By Pati Dyer
I have a special story of love to share with you. Organ donation has touched my life three times and I have been profoundly changed by the love passed on through donation.
My uncle, John Thomas, died unexpectedly at 20 years old. On March 17, 1991, John was declared brain dead after a sudden accident. Though John was my uncle, there were only two years between us and he was more like a brother to me. John was a fun-loving young man who worked hard as a supervisor in a factory. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast, with a collection of 12 motorcycles – only one that actually ran! Read More »
By Rhonda Knott
“What kind of disability insurance do you have?” That was one of the scariest questions I have ever been asked. I was 36, a full-time registered nurse, divorced mother of two and I was experiencing severe visual problems. My doctor thought I might have to quit my job and go on disability – I said to him, “We cannot have this conversation, we just can’t.”
My vision problems started in 1994. I was originally diagnosed with a corneal abrasion in my right eye. Months went by and I continued to have problems. I was in so much pain that my eyelid would close and I could not make it open, especially in bright lights. I was very scared by what was happening to me. Read More »
By Deyra Rodriguez
When I was nine years old, I developed Type 1 diabetes. I dealt with the condition all my life and began experiencing kidney problems when I was in my 20s. After becoming pregnant in 1995, my kidneys failed.
Doctors tried to treat my condition with diet and medication but as a young professional trying to pursue a PhD and balance my family life, I began to suffer. I always felt tired and my lack of energy became a way of life – I started to think that it was my new “normal.” Read More »
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