Paesano Restaurant partners with Gift of Life for organ donations
Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar in Ann Arbor is partnering with Gift of Life Michigan and its Donor Drive 2010 to enroll as many organ donors as possible from Dec. 8 to 12.
On those days, Gift of LIfe will sign up donors during lunchtime at the restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It's part of a statewide campaign to add one million names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Paesano's owner Michael Roddy says the need for life-saving organs is critical.
Michigan ranks 42nd nationwide in its percentage of registered drivers who have officially expressed their willingness to become organ, eye and tissue donors. One reason for the low response is that signing the back of a Michigan driver's licence isn't enough to be a donor.
Residents must join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry at www.giftoflifemichigan.org, visit a Secretary of State branch office or sign up at Paesano, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., during the week of Dec. 8-12.
One organ donor can save as many as eight lives, and 3,000 people in Michigan are on the waiting list for organs.
Comments
Gift of Life Michigan
Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
More than 2 million Michigan residents have joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry to indicate their decision to become organ, tissue and eye donors. Many thanks to Paesano Restaurant for making it easy for their customers to help save lives! The Michigan Organ Donor Registry is a confidential database accessible 24/7 by Gift of Life Michigan and the Michigan Eye-Bank. There are no age limits to join people in their 90s have donated! People of all medical histories (including diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, etc.) can sign up on the Donor Registry. There is no cost to the family or estate. Sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry today at http://www.giftoflifemichigan.org/go/paesano, or call 800-482-4881 or visit any Secretary of State branch office. Michigan residents who join the Donor Registry will receive a red heart donor emblem for the front of their drivers license or state ID card, from the Secretary of State. Non-residents can also sign up, but will not receive a red heart emblem. Jennifer Tislerics Special Events & Partnerships Coordinator Gift of Life Michigan
ypsigirl
Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:40 a.m.
My husband received a kidney trnsplant March 2008. The kidney came form a gentleman who was killed in an industrial accident. Unfortunately, he developed a virus common to transplant patients and the kidney has since failed. He is currently back on dialysis awaiting another transplant. I also have a friend who had a heart transplant in August who is going great. I have also seen many patients die having never received the organ they so desperately need. What a wonderful, unselfish gift to give to people who are waiting to live a normal life again. Many people profit from organ donation from one donor. I am a registered donor and am proud to let people know. After I am gone, why bury organs that could mean life to someone who has not known a normal life for a long time or even never. Thank you Paesano's for your support. It is great thing you are doing to help many people.
David J Undis
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 12:56 p.m.
Your story about Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations. There are now over 108,000 people on the National Transplant Waiting List, with over 50% of these people dying before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year. There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die. Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs. Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 14,200 members at this writing, including 413 members in Michigan. Please contact me - Dave Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers - if your readers would like to learn more about our innovative approach to increasing the number of organ donors. I can arrange interviews with some of our local members if you're interested. My email address is daveundis@lifesharers.org. My phone number is 615-351-8622.
maggiemay
Sun, Nov 21, 2010 : 9:18 a.m.
Hey! I work for Gift of Life, and I need to complete 3 more "sign up" sessions! I love Paesano's Restaurant. It is my favorite place to dine and have given Isabella's cookboook to my friends!! Let me be the first to volunteer my time at this Donor Registry event! Please? Margaret Viral Marker Technologist @ Gift of Life - Michigan
Anne
Sat, Nov 20, 2010 : 10:37 p.m.
Congratulations to Paesano's for being a progressive, compassionate organization! Thanks so much for your support of Gift of Life's 2010 donor drive. You're literally saving lives!! Anne Murphy, University of Michigan Transplant Center