Day 7 of the Legacy Tour

Madison

Wow! What a ride this tour has been. We’ve met so many incredible people with such moving stories. Before this tour, I admittedly had no connection to organ donation. I’ve been a registered organ donor since I got my license when I was 16 and it’s always been something I strongly believed in, but still had no personal connection. I would no longer say that. I have so many connections, and they are all of you. I have been so lucky to get to travel around with this tour and meet you all and hear your stories and shake your hands. You have all overcome so much, whether it was losing a loved one and choosing to share them with others so those in need could have a second chance at life, or you yourself received that gift. The strength I’ve seen in all of you is amazing and honestly, life-changing. I wanted to take the time to thank you all for sharing your lives with me and everyone else who reads this blog. It has meant so much to me to be a part of your life even for the short time we met or talked. I have been truly moved.

Now, onto Madison’s event.

Rachel Maske spoke at the event to share her sister’s story. On Dec. 5, 2007 Rachel got a phone call she said she thought only happened in Lifetime movies. The voice on the other line told her that her sister, Becky, was in a coma. Rachel took off for Milwaukee, where Becky was in the hospital, without even knowing how to get there. Soon after arriving, Rachel and her family realized how serious Becky’s condition was.

“It became clear this wasn’t a situation that was going to end with good results, as much as we hoped it would,” said Rachel.

Less than a week after going into a coma, Becky was pronounced brain dead. It turns out she had contracted a viral infection which settled in her head.

The doctors approached Becky’s parents and asked what their wishes were on organ donation. Rachel said her parents never even hesitated. The entire family had already talked about their wishes for themselves if they were in a situation like Becky’s.

“I can’t stress how important it is to talk about donation with your family,” said Rachel. “It’s not a conversation you want to have to have at that stressful point in your life.”

Rachel said the chance to have Becky’s organs donated really helped her family keep going after losing her.

“To keep myself occupied I tried to think about what it was like for those families to hear they have an organ,” she said. “There are two families that get to spend Christmas with their loved ones.”

Rachel will be participating in this summer’s Games for the first time.
“For me the Transplant Games will be a chance to celebrate my sister Becky,” said Rachel.

Rachel and her family will also honor Becky by presenting a patch in her name to Patches of Love: The National Donor Quilt.


Next, Ali Wandschneider, a spirited 11-year-old, shared what the gift of organ donation has meant to her. Ali was born with a disease that caused her to need a new liver.

“My parents were told that someday I was going to need a transplant,” said Ali. “That day came earlier than expected.”

When Ali was three years old her life was threatened.

“But I was one of the lucky ones because my liver transplant came in time,” said Ali.
Ali went on to talk about her life since the transplant.

“I started taking pills when I was three years old,” she said. “It’s not big deal, my daddy has a harder time than I do swallowing pills.”

Ali explained how she is only 11, but her liver is 55 and that it shrank to the size of a three-year-old liver when it was transplanted and now it grows with her.

Ali will be competing in the Games this summer in the badminton and cycling events. She’s also participating in the 5 K Run/Walk for Organ, Eye and Tissue donation.

“I can’t wait,” she said about the Games. “I’m sure I’ll meet a lot of new friends.”
Ali stood on stage in a homemade t-shirt that said ‘Ali, Organ Recipient’ on the front and ‘Thanks!’ on the back.

“I’m so lucky to be here,” she said. “I want to thank Delilah, my organ donor and guardian angel. My organ donation is the best gift anyone can get. I wish more people would donate so more people can be alive.”

At the end of the ceremony, Ali and Rachel passed on the donor quilt panel to the number of representatives for the Madison area Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin. The quilt was passed from one representative to the other, before being marched out for the last time until the Games starting in July.

Again, it has been so neat to hear your stories. I am truly inspired by all of your perseverance and never-quit attitudes.

Thanks again to all of you who have taken the time to read this blog and follow us along our tour.

I don’t necessarily want this to be the end of the blog. I will write from time to time leading up to the Games to keep everybody pumped up! :) I know I’m excited for them! So I’ll be back. Check in from time to time and I’ll update you on how things are going as we count down the days left till the Games.

See you there!

Remember, you can save lives: YESIWILLWISCONSIN.ORG

Madison Media Coverage:

WKOW: http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12700262

Channel 15: http://www.wrn.com/2010/06/organ-donation-tour-stops-in-wisconsins-capital-city/