Hello and welcome to the gifted life podcast where we have conversations about organ tissue and I donation I'm Lori Steel I'm Joey Boudreau. I'm Sarah Blakemore coming up on the gifted life today We will be talking to friends from San Antonio, Texas not only pioneers in the transplant world But certainly promoting a culture of donation love it and self-esteem and social media all that more right here guys And again, we thank you for listening to the gifted life here. We go here on the gifted life podcast We are so excited to introduce you to our two newest friends mr. Milton and Dot Delarosa hello ladies.
Hi. Hey everyone. All right. I'm so glad you guys are with us So Jennifer is the administrative director at University Transplant Center in San Antonio, Texas and the incoming chair for donate life America Dot is a long recipient 2010 long recipient from 2010 outstanding volunteer donation champion Just all around good human so we're gonna put these ladies together on this podcast because what an incredible story Joe you ready to dive in Yes, I am and I've heard of course a lot about dot story and you talk about being that donation champion I kind of want to start it if I can Jennifer with you I am the chief clinic officer here at Lopez, Louisiana and I work closely with all of the transplant administrators at the different transplant centers And I know that you guys are so tas so inundated with you know keeping the wait lists, you know in other words making sure that the patients are are you know doing everything that they need to do to stay on the waiting list and of course following up and then of course everything that takes place you know post Transplant I'm curious what spawned the idea or what kind of initiated the whole idea of Promoting the culture of donation organ donation and really tying that loop.
It's something I don't always see it And I love when I do see it. Oh, thanks I think it's a great question. I don't get asked that a lot, but I was originally I entered the field of donation and transplantation 26 years ago As a work in procurement coordinator for what was then called scopa in South Carolina And I worked in ICU and managed a donor and he turned out to be a donor I've really not been educated about donation while I was in nursing school and I thought it was the most amazing 24 hours and helped care to ever since and I've sort of been in love with it ever since and when I made the move over to the transplant side everybody would sort of jokingly say to me, oh, you're going to the happy side and and really quickly realize that Transplantation is just rife with heartbreak and that at the end of it all donation and transplantation donation is what really saved a lot of donor families lives and I for me It was just a really natural fit to make sure everyone that worked at a transplant center Every recipient that we cared for every surgeon that had a hand in this field Really knew the facts about donation and the donation process and agencies that do it and And really understood what if it was to the donor families and those that survive we a tragedy So I think that's really just I was raised right as Like it's okay True I started as an OPC organ procurement coordinator myself in the beginning of my journey 18 years ago and And of course that connects us, you know, Jennifer You can see as you mentioned how much that impacts the donor families and the positivity that it brings for them I'm curious well actually I'll hijack for a second We have borrowed you guys lung protocol and have been using that for quite some time, but that's a sidebar Thank you guys for that But I wonder so how difficult was it to change, you know, the the culture like you did, you know Of one that's so focused on the patients themselves to one that's you know promoting the donor side like it has I actually ended up giving a talk about this at donate life America's annual meeting a few years ago And I called it all learned and I had read a book by Stephen Potter It's called the heart of change and it was really a management leadership book And what that book over and over just reinforced is that if you really want to change people's behavior You need to touch their hearts and that people's stories and that the hue inside of what you do Can change people's behaviors forever and being at a lean Toyota lean, you know kind of a quality focused hospital It really just kind of hit home that we here we are in transplant and we don't do enough to Constantly reconnect to mission and instill that that passion back into all that we do So we I started out small and did a few small things here so that we really shift I wanted to shift us away from as a transplant center shift us from being an able organization to an every time organization We're a transplant center But we're very large donor hospital And so we began with lots of small things that we were doing all trying to really take those employees at the transplant center and Connect them to a donor family event or donation event or a recipient story And what really happened is that it was like I hate to even use the phrase here in Texas But like the spread of the measles it was completely contagious that that like everything you ever read and healthcare management and general leadership Is that a person who was infused with a sense of mission and they're passionate about what they do and they believe it They're better employees. They say longer and they deliver better care.
So people just kept bringing ideas to me Well, why can't we do this and what let's do this and let's do this so We have a lot of programs and dot is is I know it's joining us and is one of the real vectors of that and our recipient But our whole orientation for new employees is called the steward of the gift We have a donor flag raising program every single time there's a good donor in the hospital that the transplant center staff join the donor family And we raise that flag together and and doc can tell you a lot more about what she does to really take that donor flag on to the next level We have a faces of transplant story, and I could just go on and on for you But but at the end of the day it's just keeps snowballing and getting bigger because the staff love it so much They want to do more I love it. So honoring heroes celebrating life. We have that here in Louisiana as well It's so it's such an honor to be a part of it. Yeah here in Lopa when we are working with families We like to call ourselves dual advocates because we're advocating not only for those who are waiting for the gift of life But for the families who are giving the gift of life as well So I wanted to ask that a question about her work with the recipients in the hospital and has she noticed a difference in gratitude with the Patience she's working for who are receiving the gift.
Yes I want an honor of course first of all to be here and to be talking to you guys to be able to talk to I call them my Trans-Peter Transplant Brothers and Sisters and or transplants siblings to be able to talk to someone You know on that thing level that understand that where I could understand what they're going through You know I didn't have anyone really that I could say was my partner that I could speak to to help me to guide me To calm you know my fears to let me give me insight patient to patient You know what to expect for transplant and or after what to look for so it's been huge It's been and you know just a wonderful journey an opportunity that I am able to give back to my fellow recipients and transplant siblings So it's good to hear them say you know that thank you that you know Because you know a patient will talk to a recipient will talk to a recipient and know that they're gonna understand They have their loved one their caregiver. They're not gonna understand They might express to them what they're feeling but they're not gonna be able to understand what a recipient actually goes through So to be able on a recipient level and future recipient level be able to connect with someone I think that's so important crucial in the transplant journey dot I work out in the community I work with a volunteers and I love how Jennifer described you when we were prepping powerhouse volunteer I love that dot all right. So long recipient from 2010 so give us some background Tell us what life was like before you receive that gift and why you were so grateful and do so much to help make life happen Well, I live it if I can't about what Jennifer shared why she started and I thought I think that when did I become it When did I ever just become an organ donor? I remember getting 27 years old and thank you know I can help someone you know I definitely will find up not knowing that you know just a few years later I'd be the one actually in need of a transplant so that's pretty amazing You know that I believe if you ever and want to help when it's your time to need something something major life-saving Get I believe it'll be given back to you.
So yeah, I you know, it was just living my normal life very active and a minisher Very, you know, I was a telephone operator Director of suspension up or one one and just you know went through my days and my years and I started actually knowing I know you seen that I had a dry cough Which is escalated progress so much that I became short of breath and I thought you know what I think I need to go see a doctor Even though I was physically well, I'm going to see a pulmonologist when you hear that first word from a knowledge judge And your first sitting with your pulmonologist he's like, you know, it turns out you have to have your still live I mean those are questions you start giving words if you've never heard of your whole life, you know In a pulmonary fibrosis transplantation two to five years of life, you know, like what's happening again? And you start to question and think okay came to the doctor this professional He's telling me what so you second get that you're like you almost don't want to believe them But then you understand you coincide up with what you've been feeling but our bodies are so amazing that they learn to compensate for that body part That is lacking so like yeah, I know how you know some issues, but I know how drastic they were So thankfully, you know, I met this pulmonologist and I heated his car and sure enough I ended up needing the lunch on I went from having some shortness of bread and having a dry cough to needing oxygen 24 7 being wheeled around in a wheelchair by my you know, my mama You know not being able to do much of anything gas, you know, by the time I was lifted for transplantation I can literally say I was gasping for you I wasn't even breathing I was gasping how did that first breath feel that you know after you transplant that you're no longer gasping It's incredible. I doubted that even because being on oxygen 24 7 for 18 months prior to that You don't believe it because I was so used to living a certain way and breathing with my limited capacity So now I have this whole breath and I'm like what's happening to me again I had to literally learn how to breathe again because that was my norm not having you know that whole breath was my norm So it was pretty it was psychological, but it was amazing that I was able to actually inhale and exhale Oxygen I got so used to having my cannula I call it my baby that even though you know I'm thinking I needed I needed the doctors like you don't need it miss though what I do You can keep it and of course they were all my mom's like y'all the nurses would turn off the oxygen at night You know just so that psychologically just to help me, but yeah, I eventually got rid of it I could breathe okay, so what do we know about the hero who saved your life and if you haven't met What are you thinking about telling that family if you do I know very limited information which probably more than most and not even because of me But somehow I got went through the pipeline that you know That's my donor was a female she was like maybe 30 early 30s and that she was from Oklahoma What I would say I mean I think about that every day I think that's a huge part of why I give back now is because every time move the emotional hair every time I Every time I'm allowed to be at a donor flag racing every time I'm allowed to Be at an event where we're honoring donors whether it's with a get to fight or we have a memorial that we have for them I'm thanking my donor, you know And I just don't know I don't know if there's an emotion that I would have one my donor family that I would just say of course Thank you a million times Thank you because of your loved one because of your you know your family member I'm able to live I have I'm a 9.3 bonus years I'm able to see my mom you know overcomes cancer and be cancer free now. We would see my nieces grow up my great nieces You know remember one specific event where my niece you know was 10 she's 13 now I can't I look and I get you a baby the second I'm alive to be here present with you to be 10 That's all the gift that I need and every day is a gift and every day You know I honor my working though And we kind of someone you know gave their life for me But I also understand and because that's a great little Jennifer for allowing me to to be able to volunteer and get back to our amazing Hospital is because I know that I'm honoring my donor every single time you know I'm honoring them and I can and I have that empathy for them as a recipient but also understanding that while I'm celebrating Yes, it's wonderful.
It's amazing. He's my point for years But now for morning the morning the loss of their loved ones So I want them to know that I love them. They've a method loved one But I love that person and every day ever since that first breath I'm I thank them. I thank them and my family.
Thanks them and Really and that's not even enough. Thank you is not even enough But just let him know that because of them generations the future generations Well, no my niece one of my nieces is a nurse a transplant I see a nurse because of this and she even tells me got and thought if you Hadn't gone through your journey. I don't know that would be a nurse my little the same 10 year old when it's now 13 She had a whole project for her school on pulmonary sunglasses and wanting to find a cure and sign in of organ donors And I'm like how the impact of just my life which is just one of millions that you know organ donation has saved But I mean they're just they're just no words They're not enough books for me to just say thank you, you know to my organ donor to my donor family But there's just not enough words just simply thank you and I love you and God bless you Wow, that's I mean That's truly incredible the words you said I work with a lot of donor families And I know that there are times that they don't ever meet their recipients And so I know just hearing words of gratitude from you is gonna be incredible for so many people and even to tie it in with You know Jennifer and the work that you're doing in the culture that you're bringing to the transplant center is I know there's a lot of families out there right now who are smiling I know this in the studio right now We've all got very big smiles on our face and we just wanted to say thank you so much to everything I'll do dad I wanted to ask if there's been and all the work that you do with not only recipients But with donor families has there been a moment or a memory that you have that's been that's been very powerful for you that you'd like to share Absolutely, there's one quite simply just recently I was able to meet the donor family and when I and along the Jennifer when we do our flag raising You know I mean grand I talked to a little bit and when I tell them I'm taught You know and I can't introduce myself and I tell them I'm on the lung recipient and this particular family They jump back at the time I'm a severe like to see that their reaction You know because you never know, you know how a donor family is gonna react it to see that reaction and then for her later And the whole family to say you know that we hope and pray that our Our loved one this particular family is that our loved one has you know a recipient like you that is giving back That is living their best life that is honoring their our loved one You know every day of their life So to me that was like like the most impactful thing that anyone could have said to that feel like that's like my organ donor Saying you know, thank you, God, you know what we didn't make a mistake We're grateful for making that signature and I think another time I think even Jennifer was present when they just shared with me And I so appreciate their feedback. They said that you know We weren't sure about finding you know for our loved one to be a donor But seeing you just confirms and affirms that we made the right decision dot you sound just precious I'm just in love with Dot so Jennifer you were right and I'm so excited because I know in 2018 You're part of the donate life load in the Rose Parade We have featured that here on the gifted life So we hear stories from families that we send to be a part of that But that experience could you just tell us shortly what you thought of that and what that means?
You know, they always tell you it's the the right of your life It's definitely the right of a lifetime in that moment when you're on that float I'm honoring my donor I know that I was created at that you know at the moment for that particular time to just be the shine radiate from my Working donor and I thought gosh, you might work in donor knew they're finally knew that I was there But they're sending their loved one and shining through somehow my smile could just radiate, you know the joy and the love I was so without kisses to people I don't want to see that I was I was throwing kisses because my friends are like stop me. Sorry. We saw you doing kisses I said you can reach it So just throwing kisses and I was so grateful at that moment just saying wow that even if this was your latte on earth This was so worth it like nothing can pop this too much more because it was just exact heaven and ecstasy for me Because I knew that was just a once in a lifetime feeling and event I was so grateful to be representing you know Texas But my organ donor and just oh I wanted that smile and that led just to radiate through the TV to the millions of people watching to know that How grateful you know I was at the time and still am and and that's why I continue to do what I do because I'm so grateful So this precious life. I'm just grateful.
I'm not doing anything special I promise you I'm sorry my story and I'm just so grateful for this life like every day is a gift for me every single day You know Jennifer, you know We have coffee time and I'm like that's precious to me because I mean every moment every relationship that I had every hour is such a blessing for me It's a gift of time literally and that was the name of the float of it that year was the gift of time Which I thought oh my god come on It was meant for me. It's destiny. Okay, I'm starting out to be a donor. Okay, you're so married I mentioned it earlier I mean she just mentioned it But I'm probably the only transplant administrator in the United States Maybe the world that twice a month has a passion coach as what I called it dot So and so you all and whoever listens to this podcast is getting a dose a dot But to like just for me personally just to reconnect She doesn't visit with all of our first transplant patients and patients in the clinic and she's at every flag raising She hand delivers the flags after we lower them throughout the entire hospital sharing the message of who that individual saved even in our leadership How to wear the entire hospitals cadre of leaders start their morning and and dot is sharing that flag So that when we return that flag with donor family literally hundreds of hands and prayers are coming You know been on it and are coming back with it So these stories dot shares of her own her own, you know What she's gone on and done and families that she's interacted with her recipients that she's met and caregivers are struggling are just They're just you know, you just I'm a very tall and since you guys said you heard me talking I'm like when I leave dot I feel like I'm eight feet tall Her energy is just it emanates throughout it's a smiling dot.
It's true. I Wonder dot does your car travel over the Sabine River? Guys we certainly love to connect more often I'm just a hip-hop jump away Jennifer can certainly spot talent what a tool to have in your toolbox, but when you're talking about this culture of donation like How dot can make them feel like making life happen? That's gotta be a win for everyone it is and and I think something dot probably you know took it and ran with it We have a lot of different ways dot touches our program and and and where we tried to really instill this culture of donation And when I said, you know dot rounds on the patients is really a frontline.
How can she connect them the resources? What can they need? Maybe just want somebody to talk to that has a little more time to spend with them than the staff? Well, you know without even being asked dot takes that to rounding on the staff So checking in with the staff giving that staff a hug and just like you guys said we're all listening to her and we're smiling You know that just lifting up this whole center and and those transplant patients has been great Another thing that we've done that dot really took an idea and ran with and and as a big partner of our marketing team is She often goes armed with a camera and and so we have a program here at University called the faces of transplant We stole we still in the racially from humans of New York Where you know you get some candid photos of people and you really try to capture in their own words How they're feeling and and what they're feeling and on the faces of transplant when you distribute to donor hospitals Back to TOSA and their staff to case managers at our insurance companies Our IC staff live by it because they don't get to often see our wristbands doing so well and hearing them tell these things in their own We'd so dot rounds constantly has been doing that for years To capture patient stories along their journey and that's been another incredibly powerful way to Keep sharing those stories and getting back well, I can't see wait to see what you tomorrow, okay?
Unfortunately, I have to wrap this up I know that we're gonna have you back on the podcast as you continue to do these incredible things But Jennifer someone's listening they want to see faces of transplantation They want to learn more about what it is that you do how you do it? Where would you send them? Well, I would definitely tell people to hop on to our social media pages at University Transplant Center You'll definitely get your daily dose of patient stories and lots of good things that we're doing when we do donor flags We always and consent the donor family and and very often share their stories and images from the flag raising as well And and so that's a good place to sort of follow and track what we're doing I'll be speaking at donate life America as well as some open meetings and and I'm easy to find and love to have any ideas that we do Replicated elsewhere. Sorry.
Thank you to Jennifer. Thank you dot keep on keeping on. We love it All right guys more of the gifted like podcast to come At this point in this episode we're taking a moment for mental health. Yeah, what does Sarah Blake more have for us today?
No pressure. All right, so taking a picture right now See as we're talking about this. I'm recording this for my Instagram story No, I'm just getting so we're gonna talk about our self-esteem and social media and how it can really take a hit nowadays So I think we've all you know We all follow Instagram or Facebook people who living this perfect life and can make you feel less than or feel less good about yourself So how do we turn that around and how do we feel good when there's so much perfection quote-unquote out there in social media? I guess cuz I'm older.
I don't really pay attention that much to that kind of stuff But I do worry about my daughter She's 12 13 gone on 13 and seeing all this so I worry how that's gonna impact her But it's not all real because you know some people are posting and you're like that's not how that went down, but okay, right Right scrolling up right and there's I mean there's so many celebrities and models who are on social media and they're perfect filters So how do you and filters and likes and if I'm gonna get enough likes But how do you help your kids or help young people know that what they are posting they should feel good about and also They should only be following things or people that make them feel good. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I have trouble with it A lot of times I look at it in a different like almost the opposite I feel bad a lot of times when I see that people have to focus on posting so much about their life put their life live entirely They're eating what they're doing how great right and of course oftentimes you know these people well And you know the struggles that are going on you know behind the scenes and it almost makes me have you know I know you say don't feel sympathetic to people but in certain ways I kind of have some sympathy thinking man I hate that you know they feel the need to do this right and if you're only seeing people who are taking these amazing vacations It can create this sense of what am I what don't I have and sort of what do I have and so I mean social media is great There's so much connection in it, but it can also create a lot of isolation So how do you balance that especially for young people today where a lot of what we do like we're saying is on social media? And I think especially in the political climate I'm always like that one post is not gonna change someone's mind right?
Yeah, but I did see someone post my doctor has advised that I stay off of social media for the next you know After the till after the election or something and then I kind of juggled and I said that we all should unplug right right and don't take that too Serious just for fun. Yeah, it's for connection And so post things that make you feel good that don't have shame or guilt and the underlying message and know that too What you're looking at should bring you joy is what it is. Yeah connection should bring joy It shouldn't bring self doubt and self-loathing and I think part of that you know you talk about what you're looking at You know should bring joy. I think that's part of the filter thing too You know you got to remember especially you know those we talk about having self-esteem and and you know self-image issues And understand that most of that is not natural right that is filtered You know and it's just for that particular shot.
Yeah, and that's not something that we need to strive to achieve because they haven't even strive to achieve it That's right You know lead by example live an authentic life and live as authentically on social media as you can and that really empowers people I think the most empowering inspiring stories I see on social media are the ones that are wiped clean of all the glamour And it's the truth and people are sharing their stories. So I think that's what we should strive and tell our young people about Mm-hmm. So it's first those conversations between me and my daughter is about to be right a teen. Just be happy I'm trying to raise a good human who's just happy with herself And as goal said and you're gonna keep off of social media as long as yeah And teach her not to compare her life to others and to live in her truth and her joy.
Yeah, all right We like that. Thanks, Miss Sarah. You're welcome more work to do after this show pick some of those pictures You got there. All right, maybe you have a topic you want Miss Sarah to cover info at the gifted life dot org In every episode of the gifted life We honor a hero in this segment we're doing something a little bit different We've invited our special guest about Dela Rose that long recipient to honor her hero Hi, thank you so much.
This is an honor of my donor my hero my life my blessing my breath And I want to say thank you. I want you to know that every single breath that I take It's because of you your selfless gift. I want you to know that every day They not only me myself my family many generations to come will be an organ donor and honor you you are in our daily prayers It's the nine years and you've been in our daily prayers our daily thoughts not an event goes by not a holiday not an accolade Nothing goes by not a breath without you being the center and so I want to honor my donor my hero my breath today And just say thank you. Thank you so much for the gift of life I know I've never met you and I never will but I love you and I love your family for making this selfless gift Thank you so much And now we pause and say thank you to Dads hero for the gift of life Well today's question and answer segment the question is Lori I heard me I heard you guys didn't a Star Trek episode of the gifted life podcast What is the easiest way for me to find it?
Oh, I love it number one I like that you guys are talking about the podcast and then I'm going to give you a one-stop shot So the gifted life dot org the gifted life dot org there is a search tab on that page has all of our episodes But in that search tab you put your keywords in there So maybe kidney health or brain death or in this instance Star Trek right and then all the related episodes will just magically Populate right there for you to listen to it's that easy. Thank you so much for listening Thank you for wanting to listen and hopefully you'll share that with your friends Thank you. Thank you and thank you for your question If you have a question go ahead and email us at info at the gift of life dot org or call us at 504 648 377 another episode of the gifted life podcast in the books pretty powerful guys. Yes, it was Thanks to Jennifer and died for sharing their stories sharing what they do for that area And she mentioned, you know, not only Texas, but the region and hopefully dot will get you here across the Sabine But wow, what a powerful powerful episode.
I'm thinking about her quotes. I love you, but I don't know you and my breath and my heart Oh my goodness. Wow, so grateful. I'm hopefully we inspired you to register as an organ I and tissue donor on this episode of so one stop shop guys register me dot org register me dot org It's that simple and remember you can always find us they get to life podcast crew at the gifted life Dot org and listen to us wherever you listen to your podcasts Apple podcast Spotify our radio and listen subscribe and rate us on social media Joey, I know you hang out there Facebook or the get to like podcast Twitter Instagram or at gifted life pod very easy to follow we try to have some fun content a Lot of what you hear here on the podcast you'll see there It's pretty cool how that works and no matter what we hope that you go out and do something you would normally do to help us make life Happen that's what it's all about.
Have a great day This is a production of Lopa or the Louisiana organ procurement agency They get to life is hosted by Lori Steele Joey Boudreau and Sarah Blakemore our executive producer is Kirsten Hines producer is Shalom Caraway intern is Rebecca random and we are recorded engineered and mixed in our Covington, Louisiana studio by Troy Perez