Ken Blair and Family

Ken Blair, CTS Director-OH, has been working for Community Tissue Services (CTS) in his current role for 23 years. He started out working in an orthopedic clinic in Texas in the 80’s, just as modern tissue banking was evolving.  While at this clinic, they occasionally used grafts from local tissue banks.  After 10 years, he left that position and worked weekends at an ER. With the encouragement of local tissue bank, he participated in donor recoveries. In 1990, he joined CTS, and as Ken says, “the rest is history.”

When asked what tissue donation means to him, Ken shared with us that it’s “about individuals who can look beyond their circumstance and see how their gift can benefit/change the lives of others in need.  It is an unconditional gift, given freely without restriction, solely for the benefit of others.”

Ken explains his passion for his work by defining it as a “privilege to be one of the stewards of these gifts” of tissue donation, “and as such the obligation to ensure that each gift has the opportunity to be utilized to its fullest.  I work with individuals with a shared desire to honor the gift, the donor and their family; as well as a commitment to our mission and vision of “Extraordinary people saving and enhancing lives”.”

His work has impacted his life in many ways: It has allowed Ken to participate in an emerging field that holds many answers to the problems of today and the future. It has given him the opportunity to meet and share ideas that will hopefully move the field forward.  Perhaps most importantly, though, in some ways, it prepared his family for the loss of a child and the myriad of emotions and decisions that go with that process. Ultimately, Ken says, “it has given me the opportunity to celebrate my son’s life and the impact of his gifts on the lives of others.”

All of us are proud and honored to call Ken not only our co-worker, but also an important part of our CTS family.  To learn more about CTS, visit online at our website. To learn more about tissue donation, visit our interactive experience here.

I’m too old or ill to be a donor.

~Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what may be donated.

My religion doesn’t support being a donor.

~All major religions in the United States support organ, eye, and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.

If I’m critically hurt, if the hospital knows I’m a donor, they won’t try to save my life.

~If you’re sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you’re deceased.

One of my end of life wishes is to have an open casket funeral. I can’t do this if I’m a donor.

~An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process, the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.

Being a donor is going to put an unnecessary financial burden on my family.

~There is no cost to the donor, or their family, for organ or tissue donation.

Do you have a question or concern we don’t address here? If you do, please be sure to leave a comment for us. Knowing all of the facts will help you make the right decision for you.

“She has encouraged many to think about life and all we have to offer and that even after we have passed we can make miracles happen for many people that may need a transplant.

Now, with each and every one of Valerie’s tissue grafts that is transplanted, Valerie is able to reach one more of her goals.”

Read the entire story on the Wall of Life page.

In the photo are four CTS employees (Jason is in the white shirt with a tie); the gentleman with the grey hair is retired Dallas Cowboy, and living Kidney donor, Everson Wall.

This month, we’d like to introduce Jason Morse, a Community Tissue Services (CTS) Director in Texas. He became involved in tissue donation through his experience working in the operating room. He noticed some co-workers had departed the O.R. to work in the tissue recovery industry. Eventually, one of them called him and asked if he was interested in joining the tissue recovery team at CTS.  After researching the organization as well as the industry, he determined that this was something he was interest in pursuing. From there, the rest, as they say, is history.

His effective transition into his position with CTS is best summarized by Jason:  ”The ultimate goal of each surgery performed is to hopefully help to save or enhance the life of one individual. On the other hand, each tissue recovery surgery has the ability to save or enhance the live of approximately fifty people!”

Jason not only works with tissue donors, but he is part of a donor family as well. His Father-in-Law, Joseph Wohlferd, was a tissue donor. Jason shared about his amazing Father-in-Law on our Wall of Life. Joseph’s donation of skin, bone and tendons helped to improve the lives of others. His ultimate gift aligned well with his many selfless and generous acts while still alive.  Through this donation as well as through his work with CTS, Jason has felt the true impact of tissue donation countless times. Tissue donation has a positive impact on both a community as well as leaving a lasting legacy. While attending an event recently, a donor family member shared that: “If the only thing you have ever done right in your life was to become a donor, all the other wrongs are removed”.  For Jason, this statement clearly illustrates the pride that many donor families feel knowing their loved one will have a lasting impact on this world.

Feeling passionate about his work comes easily for Jason. For inspiration, he just looks at the CTS vision statement: Extraordinary people…saving and enhancing lives. For him, the extraordinary people addressed in the statement not only include the employees at CTS; it also includes the donor, the donor family and all others that are involved in the miracle of saving and enhancing lives. He says it’s easy to find passion when you are involved in a community of individuals that come together to help others.

When we asked Jason what fuels his passion for tissue donation, here’s what he told us: “My passion for tissue donation is continually fueled by knowing that, despite an increase in the number of individuals deciding to donate, the need for tissue grafts grows as well. I think a lot about how the demand for skin grafts generally keep the supply low and without this life-saving graft, someone may succumb to their injury. I also, think about the recipient letter that I read illustrating how receiving a graft returned the recipients life back to normal. Many of these recipients had lost the ability to function normally. They could not pick up their children or grandchildren, they could not walk freely without pain, they simply had a poor quality of life. However, through the act of donation, they are able to enjoy life again.”

CTS is fortunate to have someone on staff who has such a deep understanding and compassion for tissue donation. You can learn more about CTS and tissue donation online at our website.

Surveys across the nation show that more than 80% of Americans want to be an organ or tissue donor. However, 42.7 percent of individuals age 18 and older have registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors. An important goal for all of us at FiftyLives is to continue to educate the community on the importance of tissue donation so that families can make informed decisions about the options of donation.

What can you do to help promote the importance of being a registered donor?

First: Don’t keep your decision to be a tissue donor a secret. Tell your family and friends about your decision. Talk about the importance of registering at every opportunity. Share information with them to help answer their questions.

Second: Utilize these resources that have been made available to help spread the word about the importance of being a registered tissue donor:

• Use one of our Social Media badges. Update your Facebook photo with one of these badges, or simply post one to your timeline.
• Help others to understand tissue donation by providing them with a link to our “How we Help” Interactive Experience on our website.
• Encourage everyone with questions to seek answers. Suggest they comment on this blog post, or reach out to us on our Facebook page. Either way, you have our assurance, we will do whatever we can to help provide information to help answer their questions.
• On Friday, April 19, it’s National Wear your Blue and Green Day. Be sure to save your blue and green clothing to wear as an outward sign to show your support for organ and tissue donors.
• Bake cookies, cupcakes or a cake — frost with blue and green icing; then share with your coworkers. It’s a simple way to bring up the importance of being a registered donor.

What do you have planned for this month? Share your tips and ideas with us here.

Together we can make a difference.

Abby’s personal connection to the tissue industry is through an old friend. One of her good friends passed away in a motorcycle accident. Her friend was a registered donor, so when the time came, his decision aided his family in coping with their loss easier. Abby said it didn’t surprise her that her friend was already a registered donor, since he was always a giving and generous person, it only made sense that he continue his generosity, even in death. His decision allowed his family to grieve in a healthy manner, knowing that he continues to live on in the lives of others.

It’s stories like this that affect our branch directors at Community Tissue Services, and allow their passion to show through in their work. Hard work and compassion are what drives CTS employees.

When Abby was asked what her favorite thing about working for Community Tissue Services was, she replied, “There are two things that are the best about working for CTS: The staff is amazing and they all work very hard to honor each donor’s gift. Being able to give a grieving family the options that they need to make an informed decision and allowing them to create a legacy through organ, eye, and tissue donation.”

Experience the “How We Help” tool here.

Rob has yet to be a tissue recipient, but he has the honor of meeting several recipients and donor families frequently. One recipient’s story that has deeply impacted him was a woman who had received donated heart valves, and through a long recovery became the healthiest she’d ever been in her life. Once she was fully recovered and healthy again, she realized her desire to have children. The doctors had advised her against pregnancy and offered her other options for bearing children, but she was determined, and became pregnant. Rob was listening to this woman speak about her experience with tissue donation, the impact it’s had on her life, and her struggles with conceiving children, when suddenly a little boy asked if he could speak-it was her son. Rob listened as the little boy expressed his heartfelt love and appreciation for his mother as the boy broke down in tears. His mother held him in her arms; the bond between them could be felt throughout the room. “Needless to say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house and the entire crowd rose to their feet with applause for the success story.” It is stories such as this one that inspire Rob everyday when he goes to work for Community Tissue Services.

What people don’t realize through tissue donation is that when someone decides to become a tissue donor, one life isn’t just affected, several are. What Rob enjoys most in working for Community Tissue Services is the daily reminder that he’s able to aid in impacting lives each day he goes to work and the feeling that at the end of the day he knows he’s made a difference for someone.

Find out more about how Community Tissue Services helps with our new “How We Help Tool.”

His passion for tissue donation services was reaffirmed when his father suddenly passed away. Roe’s father had always admired Brian for his work with Community Tissue Services, and for the first time, Brian was experiencing the other side of the industry; a family member having to make the decision for their loved one, whether to donate his father’s tissues or not. Roe knew his father would like to be a hero to several other people, by changing their lives through tissue donation, and so the decision was made to donate. Through Brian’s father, Dale Evans Roe, more than 50 people’s lives were improved or saved through his gifts of skin, tissue, bones and corneas. Although the process was difficult, Brian admits it’s made him stronger professionally and personally by being able to relate, connect, and sympathize with family and friends of donors.

Brian has yet to be a tissue recipient or donor, but his beliefs and commitment in the industry affirm that should the situation arise, he would donate and save or improve someone’s life. Should he ever seek donated tissue from a donor, Roe understands and would appreciate the donation, sympathizing and knowing the precious gift the donor gave to improve someone’s life; by always remembering a donor’s gift, they’re able to live on through the lives they’ve touched and improved.

After the parade, we asked her to share with us her thoughts on the entire experience:

“How can I begin to describe this amazing experience? How can I begin to thank my family’s sponsors, Community Tissue Services and the American Association of Tissue Banks. This has been one of the most powerful and significant events in my life, and I could not be more grateful! My heart is so full and I cannot stop smiling!

I now have the most incredible extended family all over the country. The love and understanding and bonds between us are undeniable. It was hard to leave my new family, and I miss them

How can I describe the outpouring of love and compassion I felt from those I encountered up close and in the crowd? Riding on the Donate Life float in honor of my son in the 2013 Rose Parade was simply like being wrapped in magic!!!”

We’re overwhelmed with joy and appreciation for your selfless choice you made for Quinn, and we’re glad we could be a part of this experience with you, Denien.