Hello and welcome to the Gifted Life podcast where we have conversations about Oregon, Tissue and I Donation. I'm Lori Steele. I'm Joey Buudrow. I'm Sally Gentry.
And today you get a taste of one of our favorite days, the donor family picnic. Yeah, there's a couple of times out of the year where we get to interact with donor families on a large scale at our donor family picnic. A true celebration of life. Yeah, and that's where we get to hear these stories.
They inspire us and we hope that these stories inspire you too. So we'll be bringing you those stories on this episode of the Gifted Life and we hope that you choose to share this episode. It is easy peasy to find us. Our favorite phrase from Joe.
You can find us on Apple Podcast, Google Play or whatever your favorite podcast that might be. And we are now also on the Gifted Life.org. Giftedlife.org. Check that out.
Also on social media on Facebook, it's donatelife. Louisiana, Instagram, Twitter, we're at donatelife. LA. And if you should have any questions about any of these events, please give us a call.
50483477. Our digit lady, I love it. 50483477. That's our hotline, right.
And so you can share your stories with us there as well. So obviously lots to get to. We're excited for you to hear these stories. We hope that it inspires you to go out and do something that you don't normally do to help make life happen.
So we're going to get to that now. We have a lot to get to here on the Gifted Life and we're excited for you to hear what's coming up. Yes, we host donor family picnics, both in the North Louisiana area near Shreveport and also in South Louisiana in a little town called Folsom, which is just on the North Shore of New Orleans where they have the Global Wildlife Center. And you know, Joey, that over the years the picnics have transitioned from very somber events to where now we celebrate lives and both picnics are celebrations of those folks.
Global employees enjoy it. We hope that the families enjoy it. That's what we hear from them. And we love these stories.
And we hope that they now inspire you. Let's listen. Hey, everybody. Laurie Steele here with the Fabulous.
Sally Gentry. How did you know you were going next? Well, I knew it. It had to be me, Laurie.
After all. Oh, you're having fun. So he's not here. Obviously laughter smiles at what we're feeling here at Global Wildlife as we celebrate life, as we honor our heroes.
And that's really the joy behind the day. Right? The thought behind setting this up. And for families to celebrate their loved one and be able to share that information with other families and just have a good time, relax, and enjoy the day.
Yeah. And so many connections made here. We actually ran into an old friend. Miss Barbara Moody, how are you, ma'am?
I'm doing good. How much I love it. Sally, look at her shirt. We keep talking about these shirts.
These billboards. Yes. Yeah, so she is a donor mom. And her son, Jason Moody, is on her shirt.
Handsome guy. Look at that picture from 1988 to 2006 in Loving Memory. So we love her red shirt. Was that done by design, Miss Barbara?
That's my favorite color. Yes, my favorite color. Oh. Well, we love that.
We love that you shared Jason with us. So we know that we talked to you in the transplant games. Yes, ma'am. You guys go and represent donor families.
That's right. We talk about Jason. But tell us a little bit about your guy. He was 17.
He was a total Christian at 17. He wanted to help people when he was a junior in high school when he died. But he wanted to go and be a physical therapist. And he was a true Christian.
He really wanted people to know that he wanted to help people when he got out of high school and stuff. He helped a lot of people. And he's still helping a lot of people, because his friends, they all loved him. He had a group of 10 friends that he really cared about.
And they care about him. So it's been a wonderful experience just to get to know his friends and be there. And they're there for me whenever I need them to be there. And you know what I love is through you, we get to know him.
Yes, ma'am. Because you're strong. You're out here. You're honoring your baby.
And so we get to know all about him, which is neat. That's what it's about. And Vorg has been coming to our picnics every since 2006, 2007. And so we look forward to seeing her every year.
That's how we get together. We kind of catch up and know what's going on. And we become friends over all these years. And we're coming up before we started.
I got two grandchildren now. Oh, children. The baby is four. And the grandson is almost six.
No, not spoiled by Miss Barbara. I love that. So let's talk about since 2007, because every year we try to improve, listen to our families. That's what Sally does.
Right? And so we try to make this a day where you want to come. You want to bring your family. So tell us what this day is like for you.
Why do you make it a priority to come and see Sally? Because we feel like this is a part of Jason's legacy. You know, that people can understand where we're coming from. And everybody knows what we're all going through here.
And to be able to talk to somebody, even if it's a complete stranger, that we can talk to somebody and get to know other people that have been through something similar as we have. And that's why part of the reason that we go to the transplant games, too, is that we can keep Jason's legacy alive, that we can keep it alive. And you're a veteran donor mom. So you've been to the emotions.
You've come to these events. So for those who are just starting out, they may be listening. What would you tell them about time and the passage of time? I would tell them, too, if they haven't met their recipients, families or anything, to keep on plugging, to just keep on.
We have met Ola Jason's recipients. We have met every end. To me, that was a part of my healing process. It was meeting Joe and Miss Cindy.
Miss Cindy got his heart. She's the only one that's a female. She was 63 when she received Jason's heart. And she's still going strong.
It's wonderful. Almost 70 something. Because that took them 12 years since Jason died. She still got his heart.
What was a good one from what Mom said? That's what was a good one. He was well and Joe and Freddie and Richard. Freddie is from Puerto Rico.
Oh my goodness. So Transplant Games 2018 in Utah this summer. So you've wanted to go represent Fred Jason's legacy. Yes, ma'am.
And also Connect. That's kind of what it is, kind of like today. It's connecting with these families who've walked your walk, I think. Yes, ma'am.
And if anybody hasn't been through one of the Transplant Games as a donor mom or dad, this is a wonderful experience. Even being here as a donor family. We got my brother and my sister-in-law. This is my brother's first time being with us.
So we were able to bring him by to see it, to be with us and stuff. But if anybody wants to go to the Transplant Games, this is something that you really need to experience. It's the first hand experience that really truly makes us be here for what the reason that we're here for. Yeah, I got to meet you at the Transplant Games not one year before.
It's a good one. Yeah, it is pretty neat to watch these Transplant recipients go out and honor their loved ones. My favorite part. And one of the things that we're hearing from these families today is that when they come here, so many connections are made.
Not only do you seeing Sally's face because you talk a lot over the phone to these families, email, but it's different in person. And then you get to see all these other people who are going through the same. Yeah, absolutely. And, excuse me, sometimes, we've talked to so many folks.
And that includes Libby and Nyla, my two coworkers, that Barbara knows Libby. We spend a lot of time on the phone sometimes. So to be able to put a face with that voice really makes it special for us, too. Hopefully for the donor families, but for us.
I just love this day. I love that we all get together. I love that you have a smile on your face. You're honoring your baby.
It's a good day. Yes, ma'am. It seems like the families grow every year because we hope that you enjoy it so much. And then you invite other family members to come back to us.
And that's why for other folks to know that when you're special, that's an organ tissue or an eye donation can be for folks. And that's part of what we're here for, is, you know, like my brother, he lives in Shao Met, which is on, you know, by New Orleans. And we're from Lee's will. So we try to touch people's lives in Lee's will.
Oh, yes. And now he'll be able to touch people's lives in Shao Met, just letting them know what we go through. I know what we're going through, what we're here for. Wow.
That's right. That's Jason Moody, a true hero. And thanks to his family for keeping his memory alive, for helping us save more lives. Thanks, Barbara.
Thanks, Ms. Barbara. Thank you. Sally and Lori here on location.
They let us be by ourselves. I know. Amazing. Global wildlife.
But we're finding some pretty neat stories. We sure all the families who have come to be part of this donor family picnic that's been going on for a while here. It has. This day is set aside for these families.
And there are hundreds of families who have come today. We really enjoy having families here. We get to talk of all sorts of wonderful people. We meet some certain characters like a Mr.
Charles. Who is up next on the gift of life podcast. Mr. Charles.
Peter. How are you? I find these interesting stories that we can bring to our podcast audience. And we're like, all right, this guy here, quite the character.
So we appreciate you coming, Mr. Charles. Now you're going to behave now, right? All right.
So we were talking, I said, do you have any connections to donation? And I almost had to go to two pages on my notes here because you guys are basically just a kind, selfless, donation-based family. But sitting with you first, sir, are you there? You have an implant from a donor donating.
And then you were able to receive and then have that working back, right? That's how it works for me. All right. So you didn't really know a whole lot about it, right?
And I was like, I'm going to the dentist and I said, hey, we need to have this implant. He told me I needed, I needed that implant because you need to dabble on. When you said, could dabble, I sort of backed off because I know that wasn't something I'm looking forward to. And he said, don't worry about it.
It's okay. There's no disease, no drink. It was, it was working well for you. And so he then proceeded to do the procedure and put the cadavel bone in and it worked fine.
And then when my wife passed, I went back and I told her, I said, you know, what goes around and cover up. I said, because of you and your work and someone who loves someone to donate their bone, I have someone, someone is in me. That's what I love. I say, that someone that I love, group upon a group is in someone else's other.
So I'm here physically. I don't see her, but I don't know any person who's walking around here. So they may, I may, I may, be out here. Oh my goodness.
So your wife Ruth is a hero. We call our donors heroes because they save and enhance lives each and every day. And in your family's story, he doesn't stop with you receiving and Ruth donating. Right?
Sally, this is pretty incredible. Now you're your first cousin sitting next to you, Ms. Rosemary. She doesn't want to talk, but we're going to wave to you.
Hey, Ms. Rosemary. Look at that over there, girl. Now she received the gift of life.
You received what? You received a kidney. A kidney. And then you have a nephew who received a kidney.
And then you have a great nephew who received a kidney. And then Ms. Rosemary saying, her sisters donated. They're corny.
Corny. But back in what year did you say Rosemary? 1960. I don't know if we can hear Ms.
Rosemary's. Mike, but tell us, Sally. 1968. So you guys were thinking about donation, knowing about donation before we did, before it was cool.
So it's rather weird. So why? Like tell us about how that mindset starts in that family. I mean, just with people, do the right thing, active charity, what do you think?
Well, you know that you need to not be selfish and realize that something, you think in control what you can control. And something you have no control over. But to make something comfortable, you can control that simply by donating something that will not, if you don't donate, what happens to it? Right.
Right. It just goes away. And the Bible says, that's not a return. And they'll just never return to dust.
And that seems to be a waste and be very selfish. Never mind the people who don't, who can't realize that when they say, ask her to ask her to dust her dust her dust, long before that, you should have thought, thinking about what can you do to make life better for someone else. Because the person that you love is gone. They can't come back.
And now, so how kind of you all to think of others? And you gave, you received, you gave, and your heart must just be full of love for your fellow person. I think it is. It is, I mean, I think about people that deserve to live and make the life better for them.
That's what you should do. It's no great strain to make life better for someone. Yeah. We just solved all the world's problems, really.
And people were just like that. We wouldn't have any issues out there, right? So we're out here and the reason we met you is because Lopa hosts this donor family picnix. So today we're out at Global Wildlife.
Sally, in her almost 20 years with Lopa. It's the formula every year to make it bigger and better. So families like yours come. So this is their first time, right?
Right. Come in. So tell us your thoughts on this day because it is set aside to honor heroes, celebrate life, and to be a fun environment. What are you getting from it?
I think it's a fantastic thing. I'm enjoying it very much. And the drive out here was a long drive in there. Mind you, come.
I live in Baton Rouge. I live in Central. Okay. And we're driving out here.
It seems like we were driving for every now and then. Yeah. I'm from Watson. So we get it.
We're neighbors now. Watch out Mr. Charles. We're going to have dinner.
All right. You're gonna get some strawberry. Don't know. That's back on the next home.
We have the GPS. And then ladies say turn it on and sit. It doesn't seem like... But you made it.
Hey. We like the GPS here. I love it. I love the GPS.
I would encourage people to stop thinking about that. Make them like that. Make someone life better. That's why life is better.
Otherwise, I would not have that partially there rolling around. But now I have a smile. A pleasant smile. Yes.
The GPS smile in some ways. Mr. Charles. That's expensive.
Oh, yes, oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So a tissue donor, it said yes to donation. And then you saying yes to.
So that is pretty neat. But so I don't know if you heard the statistics, we have hundreds of families here. So we're thinking we talked 2000 people touched by donation who wanted to come here today. And so the goal of today is like we said to honor.
So are you feeling that today? What do you think when you network with all these people who have kind of walked in your shoes? Well, I feel a kinder spirit to them because I know we all have something in common. They wouldn't be here, they didn't participate in some form or fashion.
This isn't a fashion show or sporting event. So everyone out here has a loved one that they've contributed or donated a part of them to. And that is what makes it wholesome that you're very relaxed around these people because that's the commonality. Not where they came from, how much they have, but they don't have.
But it's the fact that the one thing you did is you enjoyed life and you want to make life better. You need more people in this world thinking to make life better. We agree. He gets it all the way.
We're gonna put you in office, Mr. Charles. We love it. Mr.
Charles, Peter, as we appreciate you. And thank you for helping us save more lives and just educating on organ eye and tissue donation. Mr. Rosemary, I'm gonna give you a high five.
All right. You wanna be on the mic, we appreciate the support, right? All right, thank you guys. Lori and Sally on location at the donor family picnic.
This is fun. We should do more road shows, right? We should because this is absolutely beautiful out here. It's great to be outside.
Oh, it's wonderful. Yeah, so for over 20 years, LOPA has been hosting these types of events. It's honor heroes celebrate life. That's exactly what's happening.
So it's kind of gone through a transition from your life. I was very serious at first. And after listening to families, we decided, you know, let's do something that's more uplifting to celebrate their loved ones life. They can come, they can talk to other family members.
They can laugh. They can feel a sense of camaraderie with others who've been in the same position and be able just to have a good day. Yeah, and Will's mom's been coming since it's been here at Global Wildlife Musqueynet. How are you?
I'm doing great. Thank you. So this day to you, you make it a priority because I see that smile and face. And I see Will's picture on your shirt every year.
So why is it a priority for you? It's just always a beautiful day because we get to spend time with other donor families and hear the stories. And since this is our 50 year now, you know, we've recognized people and get to talk with them. And so yeah, it is it's just a celebration of Will's life.
And it's always fun just to see the kids and their faces, you know, with the different activities. So we always enjoy it. Yeah, so tell us about Will, a cutie patootie we can see from your bright orange shirt with his picture on there. But tell us a little bit so that we get to know Will.
The Will's favorite color was orange, which is why. Our orange shirt is orange. Will was 14 years old, loved riding his bike, hated homework. So typical, typical 14 year old played Xbox and just full of energy and just had a super warm smile and brown eyes that I could never say no to.
And anyway, one day Will was outside riding his bike and he was hit with a car. And so that was five days, no, the accident was 13 days before Will's 15th birthday. Oh my gosh. Yeah.
And we know about Will because mom is such a strong advocate for organ eye and tissue donation. You always join us when you can. You talk about it and you light up when you talk about that baby. But the decision to donate, where did that come from?
Well, the decision to donate was actually pretty easy. First of all, my younger sister had worked with Acadian Ambulance. And when she started, she was one of the ones who would call the families and talked to them about Oregon donation. And then at Catholic daughters, I mean Catholic daughters, in Baton Rouge.
And I don't know if it was you or who it was, had come and spoken to us one day about Oregon donation. And so I just felt like when your 14 year old is laying out, laying on the table and you know, they've already done one brain test. So the chances of him actually passing the second one are pretty slim. I guess my faith just told me, there's a reason this is happening.
God has a reason for Will having to pass right now. And so I immediately said, I want to donate organs. So. And here we are.
Will is the hero. And we talk about him in our presentations. I'm actually going to be visiting with the Catholic daughters through you. We appreciate that.
Just to try to hopefully save more lives. So you're here going to, I'm here, Sally. We all know each other. Everything's great.
And someone else is joining us now. What? What? A special guest.
What? That's what I'm talking about. So you've reached out to your son's recipients. Yes.
And so who is sitting next to you, ma'am? Well, actually Leslie reached out to me first. Nice. Yes.
And said she was Matthew's mom. And she wanted to meet us. And little Matthew was one year old at the time that he received a portion of Will's liver. And through Sally, we were able to get together and meet at Oxner.
Oh, my goodness. And so Matthew was almost two when we met. Yes. So I'm getting to see him grow up as well through pictures.
And it's so incredible. But Leslie, we appreciate you joining us here on the podcast. So Matthew, he had to be pretty sick to be needing a liver. So tell us about his life before the transplant and then after.
Before Matthew's sick, very sick, next changed the life. When they give new life for Matthew. It's different now. I don't know where I'm going.
That's OK. So was he able to play before? Was he in a hospital because he was so sick? Or tell us about that?
Every sick. Every sick is atres yabiriar. This yellow jello is fast, fast stomach. One year, sick sick.
Every hospital, no home. When they call for the transplant, two time. Three time. This is common.
Yes. Thank you. So you reached out. Why did you want to reach out to Will's mom?
And what did you say? Because a lot of people say it's just hard to figure out how to say thank you for that gift of life. Oh, I just say thank you. Thank you for this gift.
This is a new life. This is baby day one years. My thinking, thinking, thinking is that every day, my baby that, that that. That's hard for the gift.
They don't know when they're coming. That's hard. I don't know who gives. I don't know.
Only sending thank you. Yes. Thank you. When they see, this is, yes.
And you know what Norwich is very interesting was as they started to communicate, what they found out they were both from the same small town right outside of Lafayette. Yes. Now, how unusual can that be? And I love it.
So I communicate with Gwynette. She is in my area. So as a community educator, we work to go out and do presentations and things. So this is their first time here.
Why invite her to this event with you? She has just always been so gracious. And we've tried to visit them in Scott four or five times a year. And now that Matthew is five years old, I knew he would just be the perfect age to come in and have a great time.
So hopefully they'll be able to come back every year now. So and how does Matthew see Will's mom Gwynette? What do you explain to him that he's not was, he's not was, mama nini with, mama nini. Nini, nini.
What do you call you? Nini. Nini. That has been Nino.
This is family. She's family. She's a little, a little, a little, a little. Yes.
So you are most comfortable speaking in Spanish? Yes. So can you in Spanish? Yes.
In Spanish. Yes. In Latin. All right.
Tell us what you think about donation and about Matthew's story. Can you tell us in Spanish? Can you tell us in Spanish? I'm assuming I know what you said.
We're going to get a translator. But can you also, in Spanish, in Spanish, tell us, learn the facts about donation. We hope that you register today. Can you say that in Spanish?
Sell it. Sell it. Okay. So we appreciate you being here.
We appreciate that the two of you team up, but it seems like Little Matthew is a part of your forever family and this family. Oh absolutely. I love when y'all hold hands. I love seeing those pictures of those sweet hugs around your neck.
And we know that it's an honor of Will. He did that. He's a hero. Yes he is.
Yeah. Pretty incredible stories unfolding here at Global Live. Absolutely. So good to see Leslie again.
After several years. And I do see Gwynette on a fairly regular basis. So very, very nice to have both of them here. Hey Matthew.
And I'm just sitting here. You're a part of all these stories. You're going to have all these families. Look it just makes my heart feel good.
That's why I can't leave Lopo. You can't ever retire. You're going to have to run me off. Okay.
We all want you to go anyway. We appreciate you. We appreciate you lady sharing your story here on the gift of life and we appreciate you guys working with us. Are you going to try and make the next presentation that we're going to?
Did we talk to her about saving more lives together? I love it. Teamwork. That's what it's all about.
Going out and saving more lives. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
Thanks for all y'all do. Thank you. In every episode of the gift of life we honor a hero. The hero today, Joseph Allen-Pritchard.
And we hear about Joseph through his family. Things I remember about my dad. The things that I remember about my dad is he loved me so much. When I was small, we used to go rabbit hunting and it was a lot of fun.
My dad loved a plan of garden and we would always work together in it. We grew vegetables and then I helped pick them when they were ready. He would take me to eat my favorite place McDonald's. When it came to holidays, my dad loved them and we shared them together.
We would pop fireworks on the 4th of July in barbecue. My dad would always call me his baby girl. He was really a funny person and loved music. His favorite song was Strawberry Wine.
He would sing it all the time and I'd laugh so hard because it was very funny. I remember my dad always willing to help anyone when they needed it. I just wish he could see what I look like now. I love and miss him very much.
And at this time we pause and say thank you to Joseph for the gift of life. And our question and answer segment today. This one Sally I think goes to you. I went to the Loba Picnic and met a donor recipient couple.
They had become friends and told me they met by writing a letter. My father passed it 10 years ago and my mother always said no one wanted to contact. Is there a way I can find out? She may not want to meet them and I would like to.
That's a really great question Lori. Many times we have people that they've just decided that for some reason they've not wanted to have contact with recipients. But now they may not have known because being 10 years out there was not a lot of encouragement at that time for people to write to one another recipients to donor families or vice versa. But now we really encourage families to reach out contact us at familyservices at lopa.org and we can provide you with more information about this.
Or you can call us at 504-837-3355 and ask for family services and we'll be glad to help you. Great question and I love that they were inspired at a lopa donor family picnic. Love that. All right back with more.
And that folks is episode 82 of the gifted life. We're getting up there. 82. Can you imagine that only 18 ago to get to the big century mark?
Remember episode one. Oh my. Well, shaky. Yes I do.
We appreciate you guys hanging with us sharing your stories all of our partners across the country who choose to partner with us in order to make life happen. It's a beautiful thing. Yeah, special thanks go out to those families who not only have shared their stories or our podcast but who go out on a daily basis and volunteer for other lopas other opos throughout the nation and share their story because that's truly truly what makes the impact. And you know too, Joey, for some of these folks, this is part of their healing journey.
It does help with sharing their story and remember their love doing it in a very positive way. We are inspired. We hope that you too are inspired and we hope that you go out and do something today that you don't normally do to help us make life happen. This is a production of the Louisiana Organ for Cermanency or Lopa.
And gifted life is hosted by Lori Steele, Joey Buudro and Sally Gensri. Our producers are Kirsten Hines and Jelon Caraway. We are recorded, engineered and mixed in our metery Louisiana studio by Troy Perez.