Hello, and welcome to the Gifted Life Podcast, where we have conversations about organ tissue, eye donation, and transplantation. You can always find us at thegiftedlife.org. I'm Lori Steele. I'm Joey Boudreau.
I'm Sarah Blakemore. So much on the podcast today. What's going on, Joe? The Stork 28 will be making its return to Talladega.
What's that have to do with donation? We'll give you an inside scoop. And we're going to go ahead and talk about how loneliness has become a barrier to health and receiving basic health care during the pandemic. All that more, the Gifted Life, let's go.
Here on the Gifted Life Podcast, we are talking about the historic 28, making its return to the Talladega Super Speedway. We have a resident NASCAR specialist here at LOPA. His name is what, Joe? Kyle Hagen.
So during the day, chief operating officer, and then all the other times are what? Big fan. What do you have in your office? Do you have anything in your office?
Yes, we do have a replica hood from one of Joey's cars a couple of years ago that we did. Joey Gase? Joey Gase. Joey Gase.
Are you on the phone? I am. How are you guys doing? Good.
Thank you for joining us here on the Gifted Life. We've talked about you many times here on the Gifted Life Podcast. We've actually had the privilege of hanging out, going to a race. Tell us about that.
First, I don't know. Was it about three or four years ago, Joey? Yeah, I think it's been right around there. I think it's been right around there.
My chance got some pit passes and went to Talladega every year for about five or six years now and ran into him. I made a side comment that I would love to work with him and would love to get LOPA on the hood. Of course, he remembered the very next week and called and said, hey. It's been a good relationship.
He's a good guy. He represents NASCAR very well and represents donation very well. Joey, if you could just catch our listeners up for those who don't know your connection to donation. Also 2011, my mom passed away of a center brain aneurysm.
We actually attended an anniversary of that was just this past weekend, which is crazy. Unfortunately, when she passed away of brain aneurysm, it was very unexpected. She was a very perforately healthy person. It worked out all the time.
Did everything the right way to live 100 years. When that happened, the doctors asked us if she liked to be an organi and tissue donor. At that time, it was something we never really talked about before. We knew she always wanted to be a blood donor.
She was a very short and very tiny person. She actually didn't weigh enough back to be able to do that. We knew she was a very loving and caring person. I always cared a lot about people.
We knew she couldn't go on and continue her life. She wanted to do whatever she could have helped others continue there. We said yes. Later, we found out she was able to help the same people, which was amazing to us.
We thought it was going to be two or three. We never knew how big the impact really could be. Ever since that day, I wanted to do whatever I could have helped not only raise awareness for organ donation, but also honor all those affected by it as well. If you follow the Gifted Life, if you follow Lopa or any other organ procurement organization across the country, you know that he does that and honors heroes.
You see their faces on his car, handprints. Just an amazing journey. Joey, we brought you back on the podcast because on the 24th and the 25th big weekend for you coming up, talk about that for us here on the Gifted Life. It's going to be a huge weekend.
Talladega, no matter what. It's in itself is always a really good weekend. But we get the privilege of honoring David Allison. He's a NASCAR Hall of Famer.
He's someone who was an amazing driver on the racetrack, but even more of an amazing person off of it. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to meet him. In the year that he passed away was actually the year that I was born, which was 28 years ago. Even though I was just born that year, I still know so much about David because he was just everyone loved the guy.
Unfortunately, he passed away in a helicopter crash at Talladega. When that happened, his family and Liz, they decided to donate his organs, which was just how great a person he was and also their entire family, especially back then. Even 10 years ago, my mom passed away. Organ donation wasn't a huge thing yet.
Especially 28 years ago, it was something that was very new and something that was very strange that people were so for him to be an organ donor back then is something that's really amazing. I want to honor him and his whole family for their amazing gift. Actually, we have his wife, Liz, joining us as well. Hey, Liz.
Hey, thanks for having me and I appreciate having the opportunity to be here with Joey and I just have gotten to know him through this whole project and working together. I just love his heart for service and just sharing his story about his mom. My story is a little different in regard to David and he mentioned it a long time ago now, it's 1993. Things were really, they reviewed differently than how we view organ donation and just the whole process.
My experience was different from Joey's and I'm different from so many others. I think every situation is a little different. I'm happy now to be able to share my experience and hopefully it will help somebody else. It's not giving kind of a backstory on you and Davie kind of a little bit on Davie himself and then the background on you guys.
Yes, so Davie, as Joey mentioned, Davie was a Nesvar Hall Famer or Nesvar Hall Famer and was just an incredible race car driver talent-wise. He was the son of Bobby Allison who also was Nesvar Hall Famer and they were known as the Alabama Gang and they were so well loved and not only Alabama but through the motorsport industry and they were racers. They were true racers. They came from Hollywood, Florida and there was Red Farmer and Yobonnet but Donnie Allison, they all settled into the Alabama area because of all the racing across the region and so they kind of sat home based there in Huey Town and had their race shop right out of Huey Town and they would travel around and race almost every night.
So for Davie, he grew up in racing. His dad Bobby certainly had him race. He supported his racing but he wanted him to know what it was like to work hard to be a race car driver and to learn the things that needed to be learned. And I often heard this about Davie that Davie had the gift of what couldn't be taught as far as a race car driver and so what he had to learn was what could be taught.
And so he had that natural gift of being a successful driver and he learned from the best in regard to what could be taught and that was what he learned from his dad and he was a bigger than life personality. He never met a stranger. Everybody was drawn to him and I've talked so many times for the years about why. I mean people ask me all the time, it's been 28 years.
Why do people still greet the loss of Davie? Why do they still love him? There's not a racetrack that I go to. I'm still very involved in this sport.
There's not a racetrack that I go to. Not one single race weekend that I go to a racetrack that somebody doesn't break down and get emotional with me about what Davie meant to them. And so I am also grateful for that. I'm grateful for the story and I'm grateful that he touched people.
It also just reminds me on a daily basis to try to make a difference in the lives of others, even if it's just a smile. You know that you share with somebody else because that's how Davie was. That was really surely the essence of who he was. But he, you know, we lost him in 1993 and it was tragic and heartbreaking and all those things that everybody that might be listening to this can so relate to.
And honestly on both ends of the spectrum, whether it's those of us who have a better losing someone or whether it's someone who is receiving organs, knowing that someone had lost a dear person to the image. It's just, you celebrate it and you agree for those that you don't know at the same time. So I can see both sides of the spectrum with this. But yeah, so when Joey just mentioned this to me and wanting to honor Davie, it's just it makes my heart so happy.
And it also just I think it's so important for people to be aware of their nation and registering and being already having that decision made because that was not made for me. Davie had not made that decision and it was very difficult. I talked to someone the other day who they lost their son and they told me that if he had not made it clear that he wanted to donate his organs that they would not have done it because they felt like it would have been too difficult of a decision for them. So I just I hear those stories all the time.
So to me, that's one of the things that I often share is that if it's something that's important to you register as a donor, also let the people know around you that you love. So if something tragic were to occur, that decision is not placed on those that love you that the decision is already made for them. What Liz just said is exactly right and that was the same deal with my mom. We never talked about it, but we just luckily knew that that's probably what she would have wanted because her driver's license was actually left at home.
So we didn't have that fall back on and luckily she was a registered donor and we made the right decision. And like Liz said, at that point in time, it's not something you want them to tell you it's going to be okay. And unfortunately, some people feel like even though there's maybe nothing no matter what, they're not coming back. If they some people feel like if they say yes to donation, it's almost like letting go.
So I strongly encourage not just a register, but have that talk with your loved ones. Yeah. Yeah. You know, Liz, enjoy what a connection that you guys have.
It is truly amazing that you've gone through such similar things. And thank you, Liz, for sharing, Davey, with us here because I'm a casual fan. I'm a sports fan in general and I'm a casual NASCAR fan. But one thing I know that the Allison family is basically royalty.
And Davey Allison is one of the most beloved figures in all of sports, not just NASCAR. You know, he's transcended sports, you know, across. And so obviously, and we talked and you touched so much so eloquently about how wonderful of a person he is and Joey even kind of led with that, it still is extremely commendable for you guys in, you know, what 1993 I think you said. And, and, and, organ donation was, was in its infancy back then.
And to be able to see through, you know, the tragedy that, that had just happened and still think of others is, is incredible. So what, you know, I guess what sparked it for you guys to say yes at that time when really no one really talked or knew anything about it. I'll just share my experience on this. It was, it was really based on Davey.
It was based on his character, on his, on his love for people, on his love for life. I, I, I, for me, I had to just, I had to just take my heart out of it and really place it on who I knew Davey was. And if I could have that conversation with him, what he would tell me and that, and I could just, from, it was so clear to me that if he were sitting right there, he would say, you know, let me go and let him live. And it just, I, you know, I can feel it just as I say that, you know, just the, the shield that I've got in, in, in just the goosebumps because I know, I know that I did the right thing.
It doesn't make it any easier because I think what Joey pointed out is just a great, a great, I think overall sense of where people go to and that is they don't want to let go. They want to hold on. They think somehow there's some hope, you know, if they, if they make that decision, then it's final, you know, you just, because you're just not there yet in the stages of grief, right? Because you're still in shock and it's just happened.
So, you know, that, that, that reasonable side of the brain is like, but if, but if I just hold on and maybe there's hope and that they can live somehow, they can make it through it. And I know for me, that's where I went and it felt so final because it is, but you're just not ready to be there yet. And so I had to just kind of put my mindset in that if I would have the conversation with David, that's what he would tell me to do. And that ultimately I had to know that it was, it was really about, about other people at that point, which is also hard to do because you're so focused on what you've lost.
So that was my experience. And Joe, where you had mentioned, of course, it's been 10 years. And again, you know, I've been in the medical field for 25 years and it really ended at low before almost 20 and it seems like, you know, still so much of society doesn't know about donation. So what, you know, and then you mentioned your mom, you know, being so fit, being so active, we're going to live for 100 years, that acute grief that you must have gone through to be able to see through that and say yes to donation.
Yeah, you know, like I said, we just had to go back to, you know, just how good of a loving person and giving person she was and how much you care about people. And you know, I was 18 and I was an ex-kin and my parents were divorced, but we made the decision as a family. And, you know, honestly, with my parents being divorced and I think racing and all that together it made me grow up faster than I guess most people would. And then, you know, obviously this situation made me have to grow up even faster.
And I wanted to make all the right decisions to make my mom proud because I know she was you know, she was still watching. And I also, I have a little sister who is four years younger than me and she, you know, she's always, you know, with her parents being divorced and going from house to house and grandparents, you know, it always just us together. And I always wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing for her and it's been a good role model for her as well. And so I just kind of took all that on my shoulders and just try to do always do the right thing and what my mom would have wanted.
And I still try to do that to this day. And you know, talking about organ donation, you know, it was, I was 18 and I had my driver's license and you know, I honestly had to physically take out my driver's license and see if I was even a registered donor. You know, it's something you just don't think about unless when you go to the D&D, it's just a quick yes or no question. And I feel like that's when, you know, most people only think about it for about two minutes and then they never really think about it again.
So I, it was crazy to me that I had to take out my own license and see if I was a registered donor, because I asked it even though. Liz, this is Kyle. Sorry, I'm a little giddy because it's kind of neat to be talking to you all. I did want to kind of ask you, what was your reaction when Joey reached out to you with this kind of crazy idea for this weekend?
No, well, I mean, first of all, honored anytime that baby can be, can be honored just to me is another, is another assurance that he will be remembered. I, I don't think I shared that with Joey. My fear has always been that somehow baby would be forgotten. And that, you know, for us, I think a lot of that had to do with our children, never one in three when he passed away.
And I, they don't remember their dad. They don't remember him at all. And so they, you know, what they know of Davey is what they hear of Davey and what they, what they see of him and how he's honored and remembered. So it's always been very, very important for me for him to be remembered.
And when the announcement was made that Davey was voted in as an inductee for the N and S.A. And so I was just, just to, just to see, you know, if I would be on board and wants to be a part of it, and of course I did, but it's just, it was just that again, I relate just like, oh, thank you that people will continue to remember him and they'll see his car on the track again at Caledaga. And, and for a minute, you know, those people that love Davey, they'll think about him again. And for those who didn't know Davey, then they will maybe ask who he was, maybe they'll learn who he was.
And that's so important to me. So I'm grateful I'm from a personal standpoint as far as remembering Davey and then also just from a, from a unawareness standpoint of the fact that Davey was a donor. And Joey's mom was a donor and it doesn't matter how we got there. You know, I mean, that that's part of our story and that's certainly something that we can share with people that can shed light on our situation and maybe make a difference with the way people, you know, view their own, their own standpoint, you know, wherever they stand with this.
But what's important to me is that they were donors and that lives were changed because they were donors and I take so much, so much crowd in that. So Joey is going to be racing with Davey's number. He's going to be totally honoring him, not only his character, but the choice your family made to honor him as an organ donor. So really this is about increasing awareness, but also it's about getting the word out there to register and you all have a very special way that we can register in Davey's honor.
We can go to register me dot org slash 28 to honor Davey and the decisions about donation. Joey, this is Kyle again. Just wanted to see what's going to be like for you to sit in the 28 car and drive it knowing that they pulled that number out of retirement for you. Yeah.
Yeah. You know, it's definitely going to be a lot of pressure there for sure. But you know, it's an honor to be able to do that and represent Davey and that Liz and NASCAR is letting us do that. You know, that just doesn't happen.
So it's something that's going to be really special. You know, I knew how big of a deal it was, but you know, when we made the announcement yesterday, it really reconfirmed how big of a deal it really is and how much that announcement is exploding and how many Davey's fans are so excited. And you know, it's, I did a little teaser the night before the announcement and literally all it was was the top half of the star on the hood and it amazed me how many people could tell it was a star and how many people knew that it was from Davey's car and guess that we're going to be honoring them. So it was, it's really cool how many people, you know, are just huge fans of Davey at 28 years later in that, you know, hopefully this means a lot to them as well, which I know it does and you know, hopefully we can put on a really good run for them both days.
If I could add something to this too, I think it's been pretty special for me and kind of in regard to what Joey's talking about, which is kind of the excitement and kind of the outpouring, if you will, of support and excitement for this car. And I hear from people all the time from men that were, that were between the ages of maybe six, seven years old and maybe 13, 14 years old, were they're just in that tender age and Davey was their hero and they, they remember the day that he died and now they're grown and they have their own kids and they're taking their kids to sporting events and to races. And so in that they're sharing, you know, my first hero was Davey Allison, you know, for their kids, you know, Davey's not around anymore. And so, you know, for them to seem to car and for these, for these dads to be able to share with their kids, you know, that was he was my hero.
I think that's pretty special. I see that every day and, you know, with Davey merchandise and so on, that people will share, you know, I was a big fan and now I'm sharing my love, Davey with my own kids. And so I think there's a lot of that too, which is pretty special. So I didn't want to mention to Joe, you were talking about the announcement blowing up.
They checked us morning and since they announced that there's already many people that registered for that for that link. Nice. And it's already working and growing and people who don't normally talk to me about donation are because of this. Did you hear about this?
Did you hear who's getting involved? Did you hear what's happening? So that is pretty neat and amazing legacy, not only on the track, but through donation as well. We'll definitely be watching.
We'll be cheering you on. Please make sure to register to be an organ, I and tissue donor in Davey's honor. Register me.org slash 28 on the gift of life podcast. We take a moment for mental health.
Yes, Sarah. What are we going to be talking about today? So today we're going to be talking about social determinants to health and how during the pandemic of new big one really came out. We're learning a lot about it and what it does to our health.
Loneliness. True. Yeah. We've talked about loneliness a lot on this podcast, especially with the current climate and how, you know, we really want to combat it as best we can while we're social distancing.
But one thing I wanted to talk about today is how not only is loneliness an emotional aspect, but it also can be a barrier to health. So during the pandemic, of course, we had a social distance. What we found is that loneliness can lead to higher numbers and diseases, like heart health, hypertension, and also suicidality. I can see that because, you know, of course, we've long known that stress is especially with the heart with cardiac issues, provides an increase in your risk factors with heart disease.
So, you know, and of course, loneliness is tied with stress. So I can see how they certainly would be tied together. Right. And that essentially what a social determinant to health is is something that's going to block your access to health, whether it's like socioeconomic, whether you have no transportation.
But what we found is when you are experiencing higher levels of loneliness, you're less likely to go see a doctor, you're less likely to get those basic health care needs met. And it's also tied to communities that show higher levels of poverty. So really, we're already experiencing populations that have higher levels of cardiac disease, diabetes, hypertension, add on loneliness and all of those risk factors increase. So I really just wanted to share today that loneliness not only is an emotional aspect, but it's physical.
It's a barrier to your health care. And we really need to do as much as we can to combat it. That's what I was going to say. Obviously, we all have family members and friends, especially throughout the pandemic, who have been isolated more than usual.
Grandparents, I have a grandmother who's 96. Right. And, you know, for so long, we still haven't hugged. Right.
Right. And it's a normal, that's a bujor thing right there to do. So, so, you know, I'm glad you point that out because it is important for all of us to seek out those that, you know, it might not be us that, you know, obviously with the loneliness that combating loneliness, but we need to be seeking out those around us that we love that may also be lonely because of all this. Well, actually, now that you mentioned that, you know, the numbers and the data suggest that loneliness is hitting younger people the hardest during this time.
And that is increasing the risk for those diseases like hypertension and heart disease. So young people, we really need to not just check in with, you know, our older population. Of course, it's important, but we also need to check in with our younger population and just ask some questions. Have you been feeling lonely lately?
We're just reaching out and connecting to people and especially our primary care physicians. They need to ask about loneliness. I was going to talk about that. Our girlfriends and I had a conversation because when you go in for checkups, I feel like each doctor stop was, how do you feel?
Yeah. So those kinds of things. And so, you know, how would answer with it? Well, yeah, I'm stuck at home, you know, sure.
Kinds of things, but that sort of conversation about, oh, I'm sure they are seeing, you know, more and more of that. And that's why we kind of did our sister, Jackie, you know, okay. If doctors are asking about, you know, how have you been dealing with the pandemic, just go one step further. Have you been feeling lonely?
Yes. Well, let's find you some social connection. It's as simple as that. And we can really combat it right now.
And it's just a lesson to learn for the future as well, you know, once everything starts opening up again, that isn't going to necessarily decrease feelings of loneliness. So we still need to be reaching out and we can't forget that, you know, just because a restaurant is open doesn't mean people don't feel lonely, right? So, Sarah, you mentioned young, you know, young people, young adults having also having the same social determinant issues with loneliness. What are some of the tips that you'd suggest to combat that?
Well, I think particularly for younger people, because we're very connected on social media, but that's kind of a false connection. I would say actually call someone or text. I know people don't like to make phone calls, but text someone. If you're feeling lonely, you yourself just text one person or reach out to your parent or when you are talking to your friends, ask how they're doing.
So really just go there. Don't feel afraid to ask, have you been feeling lonely or hey, I'm feeling lonely. What are you doing? Can we have like a 30 minute FaceTime chat?
Something like that. All right. I did see a video of someone nursing home hugging their grandchildren for the first time, like after a year warms my heart. Yes.
Something to look out for and something to think about. Maybe you have a topic you'd like Sarah to cover info at thegiftedlife.org. And our question and answer segment today. Can I still find out information about my loved ones gifts if they were a donor over 25 years ago?
Good question. Wow. That is. And of course, and everything now from our clinical database, all of our storage of any information is all electronic.
You know, we've got a database for that specifically and we had, you know, one prior to the one we use our transplant right now. Prior to that we had our cubed R3. I think that was about 2002, the origins of that. Prior to that, we didn't have quite as good a digital type electronic, but we did have we do have a lot of documentation there that's still kept.
So it's obviously not as readily available as what we would have in our current system and our in our in our cube also. But at the same time, we can still find those things. So that's very important. We have families ask all the time.
Right. And, you know, if you are curious about meeting a recipient, no matter when your loved one was a donor here, we encourage you to write letters to the recipient. We can help with that. Our family services department is amazing.
However, keep in mind that both parties have to be willing and able to meet in order for us to help facilitate meeting. So just keep in mind, we very much encourage you to write letters and, you know, show your gratitude, but we can help as much as we can. So it is possible. It's not too late ahead of volunteer came forward and they said, I didn't do it in time.
It's been 13 years. So I called our family services department and I said, this is what she said. And they said, you send that information over here and we will do it. So we know that we will go the extra mile.
We know our family support staff will do that for you. So, you know, let us help you. Let us try. Maybe you have a question for us.
Give us a call 5046483477. In every episode of the gifted life, we honor hero. Today's hero is Timothy Jarrow. And we learned about Timothy from his family.
Timothy showed and reminded us daily how to love and respect each other. Tim was a warrior and he was an awesome man of God. He has given the gift of life to four amazing recipients. And now we pause and say thank you to Timothy for the gift of life.
And that is episode 159. And I am so excited for this weekend history in the making of the witness. Yeah. Wow.
How great were Joey? Joey Gason and Liz for coming on for sharing, you know, for Joey, sharing his mom, Liz sharing Davey Allison with us, you know, kind of behind the scenes that you just don't get to hear, you know, in the media often and you got to hear that right here with them and for them to be championing donation like they are. You know, of course, we love it. You always talk about, you know, it takes just one, you know, and they're, they're, they're doing their thing.
So thanks to those guys for coming on and championing donation and can't wait for this historic event this weekend. So exciting, glad to be a small part of it. And remember, you can register anytime guys. There's a special link to register and Davey's honor for the event this weekend.
Register me.org slash 28. The best place to find us is our website, the gift of life.org. And guys, we got to mention thanks to Kyle for coming in. Our last year of expert, clicking us all the rest of what's happening.
Yeah. Yeah. I love that. It was nice to see Kyle Giddy at first.
Thank you. Go away. It was fun. Yeah.
He was definitely, that was like a celebrity moment for him. All right, guys, you can listen to any of our episodes on our website or wherever you like to listen to podcasts, whether it's Apple, Google, Spotify or iHeartRueo. If you do listen on Apple, leave us a five star rating, review us and subscribe so that others can find the podcast on social. You can like our Facebook page, they get to like podcast.
You can follow us on both Twitter and Instagram at gifted life pod. And we hope that you go out and do something you would normally do to help us. Make life happen. Have a good one.
This is a production of Loba or the Louisiana organ procurement agency. The gift of life is hosted by Lori Steele, Joey Buudro and Sarah Blakemore, our executive producer is Kirsten Himes, producer Isha Long Caraway. Intern is Rebecca Rannam and we are recorded, engineered and mixed in our Covington, Louisiana studio by Joy Perez.