CHICAGO -- Melissa Thielen was the kind of person her friends and family could count on for anything. But even in death, her generous spirit lives on in the dozens of lives she touched as an organ donor.Like many families, the 37-year-old mom spent the Sunday after Thanksgiving picking out a Christmas tree with her husband Joe and 10-year-old daughter Avery in northwest suburban Carpentersville. "It was the perfect day," her sister-in-law Sarah DeLoncker recalled. But hours later, the avid runner was gasping for breath. An undetected aneurysm had ruptured in her brain.Her husband called 911, but the damage done to her brain was too severe to recover. She passed away the following day at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge."She was the most amazing, caring, beautiful woman I've ever known," DeLoncker told ABC 7 Chicago. "I just wish we had the chance to say goodbye."As her family struggles to cope with her unexpected death, they are taking some comfort in knowing that seven of her … [Read more...] about Illinois mom who died of brain aneurysm saves lives through organ donation
Organ donation
Parents touched by organ donation decisions urge families to discuss the issue
Families impacted by organ donation have urged people to discuss their wishes with relatives as new funds to promote the life-saving decision were announced. The parents of a two-year-old boy awaiting a heart transplant joined with a mother whose late daughter's organs were donated as they tried to raise awareness around the emotive issue. They asked people to consider the facts and figures around becoming a donor as Stormont's Department of Health unveiled a £250,000 recurrent fund aimed at promoting the organ donation message.It was announced on Northern Ireland's annual Organ Donation Discussion Day - an initiative to encourage people to take a moment to discuss their wishes with family and friends.Belfast mother Annemarie Pryor, whose daughter Marie Therese died suddenly at the age of 23, told an event in the city that the decision to donate her organs had ensured a positive legacy from tragedy.Describing the moment she saw her daughter in hospital, Ms Pryor said: "I knew … [Read more...] about Parents touched by organ donation decisions urge families to discuss the issue
Grateful transplant recipient advocates for organ donation
An average of 20 people Americans die each day awaiting an organ transplant, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services. More than 114,000 Americans are on the national transplant waiting list, including more than 10,000 in New York State. A single donor can provide up to eight people with lifesaving organs and greatly impact at least 50 others through tissue donation – so there is a very good reason why Thomas Jasinski Jr. named his nonprofit organization One8Fifty Partners in Transplant. "People don't readily see the correlation between organ donation and the impact," said Jasinski, of the Town of Tonawanda, who received a kidney from a living donor six years ago, and a pancreas from a deceased donor less than a year later. Jasinski, 57, and his wife, Ginny Wallace, established the nonprofit afterward, and will present its third fundraiser from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St. The event will feature musical Guests Doug Yeomans … [Read more...] about Grateful transplant recipient advocates for organ donation
The Latest: Golden Globe organizers donate to fire victims
Updated 1:03 pm PST, Thursday, November 15, 2018 Residences leveled by the Camp Fire line a cul-de-sac in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday the wildfire that destroyed the town of Paradise is now 40 percent contained, up from 30 percent Wednesday morning. less Residences leveled by the Camp Fire line a cul-de-sac in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday the wildfire that destroyed the ... more Photo: Noah Berger, AP Photo: Noah Berger, AP Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 1 of 12 Residences leveled by the Camp Fire line a cul-de-sac in Paradise, Calif., on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. The California Department of … [Read more...] about The Latest: Golden Globe organizers donate to fire victims
December concert will benefit organ donations group
Blues and rock musicians will appear Dec. 10 at the Sportsmens Tavern, 326 Amherst St., in a benefit for a local organization that encourages organ donations. Doug Yeomans and Sue Kincaid will be the featured performers at the 5:30 p.m. concert to benefit the ONE8FIFTY organization, based in Kenmore. The organization seeks to increase the number of registered organ donors in New York State through community awareness. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door or through the group's website, one8fifty.org, where further information is available about organ donations. … [Read more...] about December concert will benefit organ donations group