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Archived Chat from HBO's Website
On September 23, 1999 The Kindness of Strangers premiered on HBO and was the subject of a successful online discussion. Below are some of the comments from those who viewed the film and felt compelled to share their own personal experiences with organ donation.
"Each Year, during Organ Donor Awareness Week, I distribute organ donor cards and a description of my story to everyone at work and all my friends. I ask that those who have already filled one out pass the new one along to a friend of theirs, to keep the circle growing. I also sign every email with an organ donation signature line and a link to the Coalition on Donation. While most of my friends and family fill out the cards, some still feel uncomfortable with the idea. I don't push them, but just keep educationg them. I saw the film last spring at a special screening, and i cried the whole time. It brought up many issues and feelings I had buried since my transplant. But it also helped me realize even more just how lucky I am, and what a gift this was. I look at my life with a much happier perspective than before I was sick, which I think is the greatest gift ever. "by (spenner) Thu 23 Sep '99 (02:35 PM)
"I am a heart transplant recipient. I received my heart five years ago in April. Five months after my transplant I became pregnant. I choose to continue my pregnancy and gave natural birth to a healthy eight pound baby girl. Her name is Angelica Faith. We are both doing great. She is truly a miracle. Not only did my heart donor give me life, she also gave life to my daughter. To the people out there who are registered donors, you are truly a blessing. Spread the word and encourage people to do the same."
by (Connierippey) Tue 28 Sep '99 (09:35 AM)
"I am the parent of a tissue donor, a related and often unfamiliar cousin of organ transplant. My daughter Sarah died the first week of her senior year in high school, asleep at the wheel five minutes from home. She was a passionate reader, and had been up until the wee hours reading (in the closet so her mom wouldn't see the light) and in foolish teen fashion, had driven to her dad's to visit for the evening. I could have taken her, but she didn't ask. Sarah was applying to Harvard, she was first in her class, a gentle devout child. Her death was a devastating storm in this small town. In the hospital, the staff who knew us all had a hard time just getting their job done. No one asked about donation. Her stepmother, bless her, perhaps because she is a nurse, asked about donating her eyes since she loved so much to read. Her dad and I immediately agreed and extended that request to anything that could be used We knew that as she had died with heart failure that organ donation would not be possible - it is rare that one dies with the heart still supplying oxygen to the vital organs! Yet the Red Cross tissue team came in and harvested her skin, large bones, ligaments, fascia -- and so many lives have been changed by that decision. Over 50 people can receive tissue donations from one donor! We know that almost a dozen spinal surgeries have used Sarah's donated bone, that a Columbus Ohio teenager can compete again with Sarah's anterior cruciate ligament transplanted, that 2 little old ladies can walk through the garden with Sarah bone in their broken legs, that a 24 yr old recovered from brain tumor removal with Sarah fascia, that a 32 year old man in Phoenix healed from burns with Sarah skin. I am profoundly grateful to know that my child - whose bones I knit, whose tissue I grew - lives on! NOt only in spirit as I , and she, have always believed, but also in physical presence. Her gift literally embraces the world, an image that gives such comfort to us who love her. Please learn to say Organ AND TISSUE donation. Most people simply do not know that tissue is a far more likely donation to be made even when organ donation is not possible. God gave us the creativity and skill and curiosity to develop the ability to recycle our bodies into new life, a part of the natural life cycle of the world around us. Let us use all that skill with joy."
by (skoester) Sat 25 Sep '99 (06:45 AM)
"Five years ago I received a second pancreas transplant.....the first one was in 1991 and my body had gone through 8 years of hospitalization, 40 major surgeries and infection after infection. The first pancreas was damaged during the first six months as I contracted CMV which had, only months before been solved. I waited again for a pancreas (14 months this time.) I am now 5 years out from the second transplant and am most happy to report that my life is 100% normal. I have no problems. I have no physical limitations. There have been 2 loving and to call the "transplant psyche"...caring families who most graciously were willing to donate their loved ones organs. It is very easy for a transplant recipient to have what I like "I know that I am going to be much better with the new organ but I am always going to be "damaged goods" to some extent." I realized that this attitude was doing a major injustice to the donor family. I have not been willing to accept anything but "perfect health" since the transplant. I, like all transplant patients had a period of adjustment.
December 18, 1998 brought me full circle as my sweet Mother passed away suddenly without warning of a massive heart attack. I am most happy to say that my Mother had made sure everyone knew how much she wanted to donate her organs. She spent over 1000 days in hospitals with me during my sickness. Her organs could not be used but her skin, eyes and bones were used. This was certainly a bit of consolation for us at that time and has grown to be a great deal of consolation for the entire family as this year has passed. Many, many families have been touched because of my transplants and also my Mother's donation.
To further show how well I am doing...I leave on October 27th for a 6 week 225 mile trek in the Himalayas in Nepal. I have been preparing for this for almost 2 years and have hiked and backpacked over 500 miles. Praise God for giving us the will and spirit to fight the good fight and also giving us the spirit of love that is the central element in being a donor family."by (transplanttrekker) Fri 24 Sep '99 (07:00 PM)
