Happy "20th" Birthday, Dad!

Today is a tremendous milestone for my family. 
It marks the 20th anniversary of my dad's organ transplant. 

 
On August 25, 1994 my dad received a successful liver donation from a sixteen year old teenager who had been killed in a car accident.  It was because of that family's unselfish generosity that we have been able to enjoy 20 more healthy and happy years with my dad. 

Kurby's Wedding 2004

The transplant literally provided him with a second chance at life.  My dad walked his children down the aisle at two weddings.  He became 'Grandpa Dewey' to four grandchildren.  He retired as a seasoned Colonel in the army; established a second career with the American Red Cross and now enjoys retirement at our local hardware store.  And, this summer, he celebrated 45 years of marriage to my mom. 

Christmas, 2011 with Vivster

Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary, 2014

The benefits of organ donation are endless.  Not just for my family but for thousands of others. 

Last year alone, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss.

Every 10 minutes, a new person is added to a donor waiting list.

On average, 80 people a day receive a transplant; but 18 die because the lack of eligible donors. 

Unfortunately, the gap between donors and recipients continues to widen.  (For example, in 2013, there were 121,272 people on the wait list and only 28,954 transplants).

I don't usually use Vivid Hue Home as a place for PSA's, but each year on the anniversary of my dad's transplant, I take the opportunity to share these important statistics.  I can't imagine how different my life would have been these last few decades without my dad.  And luckily, because of that one family's act to help save lives through organ donation, I don't have to!

Please consider being a donor if you aren't already.  You can register here in your specific state. 

(All statistics quoted in this post are from the US Department of Health and Human Services Organ Donor site here). 


#organ #organtransplant #organdonation #organdonor #donateorgans #savelives

Happy "19th" Birthday Dad!

This is my Dad.

You may have seen him sporadically on Vivid Hue before in the past (sometimes referred to as 'Grandpa Dewey', see here).   And today we celebrate his 19th Birthday. 

Let me explain. 


It was on August 25, 1994 that my dad received a successful liver donation from a sixteen year old teenager.  The teenager was killed in a car accident.  At such a sad, tragic time in their own lives, the parents made a selfless decision to donate their child's organ(s). We never met the family, they had requested to remain anonymous.  But from that day forward, my dad was literally given a new, healthy life.  A second chance.  And as a result, I have been granted an additional nineteen years with my own dad...and COUNTING!

I can never repay that family for their decision.  But I can cherish every additional day I've been able to spend with my dad over these years.  Let's just say, I'm a huge advocate for organ donation.  (Please consider if you aren't already a donor). 

Here's my dad with my mama in their younger days...and this summer they celebrated 44 years together.  There are so many milestones like this that we've been able to experience as a family. 

Did you know:

One organ donor can save up to eight lives. The same donor can also save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes.

In 2012, there were 14,013 Organ Donors resulting in 28,052 organ transplants.

 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

The success rate for organ transplants is between 80 and 90 percent.

There are so many myths around organ donation.  I would urge everyone to read here for more facts about it.  I would like to request that every person consider being a donor if you're not already.  Or at least be educated enough to know the myths from the facts about donation.  

Here's how you can register to be a donor.   
Cheers!
Heather | Vivid Hue Home

Happy "18th Birthday", Dad

{Here's me at age 4, congratulating my dad on one of his many promotions in the Army. (Thank Gawd for bloomers!)  My sister, Kurby, is in my lil' mama's tummy}. 

I'd like to wish my dad a Happy Eighteenth Birthday today*.  Huh?  How is it that I'm almost forty and my dad is only "eighteen?"  Let me explain. 

It was on August 25, 1994 that my dad received a successful liver donation from a sixteen year old teenager.  The teenager was killed in a car accident.  At such a sad, tragic time in their own lives, the parents made a selfless decision to donate their child's organ(s). We never met the family, they had requested to remain anonymous.  But from that day forward, my dad was literally given a new, healthy life.  And as a result, I have been granted an additional eighteen years with my own dad...and COUNTING!


Since 1994, I graduated from college.  I lived in NYC.  I got married.  I experienced my own career promotions.  I had a baby boy.  I had a baby girl.  I became a mother and a wife.  I opened a business with my husband.  I celebrated 18 Christmas's, 17 of which were with my dad (and lil' mama of course). 
Every year, my family celebrates two birthdays for my dad.  His actual birth day, and his transplant day.  (ya'll know my family is a sucker for celebrating birthdays!)

So, Happy "18th" Dad! 


Did you know:

One organ donor can save up to eight lives. The same donor can also save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes.


In 2011, there were 8,127 deceased organ donors and 6,017 living organ donors resulting in 28,535 organ transplants. 

90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.

The success rate for organ transplants is between 80 and 90 percent.

There are so many myths around organ donation.  I would urge everyone to read here for more facts about it.  I would like to request that every person consider being a donor if you're not already.  Or at least be educated enough to know the myths from the facts about donation.  

Here's how you can register to be a donor.   


And, lastly, here's my dad today!  Yes, with my mama...the one that never reads this blog (proof here)!  (teasing)

* PS- I have posted this one day early because Vivid Hue usually doesn't post on Saturdays...it's a day off peeps! 

xoxo  Heather from Vivid Hue Home

Heya I'm on pinterest too. Check me out here.