By Bill Laing, double lung transplant candidate
In 1994, I started having trouble breathing and a lung biopsy in 1996 revealed I had sarcoidosis, a condition that causes the immune system to attack the lungs.
For the next 15 years I was able to manage and live with the disease, but in December 2009, my difficulty breathing had progressed to the point that I could no longer do my daily tasks without using eight liters plus of oxygen with exertion and still stopping to catch my breath so I was listed for a double lung transplant. I was able to continue with my plumbing design work until November 2010 when being on time and having enough energy to last all day became too much for me, and my employer. I had to quit my job. I am on oxygen all of the time now, and spend my days time doing easier tasks, like playing Legos with my grandson, taking naps, and helping at church. Read More »
5 million Ohioans agree: organ donation saves lives. Donate Life Month is a perfect time to announce that there are now more than 5 million registered organ and tissue donors in the Ohio Donor Registry! This achievement makes it clear that Ohioans understand the need for donors and are starting to take action. Read More »
The communications team celebrated its work with more than 150 central Ohio public relations professionals at the Central Ohio Public Relations Society’s (PRSA) PRisms Awards luncheon April 21, 2011. Lifeline of Ohio won the non-profit Best of Show award for its Shining a Brighter Light on Organ and Tissue Donation entry. The entry, which was a collaboration between Lifeline of Ohio and Fahlgren Mortine, encompassed the 2010 “Shine On” Guinness World Record-breaking Candlelight Vigil held April 11, 2010. The PRism for best non-profit special event was also awarded for the Vigil event. Read More »
In the spring of 1994 my friend, Linn, needed a heart transplant. She had just had triplets and developed cardiomyopathy after their birth. She was put on the transplant list, and I just knew she would be fine. After all, I thought everyone indicated their wish to be a donor on their driver license, meaning they would be an organ donor upon death. I could not have been more wrong. Read More »
Wednesday, May 9, 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Open to anyone interested in learning more about organ and tissue donation and volunteering for Lifeline of Ohio. You must register in advance to attend. Space is limited.
For more information:
Terri Louder 614-384-7375
volunteers@lifelineofohio.org
Location:
Lifeline of Ohio Office
760 Kinnear Rd., Second Floor
Columbus, OH 43212
We started another season of our Live On. Ride On.™ motorcyclist outreach program this past weekend. Beginning earlier than usual this year, we were afraid that April showers might deter our plans. Luckily, the sun came through on Saturday, and so did the bikers!
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Hope, Remembrance, and Celebration — concepts that I have experienced separately, but not all at the same time. This changed on April 2, 2011 in a tent full of friends, colleagues, and total strangers.
When I was told that Lifeline of Ohio would be hosting a 24-hour event, I was completely overwhelmed. “How could our small staff pull off such a huge event,” I wondered. The details started coming together in the months leading up to April, and I learned that each hour would be different, but certainly special. Read More »
I followed the first few seasons of Desperate Housewives very intently, but now catch an episode here and then when my DVR remembers to record it. I had just sat down to watch the crazy happenings on Wisteria Lane when I saw that Susan needed a transplant. “Great, here we go,” I thought to myself, as I am very aware that most TV shows portray myths and misconceptions about organ and tissue donation rather than the facts.
As much as I wanted my cynicism to be wrong, it wasn’t. Read More »
Growing up I would read, and read, and read and excelled in my English classes. Math however, was a constant headache for me. I didn’t understand it, I didn’t want to do it, and frankly, I really just didn’t like it. My dad always told me it was a phase and I’d grow to really love math. As an adult, I can assure you, it was not a phase. So imagine my surprise when I found myself speaking at a local high school in a math class. Read More »
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