|
|
|
Transplant recipient finds way to honor donor's life
|
by Dawn Brazell
Public Relations
It’s called the bear quilt, but a better name may be the magic quilt.
For one reason, it plays tricks on the eyes. From close up the batik
squares appear in a kaleidoscope of colors as if viewing an
Impressionist painting. Viewed from a distance, though, the image of a
bear appears. But that’s just a hint of its magic.
 The real magic of the quilt is in the lives it has touched and how it has brought healing.
Brainchild of MUSC transplant patient Steve Carr, the quilt was born
out of a desire to raise money for MUSC’s Transplant Center and to
bring honor to Betsy Ann Thomson, a 27-year-old special needs teacher
who was known for her gift of working with children on the autism
spectrum.
Carr, who received the gift of two of her organs, wanted to raise money
to support the center and to provide a donation to the Autism Society
of America, one of Thomson’s favorite causes. He talked to his friend
Rise Briggs, an artist who makes quilts, and she volunteered to make
one to use as a fundraiser.
Sara Stello, administrative coordinator at the center, said it was a
wonderful way to show thanks and to honor Thomson. The center received
$1,200 from ticket sales. “People who opt to be organ donors are way
beyond heroes. It shows Steve’s gratitude. Thank you is never enough.
How do you say thank you when your life goes on. It’s a way to help
them grieve and for Steve to show Betsy’s family how much it meant to
him. I don’t think he could think of a better kidney he could have in
his body.”
 Betsy Ann Thomson
The transplant center received four organs from Thomson, who died
unexpectedly from a blood clot in her leg that broke loose and lodged
in her lung. Carr, 57, received a kidney and her pancreas, with two
other patients getting a kidney and a liver. Carr, who has diabetes,
contracted a virus that was causing organ failure, he said. He had his
transplant in July 2008, and is doing well.
 Steve Carr, of Greenville, wanted to raise money for MUSC’s Transplant Center. Visit http://www.muschealth.com/transplant or http://www.facebook.com/MUSCtransplant
In describing Thomson, Carr said she was an outstanding person and
considered the life of the party. She was a Special Olympics state
games coach, and had a heart for helping these children. Another
fundraiser held through the Autism Speaks organization raised $2,060
for the Celebrating Betsy Team. Carr, who has met with her family, said
she is greatly missed by them, her friends and her fiancée.
Stello said it’s been gratifying to see how the quilt fundraiser helped
honor her memory, and how it also helped others to move on in their
lives. One odd twist to the story is that the winner of the quilt was
Sharon Spray, Ph.D., a friend of Carr and Briggs. The three roomed
together as friends in Hawaii about 35 years ago. Spray’s husband died
three years ago from cancer related to his anti-suppressant drug
therapy from a transplant he had received 15 years earlier, said Carr.
“For her it was closure. Taking the action of giving the money was a final step in her grieving process.”
INFO BOX
- Every 11 minutes
another person is added to the transplant waiting list.
- You have the power to
save eight lives through organ donation and to improve the lives of more
than 50 other people through tissue donation.
- There are about 100,000
people on the national organ transplant waiting list. More than 750 of
those waiting are on the South
Carolina list.
- Every 90 minutes
someone dies in the United
States awaiting a transplant.
- For more information about
being a donor, visit http://www.donatelifesc.org
or http://www.every11minutes.org
Friday, March 19, 2010
|
|
|
