|
Can We Talk?
Starting the Organ Donation Conversation with Your Family
Organ
donation is truly the gift of life - a completely selfless and vitally
important act. Currently there are nearly 90,000 people on the nation's
transplant waiting list and 17 of them die each day waiting for
a donated organ, because of the shortage of donors. In the African
American community, the need is especially crucial because many
people have certain medical conditions that can lead to the need
for an organ transplant. African Americans make up 27% of the transplant
waiting list, which is more than double their percentage of the
population.
If
you are thinking about donating your organs when you pass on, you
may not realize that talking to your loved ones about your decision
to donate life is one of the most important steps. Informing your
family can help ensure that your wish will be honored. Here are
some tips to help you start the conversation:
- Seek advice from someone you trust (bold). Talk to family physicians,
spiritual leaders and others who may know about transplantation.
- Knowledge is power (bold). Learn the facts by visiting Linkages
to Life at www.linksinc.org
- Dispel the myths (bold). Clear up any misconceptions your loved
ones might have about organ donation.
- Don't focus the conversation on the end of life (bold). Concentrate
on the gift of life!
Knowledge
is Power
- Nearly
25% of the people who died waiting for an organ transplant in 2007
were African American.
- African Americans are four (4) times more likely than Caucasians
to develop kidney failure. As a result, blacks make up 35 percent
of the
people on the kidney transplant waiting list.
- Thanks to medical advances, transplant recipients now can live
longer and more active lives.
- One person's donated organs and tissue can help save or improve
the lives of 50 people.
- Most major religions support organ donation.
- Your decision to be an organ donor will not affect the quality
of care you receive in a medical emergency. If you are sick or injured
the number one priority is to save your life.
Contact
LifeShare of The Carolinas
704-512-3303
www.sharelifecharlotte.com
Crown
Jewels Honored at 2007 Southern Area Conference
for the work of our International Trends and Services Facet.
In addition to the mission trip - Crown Jewels Chapter members
have been collecting
toiletries from our personal travels, bagging the items and
sending with mission teams
for years. We have had bagging parties and put 5-6 toiletries
in sandwich bags and box
them up, 20-30 bags to a box. click here
for more photos |
|
|
Links,
Inc. Crown Jewels Chapter Awards $11,000 in Scholarships
Crown
Jewels Award Scholarships
|
CHARLOTTE,
NC – The Crown Jewels Chapter of Links, Inc. recently
awarded $11,000 in scholarships to deserving college and
high school students. There were six recipients from Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools and a donation made to a four year endowment fund
for students attending Johnson C. Smith University.
Cindy
D. Lazo and Jessica Nicole Simpson students at the Performance
Learning Center were recipients of two scholarships in the
amount of $1,000 each. Lazo will be attending North Carolina
A&T State University and Simpson will be attending UNC-Charlotte.
The Crown Jewels Chapters implements a Career Coaching Program
and mentorship program at the school. Other CMS recipients
are: Arcena Todd (Phillip O. Berry) who will be
attending Pfeiffer University, Gevaodia A. Stanley (West
Mecklenburg) who will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill, Rachel
Alessandra Newsome (North Mecklenburg) and Briana Grace
Johnson (Vance) who will both be attending Hampton University.
In
order to qualify for the Crown Jewels Chapter scholarship,
students must be graduating high school seniors of African
American descent that have been accepted as a full-time
student in an accredited post-secondary institution vocational
or technical program.
|
|
