith
leaders are encouraged to speak to
their congregations about the
importance of registering as organ
and tissue donors. A press confer-
ence was held on Nov. 15 at the
James R. Thompson Center in
Chicago with many religious leaders
joining to support and encourage
individuals to register as donors.
The number of 16- and 17-year-
olds who have joined the donor
registry in Illinois has climbed to
almost 92,000. Many teens are
being educated about organ and
tissue donation in their high school
driver’s education classes. Donor
staff members participate in class-
room presentations to thousands of
driver’s education students during
the school year.
As we begin the New Year, I want to
thank my driver services facility
staff members who diligently ask
the donor question to hundreds of
customers every day. You are making
a difference as we strive to educate
customers about the importance of
organ and tissue donation.
Jesse WhiteSecretary of State
Faith leaders join in the National Donor Sabbath conversation
Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. January 2020 — 2M — EX 34
Secretary of State Jesse White • W
inter2020
Clergy, donor advocates, recipients and donor family members gather for a press conference Nov. 15 at the James R. ThompsonCenter in Chicago in observance of National Donor Sabbath.
(cont. on pg. 2)
Employee ConnectionSecretary of State hearing officer’s wife receives kidney
Ira Maimon with wife, Barbra
For Ira Maimon, a formal hearingsemployee in Joliet, his wife’s kidneytransplant remains a pivotal moment inhis family’s life. In July 2015, BarbraMaimon of Naperville, received the giftof a lifetime — a kidney from her cousin,Gina Regnier, also of Naperville.
Barbra, mother of three daughters, beganexperiencing extreme fatigue as a resultof kidney failure (due to undiagnosedendometriosis) more than a year beforeher transplant. She underwent surgeryto help correct the endometriosis, buther kidneys were becoming less and lesseffective. She was placed on the trans-plant list for a kidney in 2013. Luckily forBarbra, she had two family membersoffer to be her living kidney donor. WhileBarbra waited on the transplant waitinglist, her cousin, Gina, was tested to see ifshe was a match, a process that tookseveral months. Barbra’s doctors werepreparing her for kidney dialysis whennews came that Gina was a good match,sparing Barbra from dialysis. The suc-cessful transplant surgery took place inJuly 2014 at Northwestern MemorialHospital in Chicago. Gina was releasedthe day following surgery. Both womenare doing well nearly six years later.
“My cousin gave me the greatest gift ofall, to be able to live my life and raise mychildren,” Barbra said. “I can’t think ofanything more beautiful that one humanbeing can do for another. In fact, mycousin told me that besides having herchildren, it was the proudest moment ofher life.”
During National Donor Sabbath, religiousleaders join in the conversation about the life-saving benefits of organ donation and thelife-enhancing gifts of tissue donation.According to the Gift of Hope Organ & TissueDonor Network and the United Network ofOrgan Sharing, most of the world’s major reli-gions accept and encourage donation to helpsave the lives of those in need. Many considerit a final, charitable act of giving from onehuman being to another.
The Roman Catholic Church views donationas an act of “charity and love” according tomany sources associated with religious viewson donation. Pope St. John Paul II accepteddonation, viewing it as an act of generosity tosave lives. Judaism views donation as pre-serving human life, an important principle ofJewish faith and law. The preservation ofhuman life is key in Judaism. Muslims alsoview donation as a selfless act of kindness toothers and, in some circumstances, an obli -gation to save lives through donation. TheHindu, Lutheran, Baha’i and Mormon faithsall agree that donation is one of individualchoice that followers are encouraged to dis-cuss with family.
Buddhist faith leaders agree that donation isa personal decision, but encourage acts ofkindness and compassion. Sikh leaders statethat donation can be considered a person’slast act of generosity. Jehovah’s Witnesses
may become organ donors if they wish.Protestantism allows individuals to followtheir conscience when making the donordecision. For Christian Scientists, spiritualhealing normally comes first, but nothingwould prevent them from choosing to receivea transplant or becoming a donor. Christianitywidely accepts donation as a charitable act.Many other religions leave the donor decisionup to the individual, not preventing a person’schoice to donate.
Dr. Deepak Mital, a kidney transplant surgeon at ChristHospital in Oak Lawn, center, stands at a donor registrationtable with his wife, Anita, left, and Shoba Nandham at aDiwali celebration at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago inLemont Oct. 27.
Program Director (Chicago)Connie [email protected]
Program Office Manager (Springfield)Lauren [email protected]
Regional CoordinatorsDamarius Blanks (St. Louis metro, southern Illinois)[email protected]
Gavin Dillon (Chicago, north suburban)[email protected]
Jan Eschen (northern Illinois)[email protected]
Elizabeth Hager (central Illinois)[email protected]
Karen Kohnke (central Illinois)[email protected]
Dan Lietz (Chicago)[email protected]
Angelique Marseille (Chicago, south suburban)[email protected]
Margaret Pearson (suburban Chicago)[email protected]
2020 Donor Program Staff List
LGO Winter 2020.qxp_Life Goes On Summer 2007 2/3/20 8:56 AM Page 1