• National Donate Life Month

April is National Donate Life Month... though there are only a few days before the calendar switches to May, you can choose to become a donor any time of the year. 

(Follow this link to get to the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry)

We all know the little pink dot that represents donor status on our driver licenses.
I've had that dot on my license since it was an actual physical sticker.
Here I pose with Pinky (that's what I'm calling him) and Erika Heranic.

I was first approached by Erika Heranic, two year recipient of a heart transplant, back in March. I was glad to help facilitate the city issuing a proclamation for April being Donate Life Month in 2019, and even more glad to represent the city at the Run/Walk event at Cal State Fullerton this past Saturday.

Mayor Marsha Swanson, holding poster of Dylan Stump, looks on as Erika Heranic speaks about Donate Life at the April city council meeting.

It was a busy morning with a lot of people in attendance, at the One Legacy run/walk event at Cal State Fullerton.

Though it was a decidedly upbeat event, the sobering reality that a family's loved one had to be gone in order for the organ recipient to still be standing, was always present.

Joseph Morabito, Erika Heranic, Dan and Dana Stump holding a poster of their son Dylan.

My daughter Sheena and I walked with the family and #hugsfordylan team, which was more than 120 people. A camera crew was following the Stump-Heranic group the entire event. 

The cameraman captures the moment Erika crossed the finish line.

The point of the yearly event is to raise awareness about being an organ donor (this was the 17th year). 

If I can be blunt here, once you're dead, you really aren't going to miss the organs that can save, or at least greatly improve, other people's lives.

Notice how few people actually end up donating. Stats are in the double green circle.

It can be an emotional issue for some people, whether or not to sign up to be a donor. Funny thing though, when the shoe is on the other foot, there aren't many that balk at accepting someone else's donation to save a loved one. Consider paying it forward by signing up today.

If you, or a loved one, ends up being one of the 3 in 1000, the faint silver lining for you will be a second chance for others that are dragging their feet to death's door. (Yes, I love dramatic flare whenever I can use it)

On a personal note, it was great to be able to be at the event with my recently married daughter, Sheena Ray (that's her married name, not a short middle name). She learned to knit at the age 12 or 13 from her Italian nonna (grandmother) and hasn't put the needles down since. She was knitting as we participated in the walk and even posed with Pinky the donor button. Good times. ☺

That's me, wearing a Dylan Stump button, with Sheena "the walking knitting machine" Ray.

Pinky and Sheena Ray team up on a scarf.

Please take a moment and read the more detailed story of Erika, Dylan and Dana Stump at this link.

One Legacy Website

Use this link to sign up.

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Whatever status symbols we achieve through things, are transitory. Whatever we gain in life, or for that matter —death, lasts only in proportion to whatever we have to give; emotionally, intellectually, spiritually.
– EG Marshall (CBSRMT)

Wildomar Rap is happy and humbled to have been part of this event, and hopes to be able to do so again in the future.

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