SODA: Student Organ Donation Advocates

And welcome to the Gifted Life Podcast, where we have conversations about organ tissue and eye donation and transplantation. You can always find us at thegiftedlife.org. I'm your friends. I'm Laurie Steele.

I'm Joey Boudreau. And I'm Nyla Schwab. Coming up on episode 230. We'll be talking to a couple members of Soda National, WOW, How They've Grown.

We're also going to be talking about, for people's say, what if? What have we just kind of thought about? What is it? It always makes us think here on the Gifted Life and more guys.

Hang on to your eyes. Hey guys, here on the Gifted Life Podcast, a familiar topic, but a new voice. Nicole, how are you? Too many good today, how are you?

So, Nicole, the cold idea is with us from Soda. So we talked about Soda on episodes 119. 198. So if you guys want to go to thegiftedlife.org, check those out.

It's a little background about what we're going to be talking about today. And as we prep for this interview, we were like, man, Soda has come so far. So Soda, for those not familiar, is student organ donation advocates. And they're doing amazing things here in Louisiana and in other states across the country.

And there's no stopping and they're doing great things. So, Nicole, we appreciate you joining us. She serves as their program director. How are you?

Doing wonderful. Thank you so much for having me on the show today. So because it provides updates to your audience about Soda. Yeah.

So, I'm going to talk about Soda who don't know. Soda is what and how to get started. So, Soda, like you said, stands for Student Organ Donation Advocates. And what we do is we help students, high school, college, and grad students advocate for organ and teaching donation through chapters.

So we have 60 chapters now across the country, including one. And we think, yeah. Nice. We're going to chat on that one just a little bit.

Yeah, close your heart. And so, tell us about some of the fun things. We see the fun pictures on you guys sites at a national.org. But these chapters, what are some of the things that they do that really help kids learn about donation?

Yeah. So students play a really critical role in reducing the organ shortage. Obviously, I'm biased. I was actually a sort of chapter leader when I was in college.

So I was in the power first hand of sort of chapters. However, experts agree with us. They've actually researched that by Dr. Arthur J.

Rubens. He found that schools are ideal environments for organ and teaching advocacy because students are primed to learn. But another key part of that is peer to peer advocacy. Yeah.

I'll leave in that, yeah. Yeah. Students are more likely to register if they know something else who supports donation. So they've got a lot of sense for students to educate their friends about organ and teaching donation and register others.

So that's what the chapters do. They focus on education and registration for student-led events. So everything that it does is student-led and student-plan and our financial team, which is two full-time staff. So me and plus one other, we actually just traveled to Georgia University in Virginia last month to be a part of a registration drive that SODI George Mason was hosting.

That was a really special event because we're joined by the Association of Work and Career Organizations and then a bit like a CDROPO to put on this wonderful registration drive with the students. I love it. And that's what I focus on in volunteering and on those campuses. And I think you're right when they hear from somebody in their sorority or somebody that's in the band with them or something like that that has a tie.

I mean, they really hone in. They listen and they understand. So I love that you guys are doing this ripple effect across the country. So brings Sarah into the conversation.

If you go back and listen in the archives, Sarah actually started this to honor her loved one. So kind of give us the background of how this got started and where you were when she first visited with us and where you are now, which is pretty incredible. Yeah. So if you're not familiar with Sarah's story, she the donor sister.

Her sister passed away when Sarah was 12 years old and Sarah played a really important role in allowing her sister to be an organ donor. Sarah's parents believed the organization supported it, but it was the hardest conversation for them to have talking about their 14 year old daughter Laura. But a social worker approached Sarah about her sister becoming an organ donor. And Sarah said, hey, mom and dad, we really need to let Laura be an organ donor so that no other family will lose a loved one like we did.

So Laura was an organ donor and she saved the life of Trish through river donation. And after that experience, people would ask Sarah what it was like to live with her sister. And those were just a couple conversations to have because of the great loss. But she was able to shift them and suddenly really positive and she was able to share that more was an organ donor.

And those conversations Sarah saw that not only was conversation more positive, but people's perceptions about organization were more positive and they would respond to things like, oh, how would it be an organ donor now? Or, oh, I would want my loved one to be an organ donor. So she began telling her story to everyone that would listen. So we go to her youth head group or there was a class in her neighborhood in the walkie where she grew up to share her story.

And she wanted to continue this. I have a question when she went to college. So one of the first things that she did was split through student group directory to find out other students are advocating for organization on campus at Washington University in St. Louis.

But there was no group just focused on organization. So she got the next step would be to go to the most of OPL, the minimum of the transplant and get trained as a volunteer. At that moment, she met two other passionate students who also want to advocate for donation on campus. So they founded the first episode of chapter at WashU.

There's all the challenges to start that first episode of chapter. They had to build a brand, create a mission, run a raise, figure out the best ways to partner with their OPL, but they had a lot of success. Other students were noticing that success. So they decided to begin expanding so that the help those students so that no other student would have to struggle with organization advocacy.

It'd be fast and easy. And like I said, today we now help 60 chapters across the country to keep organization. And since Sarah founded the original chapter in 2014, our students have dedicated over 77,000 people about the importance of organizing and teaching the nation and just certainly 6,000 people as donors. And you're not stopping right now.

That's incredible. Thank you. We have a big goal to have 100 chapters by the end of 2025. So we're definitely not stopping anytime soon.

Oh, and then I feel like, me and your friends, Nicole, because I get your emails a lot, because you guys always have something going on. But I think that called my eye lately was something about donate life America and soda. Can you feel is it? Yes.

So we have been friends with donate life America basically since the beginning and we've served on our youth education committee since 2020, I believe, but we just officially partnered together. And so we are going to be leveraging the donate like brand together to unite working donation advocates and save lives together. Nice. Nice.

And so are you doing that through these chapters? How does that work? Yes. We will be integrating the donate life brand even more into our chapters now throughout our almost, I guess, nine years of existence are soon to always integrated the donate life brand into their chapters.

But now this partnership is going to be really strong with its official announcement now. It's unbelievable when I think about where we were a couple of years ago, you know, speaking to you guys and where you guys are now at 60 chapters in 77,000 people educated. That is quite amazing. And it's certainly something that you guys should be very proud of.

If I was a student at, say, a school that didn't have a chapter of soda, what would I do? It kind of steps what I take to get you guys to notice and to get involved myself. Like I said, it's really our mission to make advocacy easy for students. So our application process is really easy as well.

There's three steps to start as a chapter. The first step is to take our eligibility quiz where you share some more information about yourself and your campus. Then you should find a team of three total students, so a few plus two others helping you get chapter. And then you'll submit an official sort of chapter application on our website.

All of the information in the links are at sort of national.org student. I work with families after donation occurs or maybe donation didn't happen, but we continue to support the families. And I'm just thinking about ways that I can help support soda. And so I'm wondering for families, say they have a high school student and maybe they're not ready to go big, but they just they're an individual just taking a step wanting to honor their loved one.

Is there any suggestions for that or is there a way that they can be involved and maybe not be the person that has to lead that drive? Yeah. So you're thinking is amazing because there are usually two different suggestions that you can involve with them. The first student has a personal collection to go to the nation.

Just like you mentioned, they might be part of our family, they might be a trans- or non-civilian. Yeah. That's helpful for me to know, too, as someone who supports families because we have so many families that just aren't sure what they want to do next and that's where. I have support.

Yeah, and I hand them over to Lori in community, but thank you. Thank you for that. And thank you for saying that. I think amazing Chapter another one So Nicole there was a pre-existing group already on on campus and their name and they have their president and those kinds of things But they maybe want to partner with you guys in some ways that the same thinking they can just call you guys and see if there's any work That you guys can do together exactly we've helped existing student groups that have a focus on organ donation other campuses already And we provided them the same resources we provide our students so mentorship supplies How to guides and event funding that is really special because that's your dollars per campus person best They're just waiting for you So don't let me go to waste if you're a student out there who might be interested in hosting your advocacy events on campus Okay, that was the first question.

We're gonna get you guys more involved in Louisiana So we're all taking notes over here But Nicole tell us how I know that you said that you led a group But do you have a personal tie to donation you're very passionate about it. You're excited about what you guys are doing So tell us why you do it why you do it why you do so passionately? Yeah, so I actually got involved with soda your after seraphonic personal original so the checker out wash you So it was in 2015 when I already introduced to soda at Washington University in Saint life Which is where I also attended school Sarah was your head of me and I was the first year student at the time I didn't know much about work in donation But I saw that they were hosting you tour of a surgical seat I thought my good medical school at the time so it's kind of really cool to me My surgical seat actually ended up being at the medical transplant But I didn't know where to appeal by the time I didn't know much about organization But I can event the medical transplant shared more information about organ donation and also Sarah and Sarah told me about more From then on I have been an organ donation advocate and sort of prepared me really well for my future career in nonprofits after graduation I started a career at a local nonprofit here in St. Louis I'm still based and I also experienced the personal connection organization of the first time my boyfriend's father passed away And I was there during the entire process of him potentially coming working on her Unfortunately, he wasn't able to be an organ owner But I saw all the important work that the American transom is doing support in our families for the first time first I heard about it for so many years This is the first time I actually experienced it so I reached out to Sarah And I told her I wanted to volunteer with her the national because they just became official by the one C3 nonprofit at the time in 2020 And I have been involved with the national ever since I became the first ever full-time employee in 2021 You know what I really appreciate you sharing your story because when you were talking it just made me think about when you said I got to see all the work that goes behind donation even though this gentleman was unable to be a donor And I think that that's something that I will take take forward your words because there is so much that goes behind Trying to make donation happen, but it's just the fact that somebody says yes to donation with that intention to help people Whether it's to sign up to volunteer whether it's to share a story Talk to their family or say yes to donation and it's not that maybe it's going to happen It's it's happening just with that ripple effect of us moving forward educating and sharing about donation.

So thank you Those kind words and for all you do as a part of the criminal organization for donor families and transom is a We love our little family here and love supporting our families But we think it's a great thing that you guys are doing We always try to spread the good works of soda if you're listening now and you want to check it out So the national org is kind of a one-stop shop good job with that You can go there you can sign up you can ask questions you can learn more stuff Nicole keep up the good work tell miss Sarah and her crew We said hello and you guys are welcome back anytime I will thank you so much again for having me today. So I could provide you updates your audience It's that time time for a moment for mental health. Yeah, what if we take at least a few moments to talk about what is Oh, Joey thought about that. That was good.

Oh, yeah So I do a lot of what ifing and that can that can lead to anxiety it can lead to fear It can take us into the future instead of keeping us here in the present and and so instead of like what if what if you can change that to What is what is happening right now? What is the situation right now? So I mean what you have to be brainstorming if you need to but maybe put a time limit on it So if somebody is fearful maybe making a list of all the things the what ifs that could happen But stopping it so in after 15 minutes if you can't think of anything else to put on that piece of paper Let's go to the what is so if you were to come into a meeting and say like you've been in meetings Joey I have lots of meetings so I mean people come in with all sorts of opinions thoughts feelings and It can really distract a meeting But sometimes just coming in with a discussion around okay What is it and and then that's your naming the problem and then it allows you to have some brain space because you're not going into fight Or flight with your your anxiety or fear because you're in the present figuring out what it is So if somebody comes to me and where we were talking about somebody today that was kind of struggling and and there are a lot of unknowns and Uncertainties and would change there's unknowns and uncertainties But if you can kind of focus on what you have right now to work with it allows you to kind of step back and and Problem solve solution and and and find less fear but more more cognitive I don't know more thinking as I get older. That's easier to do.

I think back in the day It's just you lived in in fear like oh what if I didn't say that if it was going this way instead of going this way Then I'd be in a better place, but you're right not getting to the okay This is where I am can't change what just happened. So how do you fix it? Yeah, what can we live with moving forward? So that's a good way to put it It's really you get to change your focus on oh my goodness What if I would have done this differently and your security starts setting in as opposed to being kind of secure Mm-hmm where you are now and and and understanding okay?

This is what it is this is my what if I said this or I did this and how do we improve things going forward because that's all it's about Like we can't we can't just dwell in the past. We can't just say okay or what if this would have happened different What if that would happen different what we can do is figure out? What is it that I can do what is the problem and what is it that we can do collectively to improve Pause again. Yeah, I think it's kind of taking your heart to better I mean if I if I have a flat tire on the interstate that would freak me out Right and that is a fear of mine I don't have to drive long distances But I mean if it happens it is what it is so what I'm gonna do about it But if I just sit here on the side of the road and cry which I might for a few minutes Right, but then I'd have to decide what to do or I could just wait to see if somebody's gonna come by and give me helping hand And hope that somebody doesn't hit me, you know because I'm on the interstate and my husband's really scared me about that But but I could you know start going into the thinking mode like I'm right now.

I have a flat tire I've got to find you know safety So let's just start making some phone calls think think think yeah, you know, I think there's a lot of there's there's a big There's a big switch if we can go instead of what if to what is oh, I like that I think her you have a topic you like us to cover here on the gifted life simply email us info at thegiftedlife.org In our question and answer segment this one comes from one of our listeners I would like to share information about the gift of donation at my high school. How can I do that? Laura this one clearly is for you. I love these questions Well, we just had this amazing conversation about these folks who want to spread donation education across the country We're talking high schools colleges graduate schools, so they're willing to help you.

So if you're not Louisiana I would contact soda national org or contact the OPO They're probably working together. I know that so it does a lot of work with with us here in Louisiana If you're in Louisiana, lopa.org is how you get in touch with us We just passed along 2023 that talks about our high schoolers learning about donation before they graduate and that was done after One of our heroes alley-ringe And so that has opened the door for conversations and getting us in the door schools that we hadn't entered before and so it's easier than ever now We just need a donation champion on campus that can be a student that can be the mom of the student that can be a teacher counselor Band director anybody like that. That's a hey, I think this group of kids would benefit from hearing about this talking about this Can you start the conversation all of us will listen and all of us will run to your campus? We just need the opportunity So it's the click on the computer these days.

It's that simple just reach out and say hey I'm thinking about it and we'd love to help you make life happen that easy Thank you, Lori if you have a question give us a call five zero four six four eight three four seven In every episode of the gift of life. We honor a hero today's hero is Chad Michael Griffin We learn about Chad from his family Chad lived for his music born into a musical family He showed amazing talent on a variety of instruments and possessed the most beautiful soulful silky voice He could rock the house when playing heavy metal songs the louder the better Chad's stage attire was typically shades of black white and gray Even though Chad's heartbeat stopped the beat goes on for all of those saved by organ donation And now we pause and say thank you to Chad for the gift of life All right guys learn so much episode 230 of the gifted life Thanks for listening tell your friends remember you can register as an organ tissue and I don't or anytime register me Dot org yeah, and thanks to Nicole and idea for coming on and for helping to expand soda to go national I mean that we're talking about 77 thousand people educated 60 chapters and still continuing to blow up Yeah, so for them to do what they're doing It's it makes our job. Yeah, you know easier and it makes because that's what we're trying to do here Everybody's trying to get the word out spread our donation awareness and for them to do it in such a manner That's just taking off. It's so great to see you know I know Laurie and I have been very privileged to see a young girl Her mother was a donor and she just really wanted to do something and she's like what can I do?

And she is on a college campus and it's really spearheaded You know donation awareness and people that signed up like you you're curious why people signed up some people want to go into the medical Field things but this would be a good thing some people knew a donor like the girls leading this and some people knew of other heroes In Louisiana recipients, and so it's so great to see that ripple effect And they all just want to do good like this is my way to help honor my friend. They don't want to do it Yeah, we're just doing it's all inspiring. Yeah, so we get to witness greatness. So good work to them The best place to find us is at our website guys the gifted life org we hope that you spread the word listen there and find links to listen on Apple Podcast Google Podcast Spotify I heart radio Pandora wherever you listen to podcast and if you listen to Apple Podcast Please leave a five-star rating it really helps others find us and on social you can like our Facebook page to get to live podcast You can also follow us on Instagram at gifted life pod Thanks so much for listening guys our ask is that you go out and do something you would normally do to help us make life happen This is a production of the Louisiana organ procurement agency or LOPA the gifted life is hosted by Laurie Steele Joey Butro and knowledge while our executive producer is Kirsten Hines producer is shalom care away And we are recorded engineered and mixed in our cutting to Louisiana studio by Troy Perez