“During this special month set aside to raise awareness of the critical and ongoing need for donor organs and tissue, we urged all Illinoisans to register their wishes to become donors in the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry,” said Jerry Anderson, President/CEO of Gift of Hope.
More than 4,800 people in Illinois currently are on the national organ transplant waiting list, and thousands more Illinoisans will need life-enhancing tissue transplants during their lives.
During NDLM, television and radio ads featuring 13-year-old heart recipient Mikahla Thornton of Bloomington and donor advocate Brittney Payton, daughter of the late Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton, aired in cities and towns across the state.
The five people who received Paco’s organs surround his wife Sonia and daughter Ginette.
April 19 went down as a remarkable day for building national awareness of organ and tissue donation and encouraging people to become donors thanks to two nationally televised stories on donation. The Oprah Winfrey Show chronicled the story of Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman and his daughter’s lifesaving heart transplant. The show featured the dramatic, emotional first meeting between the Tillmans and the family that chose to give the Tillmans hope and life through donation.
Meanwhile, ESPN showcased donation on the critically acclaimed E:60. Reporter Jeremy Schaap documented the tragic death of professional boxer and Chicago native Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez and his family’s decision to give hope and life to others by donating Paco’s organs and tissue.
View the Charles Tillman segment on Oprahhere. View the Paco Rodriguez story on E:60here. A companion piece about Paco’s story is available on ESPNChicago.com, and you can find a two-part Spanish-language version of Paco’s story on ESPN Deportes. Part 1 is posted here, and Part 2 is posted here.
Ladies Home Journal Features Local
Heart Transplant Recipient
The story of Melissa Simon, who received a lifesaving heart transplant in 2007 and now volunteers her time to promote organ and tissue donation for Gift of Hope and Donate Life Illinois, is featured in the June issue of Ladies Home Journal. The story tells the tale of Melissa’s battle with a life-threatening heart ailment and the generous donor and donor family who gave the gift of life to Melissa through donation.
