April Is National Organ And Tissue Awareness Month

Make a goal to tell just one person one thing about organ donation.

Here is an excellent resource.

Donor’s family reaches out to recipient

This story is another wonderful example of what organ donation does and means to all those involved.

Read the full  article and watch video on the Montgomery Advetiser web site.

In Memory of Essie Nixon

I am so sad to report that one of our Team Alabama members passed away Tuesday morning at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Essence “Essie” Nixon first came to the Games with us in 2002.  As a heart recipient– even at that Games at the age of 5 she knew had been given a great gift.

At her very first Games she won a medal and many many hearts.  She and her mom Nicole Maher and her sisters have been very active in Team Alabama, Camp Bridges, and the Transplant Picnic every since.  Any one who knows Essie will remember her fierce determination and that special glint in her eye.

Please keep her, Nicole and all of their family in your thoughts and prayers.  We will update you as to arrangements, and an address to contact her family.  Team Alabama is so important to all of us–it is far more than just the competition–thank you all for your sense of love and family.  Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Peace,

Joanne McGuire-Baxley
Team Alabama Co-Manager
Liver 1998
Sensabama@aol.com
205-746-2059

Austin Needs YOUR Prayers

Austin Ledbetter is in great need of your help! He has been moved to the ICU at Children’s because his kidneys are shutting down.

Please everyone pray for Austin, Stephanie and their family. Austin has always been such an inspiration to all of us; fighting through not feeling well at more than one games but competing anyway. He has, even as a child, gone the extra mile. Now, he needs our prayers more than ever before.

I know I can count of Team Alabama to do our part in helping Austin. The Lord can do great and miraculous things, we just need to ask.

PRAY!

Thanks,

Jim Simons

You can also get regular updates about Austin at:

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/AusieAustinsUpToTheMinuteNews

Never Give Up!

In the words of Vivian Herren:

I’m not sure exactly where I am to begin, but I’ll begin with swimming. I didn’t enter swimming to get a medal. I knew I would not. I swam just because I could. I ended up swallowing water as soon as I started the return trip back down the lane and could feel it in my throat. As soon as I got out of the pool, I began to cough it up.

They called the paramedics to get me checked out. The carried me to the hospital and put me in a room. I saw Dr Roth and a woman Dr. He told me up front that I would have to stay at least 2 days. I told him that I had to be at Field and Track the next day for events (Shot Put, Discus and Softball Throw).

He said lungs were usually worse within 6 hours and I may not get out. By the time they were ready to send me to a room, I had quit coughing up water. He came in my ER room and told me that he sure was surprised. He said that he would not give me a nickel for my lungs when I came into the ER, but that my lungs were clearing up. I told him I talked to the Man upstairs. I also felt other prayers going up for me.

I slept good that night and felt good the next morning. The lady Dr found out that I had finished my laps before getting out of the pool and sent word to my nurse on the floor that I was her hero because I did finish.

The other Dr who was taking care of me came into my room and said he understood that I had somewhere else to go. He asked me what and I told him. He said that he was going to let me out as soon as he could get the papers signed. I was waiting as soon as he did sign the papers. He wished me good luck as I left.

While I was throwing the Discus, I saw this gentleman behind me with a camera watching us. When I had thrown the Discus and was leaving, he introduced himself to me again and said that he could not believe that I almost drowned the day before and was out there doing all that I was doing today. It was the doctor from the hospital! I was really surprised that he came to see me. Most Drs would have let that go in one ear and out the other one.

I know who took care of me and that is where I gain my strength. If it were not for Him, I would not make it in this world. He has really taken care of me. I don’t want people to look up to me. I want them to look to my God and see Him. He can do the same for them.

Knobbley Knee 5K Race

From Sharrie Cranford:

Here is your long awaited Knobbley Knee 5K race application along with an art competition application for the race shirt.  We look forward to see you guys at the race.

knobbley_5k_application

t-shirt art competition

Photo Update #5

Photographs have been submitted by Sharrie Cranford and Steve Gardner.

Enjoy!

2008 Member Directory

The 1st Draft of the 2008 Team Alabama Member Directory is ready for download!

Please note that this is our first draft and that we will be publishing updates as we gather more information. Please let us know if you have additional or updated information and photographs.

Click here to access the Member Directory.

Better Than Beijing!

Team Alabama’s Vivian Herren from Remlap, Alabama was recently interviewed by the Blount Countian. Here is the article in its entirety published on August 13, 2008:

Remlap’s own Gold Medalist

By Wallace Todd

It is fair to say that Vivian Herren did not compete in the Beijing Olympics. She is, however, a gold medal discus thrower and a silver medalist in shot put competition. She won those medals in this summer’s U. S. Transplant Track and Field Championship games in Pittsburgh.

While these amazing feats are deserving of recognition, they are, in fact, an aside of a much more courageous Vivian Herren, She earned her medals after surviving a kidney transplant and a leg amputation. She was also the first amputee to swim competitively in Special Olympic competition.

Anyone wanting to console her about her handicap will have to wait until she finishes her next 5 kilometer run.

Of course Vivian is proud of all her medals and trophies, but she says that is not the point of what she does. “I want to show other organ recipients and amputees it can be done. I am saying to them, ‘Your life doesn’t have to come to a halt; you just have to make certain adjustments and move on.”’

Another passion Vivian has is encouraging people to become organ donors. John Davis, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation, said, ”More than 98,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list for life-saving organ transplants, and 18 people die each day while waiting for a vital organ.”

Vivian encourages anyone who has not already done so to consider becoming a donor. She said a lot of people she has talked to might think because of disease or old age their organs would not be suitable for transplant. ”Not so,” says Vivian. Even bones, skin, and other tissue could save a life or make one more bearable.”

She invites anyone who would like to discuss the importance of becoming a donor to call her at (205) 680-3528.

Team Alabama Homecoming Celebration

Hi Everyone! Ready to celebrate?

Team Alabama Homecoming
BBQ and Covered Dish Lunch

WHEN: August 23, 2008 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Aldersgate United Methodist Church Christian Activities Center (CAC)
6610 Vaughn Road
Montgomery, AL

WHAT: Music, Games, Memories, Recipes, Photos (and maybe a 2010 preview!)

BRING: Team Alabama will be providing the BBQ and drinks. Please bring a covered dish (appetizer, salad, side, dessert) to share a meal. ALSO — be sure and bring your recipe to include in the 2010 Team AL cookbook. Either email your recipe with your RSVP or bring it on an index card on August 23.

Also, jot down a memory from the Games – something fun, sentimental, significant, or simply your impression. We will drop these in a box to share and start a scrapbook.

Please RSVP by August 15 to Carolyn Shelton or Vicki Lloyd (contact info and email link below ) with the following information:

1. How many people will be coming to the party (include yourself in the number!)?
2. What ages are the children that are coming with you? We need this number to plan childcare and children’s activities.
3. What will you bring as your covered dish and approximately how many people will it serve? (Appetizer, side item, salad, dessert, etc.)

Vicki Lloyd
(334) 202-6242 cell viclloyd@bellsouth.net

or

Carolyn Shelton cdshelton@netzero.net
(334) 546-4215 cell
(334) 277-8955 home

SEE YOU THERE!