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Transplant Success Story
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The statistics are amazing. More than 100 people could benefit from a single organ or tissue donation. And the need is great. In 2005, more than 28,000 organ transplants were performed but as of early 2006, 92,000 people were on the transplant waiting list. Reed Galin introduces us to one man who was given a heart, and another chance at life. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Wichita, KS)
It takes a good heart to dedicate your life to being a preacher.
Thanks to a teenage boy and his family, 70-year-old United Methodist
pastor John Hastings is still able to do what he loves.
The Rev. John Hastings/Heart Recipient: “Actually, there were three
doctors involved. They all three said, ‘You’ve got to have a heart.
You’re not going to live if you don’t get a heart transplant.’ Andru was
15 years old, and he was riding a four-wheeler and flipped over forward
and broke his neck. He was about my size. He was a farm boy and the
family chose to donate his organs.”
Millie Hastings: “We’re just so grateful that they thought enough of
other people to give their organs.”
The transplant was nine years ago. Today, John says he has the energy
and spirit of a much younger man. He’s even become a runner and race
walker, winning two gold medals in the U.S. Transplant Games.
The Rev. John Hastings/Heart Recipient: “I hope to win enough medals to
give each of my grandchildren one at least.”
But John’s legacy to his 10 grandkids is something more than medals.
This family knows the importance of sharing the gift of life.
Millie Hastings: “It’s a shame to bury something that can keep somebody
else alive.
Little Matthew downstairs, he has a donor card. He’s two-and-a-half. All
of our family has signed their donor card.”
TAG:
The
National Organ Donor Sabbath always
falls two weekends before Thanksgiving. Churches of all denominations
will work to raise awareness of donation and transplantation programs
and the critical need for donors. Organ donations are approved by most
religions in the United States.
Organ donation groups say it’s important to talk about options because
not knowing a loved one’s wishes is one of the top reasons people
decline to donate organs.