When our 'Ohana is in Need: The Gift of Organ Transplants
By Ashley Slade
This summer, FUMC Pasadena has been celebrating ‘Ohana—being part of God’s loving family. Faith, service, and community are integral parts of how our church expresses the love of God to all we meet.
There are many ways to embody the practices of faith, service, and community for our ‘Ohana: volunteering at the Community Pantry, delivering gifts to those on our Shepherds list, giving a ride to church, or hosting a family in need through our partnership with Family Promise San Gabriel Valley. (To learn more about our many programs and volunteer opportunities, email connect@fumcpasadena.org.)
One way you may have not thought of to support ‘Ohana is through organ donation. While it can be daunting to think of helping others through a medical procedure, many lives can be prolonged with this selfless gift.
The United Methodist Church’s Revised Social Principles includes a section on organ donation and transplantation in the Social Community section that outlines the church’s stance:
There are many ways to embody the practices of faith, service, and community for our ‘Ohana: volunteering at the Community Pantry, delivering gifts to those on our Shepherds list, giving a ride to church, or hosting a family in need through our partnership with Family Promise San Gabriel Valley. (To learn more about our many programs and volunteer opportunities, email connect@fumcpasadena.org.)
One way you may have not thought of to support ‘Ohana is through organ donation. While it can be daunting to think of helping others through a medical procedure, many lives can be prolonged with this selfless gift.
The United Methodist Church’s Revised Social Principles includes a section on organ donation and transplantation in the Social Community section that outlines the church’s stance:
Click the image above to read the whole United Methodist Revised Social Principles
Organ donation can be done actively by checking to see if you are a match for someone on a donor registry, or passively by indicating you are a donor on your driver's license—allowing your organs to go to someone in need in the event of your passing.
It can be easy to ignore the shortage of viable organs for those needing transplants, particularly if you think no one in your community is affected. However, these issues often hit closer to home than you might realize.
It can be easy to ignore the shortage of viable organs for those needing transplants, particularly if you think no one in your community is affected. However, these issues often hit closer to home than you might realize.
Mark Messer
Longtime member Tom Bowman’s friend and relative (through the marriage of his oldest son, Bobby) Mark Messer is now in need of a kidney transplant. Tom describes Mark as a wonderful, hard-working young man who is well loved by those who know him. Like many others, Mark is on a waitlist and hoping to find a donor match for the kidney he needs.
Mark writes:
In December 2022, my health journey began after feeling unwell and receiving concerning blood work results. Shortly thereafter, I started on hemodialysis, initially visiting the clinic at 5:00 a.m. each morning before work. The routine later shifted to at-home dialysis, where I was hooked up to a machine for 12 hours overnight. Unfortunately, due to complications, I am back on hemodialysis for the time being.
All along, I have understood that dialysis is not a cure but a treatment. Ultimately, I would need a kidney transplant. After a year of working through all of this, I have been cleared to share that I am in need of a transplant, and potential living donors are encouraged to reach out to the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial in Worcester.
If you or someone you know might be a potential donor, your confidential assistance would be deeply appreciated. Potential donors are asked to visit my microsite https://nkr.org/KAC739 or contact the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial directly at 508-334-2023 to begin the screening process.
Even if a potential donor is not a direct match, paired exchanges are a great solution. More information can be found on my microsite https://nkr.org/KAC739 or by contacting the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial at 508-334-2023.
For more details on kidney donation, please visit https://nkr.org/KAC739. Even if direct donation is not possible, sharing this post could help connect me with a potential donor.
Mark writes:
In December 2022, my health journey began after feeling unwell and receiving concerning blood work results. Shortly thereafter, I started on hemodialysis, initially visiting the clinic at 5:00 a.m. each morning before work. The routine later shifted to at-home dialysis, where I was hooked up to a machine for 12 hours overnight. Unfortunately, due to complications, I am back on hemodialysis for the time being.
All along, I have understood that dialysis is not a cure but a treatment. Ultimately, I would need a kidney transplant. After a year of working through all of this, I have been cleared to share that I am in need of a transplant, and potential living donors are encouraged to reach out to the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial in Worcester.
If you or someone you know might be a potential donor, your confidential assistance would be deeply appreciated. Potential donors are asked to visit my microsite https://nkr.org/KAC739 or contact the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial directly at 508-334-2023 to begin the screening process.
Even if a potential donor is not a direct match, paired exchanges are a great solution. More information can be found on my microsite https://nkr.org/KAC739 or by contacting the transplant clinic at UMass Memorial at 508-334-2023.
For more details on kidney donation, please visit https://nkr.org/KAC739. Even if direct donation is not possible, sharing this post could help connect me with a potential donor.
Mark, and many others, remain hopeful that someone will step forward to share the gift of an organ with them. We encourage you to share Mark’s story, or others that you know of, so that the chances of the right person seeing it will increase.
Currently 103,223 men, women, and children are on the national transplant waiting list. Our ‘Ohana is in need. Perhaps you are one of the many who can help.
For more information on organ donation, please visit https://www.organdonor.gov/.
Currently 103,223 men, women, and children are on the national transplant waiting list. Our ‘Ohana is in need. Perhaps you are one of the many who can help.
For more information on organ donation, please visit https://www.organdonor.gov/.
1 Comment
A heartfelt thank you to The United Methodist Church for sharing Mark Messer's story regarding organ transplants. Special thanks to Tom Bowman one of the angels among us. Great work. We truly appreciate your care, concern and help spreading the word.
nSincerely,
nMike Messer (Marks Dad)
nEasthampton Massachusetts
n