Gift of Life Newsletter Summer 2014

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Gift of Life Donor Program Gift of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremon
Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team
VolumeSummit
Number Donor
Philadelphia at the Transplant America Games Donor Recognition Ceremony Student
Are Heroes THE Party Camp Jeremy Jessie’s Day Phillies Donor Awareness Game Gift of Life Dono
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Tissue Donor Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team Philadelphia at th
Transplant America Games Donor Recognition Ceremony Student Summit Donors Are Heroes TH
Party Camp Jeremy Jessie’s Day Phillies Donor Awareness Game Gift of Life Donor Program Gif
of Life Institute Gift of Life Family House Living Donor Ceremony Dash for Organ and Tissue Dono
Awareness National Donor Sabbath It’s About Life Grants Team Philadelphia at the Transplant Americ
GamesDonorRecognitionCeremonyStudentSummitDonorsAreHeroesTHEPartyCampJeremyJessie’
DayPhilliesDonorAwarenessGameGiftofLifeDonorProgramGiftofLifeInstitute GiftofLifeFamilyHous
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SUMMER 2014
GIFT OF LIFE
A publication of Gift of Life Donor Program, the region’s organ and tissue transplant network,
serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware.
:
2014
A Record-Breaking Year
for the On April 13th, Gift of Life welcomed more than
12,000 walkers and runners to 19th annual Dash
and raised awareness about the life-saving power
of organ and tissue donation. The 2014 Dash
broke past attendance records, reaching nearly
400 participating teams and raising over $500,000!
Don’t worry – if you were unable to make this year’s
Dash, it’s not too late to contribute! Donations can be mailed
to Transplant Foundation, 401 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia,
PA 19123, attention Kelly Gavin.
Participants got healthy and enjoyed the beautiful spring day by
walking or running along the West River Drive. For the first time,
Donor Dash
Dash included a race for children too! Kids, ages six and
under, joined the fun and showed off their athletic
ability by running a 50-yard dash. The Kids’ Fun
Run drew more than 100 children who raced and
were greeted by Gift of Life’s Heartman and cheering
parents at the finish line. Media partners, Fox 29 and
KYW 1060 covered the Dash, capturing the excitement of
the day and all of the great stories that made the event special.
Pictures from the Dash are on Gift of Life’s Facebook page. Be sure
to tag yourself and friends in the photos! Next year, will be the
20th anniversary and we are planning to celebrate it by hosting
the biggest Dash yet. Stay tuned for more details!
continued on page 2
RECORD-BREAKING YEAR, continued from page 1
And a big
thank you
to all of our sponsors:
Media
For the past nine years, Gift of Life has organized Camp Jeremy,
a week-long camp for transplant recipients and their siblings ages
6-17. Camp Jeremy is held at Mermaid Country Day Camp, a
65-acre recreation complex in Blue Bell, PA that allows children
to have fun, make friends and get to know others who have gone
through similar experiences. This summer, Camp Jeremy will be
held from August 4th to the 8th.
Diamond
Gold
Camp Jeremy was created in memory of Jeremy Clemens, a heart
transplant recipient who received the gift of life at age eight. For
several years after his transplant, Jeremy worked as a Mermaid
Country Day Camp counselor and loved his job. He passed away
in 2003, but his memory lives on through Camp Jeremy. Jeremy’s
brother, Josh, and his wife Allison welcome transplant recipients to
Camp Jeremy every summer in hopes of bringing happiness into
their lives and helping them make memories to last a lifetime.
Silver
Bronze
TOP LEFT: President & CEO, Howard M. Nathan, Gift of Life Donor Program and Fox 29’s Chris
Murphy greet the crowd at the 2014 Dash. TOP RIGHT: Throughout the day, KYW Newsradio
and Fox 29 covered the excitement of the Dash. BOTTOM: Children enjoying the Kids’ Fun Run
at the 2014 Dash!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2014 Dash and
helped make the day meaningful! We are grateful for the more than
7,400 runners and 4,100 walkers who went the extra mile to show
that organ and tissue donation is important to them.
Congratulations
to the
10k and 5k race winners and the winning teams:
10K
5K
1. Edward Sheridan
2. Chase Parr
3. Zach Smith
1. Maggie Bradley
2. Beth Varga
3. Casey Mannerwaring
1. Marlon Gravesande
2. Joseph Reilly
3. Colin Barrett
1. Stephanie Hiester
2. Ashley Dougherty
3. Natalie Finnerty
TEAMS
DASH
$
1. Team Penn Medicine
2. Mason’s Mission
3. Team Louie
4. Team CKHS - Saving Lives-Promoting Life
5. Charles’s Legacy
INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS:
1. Adam Hess
2. Joyce M Curnell
3. Marcia Hoffa
4. Brynn Marks
5. Vincent Novello
Supporter
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Cozen O’Conner
Labs Inc.
Patron
Abington Memorial Hospital
Aero Taxi, Inc.
allen & gerritsen
AtlantiCare
Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.
Hahnemann University Hospital & Drexel
College of Medicine
CAMP JEREMY–
CELEBRATING A DECADE OF
Lions Eye Bank of Delaware Valley
Sovereign Insurance Group
For a decade, campers have participated in a wide range of activities
including swimming, arts & crafts, nature study, archery, athletics,
tennis, beach volleyball, music and group games. The camp facilities
F UN!
ABOVE: 2013 Camp Jeremy participants and Gift of Life Donor Program staff are all smiles at
Camp Jeremy! BELOW LEFT: Gift of Life Donor Program staff and children enjoyed swimming
and a week of outdoor fun at last year’s Camp Jeremy.
include a swimming pool with a water slide, a wading pool, tennis
courts, a golf course, a miniature golf course, basketball courts and
more. With indoor space for rainy day use, Camp Jeremy is great
even when the weather isn’t!
Last year, 18 children participated in Camp Jeremy, making it the
largest group of kids to attend the camp since it began in 2005.
This year, Gift of Life is anticipating an even greater turn out!
Holman Automotive Group, Inc.
Lankenau Hospital Kidney Transplant Program
Lehigh Valley Health Network
LifeNet Health
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children
Quick Courier Service
For more information or to register, contact Karen Keener at
[email protected] or 215-557-8090 x1128.
Friend
Crowne Plaza Valley Forge
Anthony Brown
& group therAPy
Sing the Praises of Organ Donation with Gift of Life
Celebrate National Minority Donor Awareness Week with Gift of Life
at the 18th Annual National Minority Donor Awareness Week
Gospel Program on Sunday, August 3rd from 5:00-7:30 PM
at the Church of Christian Compassion, 6121 Cedar Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19143. Dezzie, from radio station Praise 103.9,
will host the event and share information to encourage attendees
to register as organ and tissue donors.
The gospel program is free and is a great opportunity to provide
gospel music fans in our region with a night of entertainment, while
stressing the urgent need for more registered donors. Last year,
2,400 fans attended the program, and faith-based leaders joined
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together to break Gift of Life’s registration record by signing up
more than 140 people. In 2014, Gift of Life’s goal is to top last year’s
record by registering even more people to be organ and tissue donors!
Observed annually, National Minority Donor Awareness Week
was created to address the critical need for more organ, eye and
tissue donors among minorities. Now in its 18th year, this
special observance honors minorities who have been donors
and encourages others to register. More than 55% of the men,
women and children on the transplant waitlist are minorities –
mainly African-American and Hispanics – making connecting with
and educating these communities a crucial step in saving lives.
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will be
this year’s headliner
at Gift of Life’s
Gospel Program.
Gift of Life Supports Donate Life PA Act
In May, Gift of Life staff and volunteers traveled to Harrisburg
to testify on behalf of House Bill 30, the Donate Life PA Act,
before the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 30 will help
increase public education, strengthen oversight of organ donation,
clarify decision-making authority over donations and reduce
unnecessary denials of organ recoveries.
Gift of Life, other organ procurement organizations and many
in the medical community support the effort to update
Pennsylvania’s organ donation law. Pennsylvania was considered
a leader in organ and tissue donation legislation in the
early 1990s and is now working to follow in the footsteps of
other states that have already passed similar legislation.
Over the last 10 years, an average of 490 people died annually
waiting for organs in our Commonwealth, which can be
significantly reduced with the passage of the Donate Life
PA Act.
To help us inform our legislators that this number is too high and we want a change, visit www.savealifenowpa.org and sign the petition.
Gift of Life Recognizes
SAVE THE DATE – OCTOBER 4TH
Philadelphia International
Dragon Boat Festival
Gift of Life is excited to announce its participation in the 2014
Dragon Boat Festival to be held October 4th on the Schuylkill River.
Two Gift of Life teams will paddle their way to the finish line while
representing the organization and raising awareness about organ and
tissue donation. Gift of Life dragon boat teams are made up of living
donors, recipients, donor family members, staff and supporters of donation. Gift of Life will have two tents at
the event, so come out to cheer on the teams as they
go for the win in support of organ and tissue donation!
Today, dragon boat racing is one of the fastest-growing
water sports in the world and is practiced and celebrated
by men and women of all fitness levels. Last year, nearly
150 teams participated in the Philadelphia races and this
year even more have signed up. Approximately 20,000 people
attend the Dragon Boat Festival to support the teams. For the
past 13 years, the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Races have been a
great opportunity for local community members and businesses
to come together to participate in an ancient sport while having
fun and promoting their cause. Join Gift of Life on October 4th and
help us tell the stories of the 6,400 men, women and children in our
region who are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.
Gift of Life honored its volunteers’ dedication at the
Volunteer Recognition Ceremony held on Sunday,
March 23rd at the Crowne Plaza in Valley Forge, PA.
Recipients were recognized for their commitment
to furthering the mission of Gift of Life and for being
strong supporters of organ and tissue donation.
Transplant recipient and Gift of Life Board Member,
Sean Dukes, spoke about his journey through the ups
and downs of health troubles, being on the transplant
waitlist and receiving two heart transplants.
Team Philadelphia – Ready to Go for the Gold
Team Philadelphia is ready to compete at the 2014 Transplant Games of America from July 11-15
in Houston, TX. More than 125 participants – 65 athletes, 20 donor families and 6 Living Donors –
will compete to earn a coveted medal at the Olympic-style event. The Transplant Games is an
opportunity to highlight the talents of individuals who have undergone life-saving and life-enhancing
transplant surgeries, as well as to honor the families whose loved ones have given the gift of life.
Team Philadelphia has been in existence since the Transplant Games was founded in 1990. Over
the past 24 years, Team Philadelphia has become the largest traveling team. In 2012, the team
brought home more than 80 medals. This year, we are looking forward to continuing this success!
KYW 1060 is heading to the Games with Gift of Life, so make sure to tune in and listen and connect
with Gift of Life’s Facebook and Twitter pages to follow the team while it’s in Texas. Good luck to
Team Philadelphia and to all of the competitors!
Volunteers
Soapbox Awards
BRUCE SCHWEIGER
RAMONA AND JAY HOWARD
Julian V. Hawkins III
Service Award
LYNETTE LUCKERS
Gift of Life is looking for Dragon Boat paddlers and volunteers.
If you would like to participate, please contact Allison Steever at
[email protected] or 215-557-8090 x1133.
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Joseph Colfer
Donor Awareness
Award
Community
Donor Awareness
Award
LEHIGH VALLEY STYLE
THE NELSON FAMILY
DAVID’S PARROT PARTY
The “Home Cook Heroes”
Award
ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Guest speaker and Treasurer & Secretary
of Gift of Life’s Governing Board, Sean Dukes, and his daughter
Avery at the Volunteer Recognition Ceremony; (L- R): Howard M.
Nathan, CEO & President, Gift of Life Donor Program, Jessica
Schwartz Scholarship winners Brianna Marie O’Connell and
Tiffanie Ashlee Saporito, and Janice Schwartz, Co-founder,
Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship.
RYANSTRONG
Family House
Guest Services Award
JOSEPH RICHETTI
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Aria Game Night’s 101 Donations team, led by Aria Health’s Trish Nichols,
RN, MSN, CCRN, Director of Nursing Education, got creative with their
costume design.
This year’s Hospital and Healthsystem Association of
Pennsylvania (HAP) Donate Life Hospital Challenge
received tremendous support from hospitals and
healthsystems throughout the region. From February
28th through May 14th, hospitals in Pennsylvania
competed to promote organ and tissue donation in
creative ways, surpassing Gift of Life’s expectations.
Just in the month of April, 77 hospitals hosted 193
events and displayed 47 banners, promoting organ and
tissue donation during Donate Life Month.
ALISON MOHN
Family House
Fundraising Ambassador
Award
O
R
N
E
R
PA Hospitals Rise to the Challenge
TONY, DOMINIC & VINNY FORTE
The Volunteer Recognition Ceremony had a cruise theme to
help get participants into a warm weather mindset during one of
the snowiest winters that our region has witnessed. Fourteen
volunteers were honored at the luncheon and
given plaques to commemorate their tireless efforts
and support of Gift of Life. Gift of Life’s gratitude
for its volunteers is huge. Without their help, the
organization would not be able to reach the thousands
of people that it does each year. Volunteers, most of
who have been touched by organ and tissue donation
in some way, are the greatest advocates for Gift of Life.
Their impactful and personal stories are heartfelt and move
people to take action and register to become a donor.
The Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship recipients
were also recognized at the Volunteer Recognition Ceremony.
The scholarships are given annually to transplant recipients to
support their dreams of earning a college degree. The Jessica
Schwartz Scholarship was created to honor Jessica Schwartz, a
heart transplant recipient who was passionate about education and
passed away before reaching her goal of attaining a college degree.
This year’s awardees – Brianna O’Connell, Jacob Neff, Claudia
Johnstonbaugh, and Tiffanie Saporito – were each given $2,500
to use towards pursuing higher education.
Dorothy Crane
Donor Awareness
Award
CLINICAL
ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Donor Mom and Gift of Life volunteer,
Susan McVey-Dillon and George Arroyo, kidney recipient and
Gift of Life volunteer; (L-R): Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO,
Gift of Life Donor Program; Vinny, Tony and Dominic Forte;
and Dwendy Johnson, Team Leader, Satellite Coordinator,
Gift of Life Donor Program.
Rookie of the Year
DELLA ALLEN-SUMPTER
The Heartman Awards
JOHN BRANTON
ERYKALYNN WALLER
These significant efforts show regional hospitals’
dedication to helping increase the number of PA drivers
designated as donors on their driver’s licenses and
state I.D. cards. The statewide hospital campaign,
spearheaded by HAP, was sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services and the
American Hospital Association. It was created to
educate people about the significant life-saving impact
that one person can have by becoming a registered
donor. There were many creative and effective ways
the participating hospitals educated and inspired their
staff and the public about organ and tissue donation
as part of the HAP Donate Life Hospital Challenge.
Two hospitals that coordinated unique and noteworthy
events were Pocono Medical Center and Aria Health.
Pocono Medical Center utilized every opportunity to
communicate the life-saving benefits of organ donation.
Hospital leadership, Paulette Nish, CNO and Joe Brookes,
Director of Nursing encouraged participation in the
campaign in many different ways, including creating
two billboards that were displayed on routes 33 and
611 and lighting up its cancer center green for Blue
and Green Day.
continued inside
YEARS
Our Health
Liver recipient, Josie Crawn, and her mother, Jamie Crawn, at the Pocono
Medical Center’s Donate Life Month flag raising event.
The Medical Center’s most impactful event was a
flag raising ceremony of the Donate Life flag. The
celebration welcomed a large crowd of hospital staff,
Gift of Life staff, local community members and the
media. During the event, Pocono Medical Center’s
CEO, a donor family and a recipient family spoke
and discussed how organ and tissue donation has
positively affected their lives. Four-year-old liver
recipient, Josie, watched the flag being raised with
donor family Ron and Linda Moyer. The Moyer’s son,
Ethan, was killed in a car crash in 2010 and donated
part of his liver to Josie.
Aria Health’s participation, spearheaded by Stan Segal,
MD, CMO, showed creativity in raising awareness
about donation during the HAP campaign by hosting
an educational and competitive quizzo night about
organ and tissue donation. Five teams made up of
hospital staff from various departments competed to test
their knowledge. Team members had fun and dressed
up in team-themed costumes to win the number one
spot for team originality. Before game night, hospital
staff and executives attended a grand rounds meeting
to gain information about donation, in hopes of gaining
a competitive edge for game night.
Both hospitals, like many in our region, inspired their
own employees by holding hospital-wide events, unit
in-servicing, grand rounds, and other informational
events. At each event access to www.donors1.org
enabled individuals to go online to show their personal
support by designating themselves as organ donors.
Thank you to all of the hospital partners that
participated. The effectiveness of these efforts
was impressive and Gift of Life is greatly appreciative
that the importance of organ and tissue donation was
showcased in such a prominent way. Through hospitals
and healthsystems’ commitment, the thousands of men,
women and children in our area awaiting a life-saving
organ transplant can be given hope.
Gift of Life kicked off its 40 year anniversary celebration at
a press conference held at its Philadelphia headquarters
on March 31st. While celebrating the life-saving success of the
organization, Gift of Life also announced a region-wide challenge to
increase the organ and tissue donor registry by adding an additional
40,000 donors in 40 weeks. Howard M. Nathan, President and
CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA),
donor family members and recipients and Gift of Life Founders,
Drs. Aaron Bannett and Clive Barker, shared their personal
experiences with organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
“My family and I know firsthand that organ donation saves lives,”
said U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) as he addressed the more than
50 transplant recipients, donor families and other attendees at the
news conference. “This region has Gift of Life Donor Program to
thank for the half million plus people whose lives have been saved
and healed through organ and tissue donation. Yet, there is still a
critical need for more registered organ and tissue donors. Please rise
to the challenge Gift of Life is issuing. Register to be an organ donor
and save a life.”
CEO and President of Gift of Life Donor Program, Howard M.
Nathan, said, “We are proud of the progress and success that Gift
of Life has made in its 40 years. Modern medicine, research, the
My Thoughts
MATTERS
OF LIFE-SAVING WORK
On March 19th, Donate Life Pennsylvania and Gift of Life Donor
Program hosted a symposium, Our Health Matters, at WHYY at
Independence Mall West. The event featured panel discussions with
medical professionals and religious leaders who discussed the crisis
that leads to transplantation and the religious community’s support
of organ and tissue donation.
ABOVE (L-R): Rick Hasz, Vice President, Gift of Life Donor Program, Jan L. Weinstock, Esq.
Vice President, Administration & General Counsel, Gift of Life Donor Program;
Dr. Clyde Barker, Co-founder & Past President, Gift of Life Donor Program; Janet Dennis,
Heart Recipient & Team Philadelphia Athlete; Howard M. Nathan, President & CEO,
Gift of Life Donor Program; Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., D- Pennsylvania; Sue McVey Dillon,
Donor Mom; Dianne Bottino, Donation Advocate; and Dr. Aaron Bannett, Co-founder and
Past President, Gift of Life Donor Program.
generosity of individuals to give the gift of life and our healthcare
partners who are committed to provide every family with the
opportunity to donate are the reasons why the organ and tissue
donation and transplant process have made the major advances
that we’ve seen these past four decades. But people are still dying
every day waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and that simply
isn’t acceptable.”
Forty years later, Gift of Life still has a lot of work to do. Currently,
18 people die each day waiting for a transplant. Locally, there are
6,400 men, women and children – and 122,000 nationally – on the
transplant waiting list.
The free and informative event examined the organ donation
health crisis affecting minorities in Philadelphia. Keynote Speaker,
Dr. Clive O. Callender, founder of the Minority Organ and
Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), discussed
the high number of minorities who suffer from hypertension,
kidney failure and diabetes, which ultimately leads many to need
a transplant.
Over 150 attendees were greeted by WHYY Senior Health Reporter
Taunya English, who shared several stories that she has covered
about the donation process. At the symposium, attendees learned
the challenges of increasing donor designation in Pennsylvania
such as the myths and misconceptions of donation. At the end
of the program, Gift of Life encouraged participants to register as
donors and created an “Our Health Matters” committee that will
assist in increasing donation awareness amongst Black-Letter Greek
Organizations, African-Americans between the ages of 18-35 and
Hispanic outreach.
Donors Are Heroes Co-chair Michael Howard; and
Jan L. Weinstock, Esq., Donors Are Heroes Co-chair
and Vice President, Administration & General Counsel
Gift of Life Donor Program.
Donors Are Heroes
presentations and students summits, “It’s About Life”, a communitybased program for houses of worship that has awarded more
than 45 grants to faith-based organizations and public awareness
campaigns – including an ongoing initiative with Power 99 FM.
Attendees indulged in delicious food, an open bar and dancing while
raising funds for the impactful programs that Donors are Heroes
supports to highlight the critical need for more registered organ
and tissue donors. These programs range from “Spirit for Life”,
an educational program that has awarded 49 grants since 2008
and has reached approximately 5,000 students through classroom
to everyone who attended and made this
year’s THE Party our most successful one yet!! We are grateful to
the companies and sponsors who make the night possible, including
Cashman & Associates, Evantine Design, Four Seasons
Philadelphia, Olitsky Family Foundation, Joan and Bernard
Spain and WT Graphics.
If someone would have told me in 1996 when I was
diagnosed with FSGS that I would be living such an awesome
life post-transplant, I would have thought it was crazy and
far from reality. While waiting for my transplant, I dreamed
of traveling and getting my passport stamped once again.
The gift of life that Sean has given me has allowed me
to fulfill this dream. In 2011, my Mom and I were able to
go to Paris to celebrate my 40th birthday and to visit
Israel in 2012.
Thank you
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I unexpectedly found out that I had
a rare kidney disease called Focal
Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
after applying to volunteer at Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia in 1996. For
eight years, I underwent a myriad of
tests, scans, biopsies and surgeries.
I had to start dialysis in 2004 when
my native kidneys failed. I chose
the peritoneal dialysis modality so I could perform it
at home and work during the day. Basically I had two
full-time jobs: saving my life and paying my bills. After
enduring being hooked up to my dialysis machine every
night for four years, I was given the gift of life and
received a kidney transplant on August 26, 2008. I consider
this date my new lease on life birthdate. I am forever
thankful and grateful my donor and hero, Sean Clegg, and
his parents, Gail and Andy, gave me this awe-inspiring
second chance!
I am honored to be one of Sean’s living legacies and strive
daily to pay my gift forward. I am extremely fortunate that my
personal and professional lives have become intertwined,
and am proud to work at Hahnemann University Hospital
in the Abdominal Transplant Program, where I’m able to
showcase the benefits of transplantation.
(L -R): Donors Are Heroes Co-founder, Renee D. Freeman;
More than 550 guests kicked off Donate Life Month by attending Donors are Heroes THE Party on Friday, April 4th at
The Four Seasons Philadelphia. This year’s event raised almost
$110,000 to support Gift of Life’s educational and community
outreach programs.
by Melissa Coleman, Kidney Recipient
ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Dr. Clive O. Callender, founder of the Minority Organ and Tissue
Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), discusses organ donation and transplantation;
Latonia Brown, Data Coordinator-Development Assistant, Gift of Life Donor Program and
Donor Mom Cynthia London hold a quilt of Cynthia’s son Sipho, who was an organ donor.
Melissa will participate in the 2014 Transplant Games
of America as part of Team Philadelphia, competing
in the 5K, singles bowling and volleyball. Good luck,
Melissa!
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