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Afternoon Program, Hart Senate Building
Story by Eleanor Jones, photography by Bob Garypie and Mike Lougee

The Hart Senate Building provides offices for senators, quite close to the capitol dome. The First Family Pledge Congress afternoon program convened on the ninth floor, with a magnificent view of the mall and skylights providing natural lighting.

Steve Bullock, President of American Red Cross, opened the afternoon program by speaking on the partnership between his and other organizations like the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, working to show the public the importance of this issue. The Red Cross has launched a donor family network, members of which will serve as advocates for all donor families. Mr. Bullock also spoke on the need to encourage all americans to talk to each other about donation, so that they know they are not only honoring their loved one's intentions, but also helping others. Recipients are "walking reminders" of what donation means: saving lives. He also thanked the First Family Pledge for their leadership in this area.

Senator Bill Frist, a cardiac transplant surgeon and member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, was one of the first to sign the First Family Pledge. Coming to the podium, he said he was delighted to have been a participant. He asked, "Who is the youngest recipient here? Under five?" Many hands went up. "Under four?" Several hands. "Under two?" Only two hands were raised. Senator Frist continued, explaining that this is the reason we are here today: this so-called miracle called transplantation that we do every day in this country.

He explained that the First Family Pledge is all about having a conversation about donation with your family. As a surgeon, the youngest transplant recipient he ever operated on was only five and a half days old! Now that he works in public policy, he feels it is his responsibility to pull together what all these public and private entities can do to educate the public about donation. It's important to have the conversation in advance, so family doesn't have to decide while in shock/mourning, so Senator Frist will continue this work, taking this message across America.

 

Reg and Maggie Green then emceed the Presentation of Resolution of Thanks and Response section of the program, in which delegates got the chance to meet with their congresspersons, and posed for photographs.

Among the members of Congress who addressed the gathering were Carolyn McCarthy (NY), who spoke of having been a nurse for 32 years. During that time, she approached grieving families about organ and tissue donation. When her son nearly died, she found herself in the position of being asked about donating his organs. Fortunately, her son recovered, and so donation became a moot point. From her experiences as a nurse, Congresswoman McCarthy says she knows how difficult it is to approach families about donation, but she also knows what a difference it can make in the lives of others.

Senator Ted Kennedy (MA) also spoke on his commitment to organ donation, saying that he hoped to have all of the Kennnedy clan sign donor cards - involving all of the 30 grandchildren and 59 great grandchilden!

As congresspersons spoke on organ donation, and these child delegates (all transplant recipients themselves) had the opportunity to meet their congressional representatives, it was truly a remarkable sight. The presence of these 204 children whose lives were saved by organ donation and transplantation spoke eloquently to the power and importance of the gift of life.

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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Last modified: 11 May 2000