CTV - Canada A.M. be a donor - How things have changed!

Donors and recipients get together to discuss organ & tissue donation in Canada. 

MEMORIES

This newscast brought back more than a few memories and I have to sit back and smile when I think of how some things have changed over these past years.

• 
  I now think back to the time of when we first became a donor family in May of 1993.
• 
  I recall how I went to our local paper asking them to share our good news and how I was told by the editor at that time that it couldn't be done. This editor had stated that, it was considered to much of a controversial subject for them to cover.
• I remember how shocked I was and wondered how a person moves on when people have this kind of attitude.
• I also remember how it took 6 years to find a local reporter to do a story about Tasha's Wish and how grateful I was at that time.
• Since that time, as I did move on things did get better and I now think of how our local media has done such a spectacular job in promoting this cause.
• 
  As the years went by and as I struggled to fulfill Tasha's wish that I educate myself as others on this subject I remember all the ups and downs.
• 
  I remember all the wonderful individuals that we have met and I especially remember all of those that gave us a helping hand.

Now I see what is happening today and I think of how more and more people are opening their minds and hearts on the subject of donation.

With all of this I hope that the respect of individual choices should never be forgotten, I pray that we all keep in mind that there are those that aren't comfortable in discussing this subject, and we need to make sure that they are respected.

With all that I have learnt over these past years I believe that Canada can be a leader in this cause and that they can do it by respecting the wishes of all, without taking away the rights of any of our fellow Canadians.

God bless and take care.

Maria

Busy time and sad time and I'm trying to keep up

Dear Friends

I would like to say that I am trying to keep up even though it can be a bit difficult.

For those of you that are just getting to know me, I'm a grandma that takes care of my grandson Max while his parents are at work.

Max and I do many things during the time that he spends with me. Things like play group, shopping and visiting his granny and the seniors home. At times Max also comes with me when I am asked to do presentations, like this one time on May 8th.

On May 8th I was so thankful to have the school, Peace River High, invite me to speak to their grade nine students.

My friend, Claudette came to help and watch Max and we spent over an hour at the school.

During this time, the grade nine students worked on banners and I explained to them why I was there and what the banner campaign was about.

The staff took a lot of pictures for the school news letter and they asked me to write a little something that they could also use. (I'm also hoping to have a few pictures of this event that I can post asap)

This was the brief message that I gave for the newsletter.

Information about the banner and the presentation.

It is an year long campaign and an attempt to promote family discussions on the subject of organ and tissue donation. We would also like to have Canadians set a Guinness World Book Record for the Longest Banner in the World, on May 5th 2013

Please note

When I was asked to do this presentation on May 8th, it was a very significant and special day for me. This was due to it being the 19th anniversary of Tasha becoming an organ and tissue donor.

Also this year is a very special year not only due to doing the launch of this year long campaign it is due to Tasha's Heart Family going public by asking fellow Canadians to assist with this banner campaign.

For those that would like more information or would like to see pictures of special events and the banners that have been done to date they can look us up on

my blog at worldslongestbanner@blogspot.com

Twitter at longestbanner20

on Face book at - World's Longest Banner for Organ & Tissue Donation.

and I'm also working on a web-page and hopefully I'll have it up and running soon.

www.worldslongestbanner.org

If you would like to contact me you can call or email me at stranaghan2@gmail.com or phone 780-624-4337

The month of May is such an emotional month for us to begin with and then tragedy strikes again -  

This week on May 17th - we lost another family member in a collision, he was a cousin, a great young man and only 26 years old, and it's such a sad time for us all.

I've been in this family for 40 years now and all I can say is that they are such a nice and loving family - I just hate the thoughts of them having to go through this and I wish that it hadn't happened to them.

For those of you that pray - please keep us in your prayers.

Take care and God bless.

The Record - Gazette - Peace River AB - Stories - Past and present

I'm playing with my blog, wondering how to add some of the stories that have been done by our local paper to help promote the cause.

So here is attempt number 1

:-)


Kick-start of campaign to create the world’s longest banner coming up - Peace River Record Gazette - Alberta, CA

Peace River woman shooting for Guinness World Record to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation - Peace River Record Gazette - Alberta, CA

Too cool ...it worked.

Vision For Banner

We are looking for fellow Canadians to help set a Guinness World Book Record for Canada.

This record attempt will be for Longest Banner in the World

Why are we doing this?

To promote discussions on the subject of organ & tissue donation.

How, we would like to achieve this goal.

The way donation happens, one person at a time, therefore one meter at a time.

What we would like to happen after this Guinness World Book Attempt.

We would like for the banner to be recycled and used as a promotional tool in participating communities across Canada.

How can the banners be recycled?

EXAMPLES

They can be sold as artwork, used in making quilts and used for clothing and clothing accessories.

Our Final Goal

To promote National Transplant Games and assist Canadian athletes (Transplant Recipients) with additional funding for National Games and World Transplant Games events.

National Transplant Games 2012, start on July 16th in Calgary Alberta.

To volunteer or participate in these games

Contact the CTA, (Canadian Transplant Association) for more information.

Maria Stranaghan

Donor family and proud member of CTA