Vicki Olds of Crown Point and Monica Stevens of University Park, Ill., have been best friends for 32 years. Neither could know how a recent tragedy would cement their friendship to an even deeper level.
Olds’ daughter, Nikki Smith, a designated organ donor, died June 1; and at that same time, Stevens’ sister, Tanisha Basham of University Park, had been on a waiting list for a new heart for two years.
Smith’s heart found a new home and offered a new life for Basham.
“I had been a donor for many years and when my daughter saw it written on my drivers license, she asked why it was there,” Olds told the audience at the fifth annual Donate Life Rose Dedication Ceremony at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster. “I told her that when you pass, you can’t take your organs with you, so why not donate and possibly save a life. She then decided to become a donor herself.”
This year’s ceremony, which paid tribute to organ, eye and tissue donors, included nearly 200 family members recognizing 36 donors.
As guests arrived, a family member from each honoree was invited to write a dedication of their honoree on a small plastic flower vial. These vials will be sent to the coordinators of the 13th annual Donate Life parade float appearing in this year’s 127th annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day.
With a rose added to the vials, they will join with others from many states to decorate the bottom of the float, which is themed, Treasure Life’s Journey.
After Olds shared her story, transplant recipient Megan Jorsch and donor mom/author Kelly Swart also talked with the audience.
Jorsch has had health concerns since she was 3 and received a kidney and liver transplant this year. “I knew they were from an 18-year-old young man,” she said. “I did meet his father and still keep in touch.”
When Swart lost her daughter this year, she wrote a book about the family’s journey of coping.
Copies of her book were given to a representative of each of the donors, as well as a replica of the vial and rose that will adorn the Rose Parade float.
More Top Picks Fairywill D7 Sonic
A short biography of each honoree was read as the gifts were presented. A photograph of the honoree also was shown on a large screen near the stage.
Jana Lacera, director of the Institutional Review Board and Bio-Ethics for Community Healthcare System, and also liaison to Gift of Hope and Indiana Lions Eye Bank, initiated the annual ceremony.
“We wanted to continue to honor our donors and their families,” she said. “All three hospitals within our system fly the Donate Life Flag for 48 hours in silent tribute following every recovery of organs, eyes or tissue. We also send the family a thank-you card with a replica Donate Life Garden flag.”
The Donate Life float honors millions of people touched by organ, eye and tissue donation, including living donors, donor families, transplant recipients and transplant candidates.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Learn more
Anyone can sign up to be an organ, eye or tissue donor when renewing a driver’s license or state ID. Go to www.DonateLifeAmerica.org for more information.