April Is Donate Life Month! by, Julie Gidion-Smith Join us for fun, friends and support of the 98,000+ people waiting for the gift of life.

Did you know that until recently, there was no official record of those who wished to give consent to be an organ and/or tissue donor? Traditionally, you signed your donor card, placed that little pink “DONOR” dot on your license and tucked it away in your wallet. This served as a symbol of your intent, but it did not officially document your decision to save lives. Since July 1st of 2006, people who renew or apply for a driver's license or ID with the DMV now have the opportunity to register their decision to be a donor in the Donate Life California Registry, and the pink "DONOR" dot symbol is pre-printed on the applicant's driver license or ID card. The Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry allows you to officially sign up to become an organ and/or tissue donor. Go to www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org today and register your wishes. Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.

As a matter of fact, our own Wheenk! family has been touched with the gift of life. Those of you who have come in to the clinic or called recently may know that I am an organ recipient, thanks to the generosity of my sister, Janey, who donated her kidney in 2004. However, I am not the only one touched by the gift of life in our Wheenk! family. Organ and tissue donation has dramatically improved the quality of life of many of our patients, allowing them to move, walk and live in a healthy new way.

I will be celebrating my gift of life and my 40th birthday by walking in the Donate Life Run/Walk on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at Cal State Fullerton. My 40th birthday wish is to have 40 (or more) friends join Wheenk! and I as we walk to honor and save lives. Please consider this a personal invitation to join us for fun, friends, family and support of the 98,000+ people still waiting for their gift.

You can take action today by doing the following to show your support:

1. Sign onto www.donatelifecalifornia.org to become a registered organ and tissue donor! Make that pink dot on your driver’s license “stick”!

2. Sign up to walk with us in support of the 2008 Donate Life Run/Walk. You can register as part of Wheenk’s “The Big Four-Oh!” Team. Log on to: www.active.com/donate/Donatelife2008/TheBigFourOh and click on “Register for this Event”. Make sure to select our team: “The Big Four-Oh!” You can also give us a call or stop by and we can help you get all setup.

3. If you are unable to attend the walk, donations toward Organ and Tissue donation education can be made in your name. Simply Log on to: www.active.com/donate/Donatelife2008/TheBigFourOh
   

Remember, YOU have the power to donate life - sign up today at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org to become an organ and tissue donor.

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