In the News

April 1, 2013
“The simple act of registering to be a
donor can have the potential to save
numerous lives. To keep that at the
forefront is important.”
- East Hartford Mayor
Marcia Leclerc
transplanted,” Andrews said.
And then her outlook turned even
more dire when another doctor,
a pancreatic specialist, asked to
see her.
“He told me I would need a pancreas
and kidney transplant,”
Andrews said. “I was dying. I knew I
wasn’t old enough to die.”
Weeks passed before Andrews received
the news that would save
her own life as it took the life of
another – a kidney and pancreas
were available.
“I found out my donor was a
19-year-old young man,” Andrews
said.
“At this point, this was in August
2004, there was no first person
consent. His parents had a decision
to make, to allow him to
be a donor. I’m sure it took a lot
of consideration, because that’s
just something people don’t talk
about.”
Though the transplant will require
her to take medication for the rest
of her life to prevent her body from
rejecting the organs, Andrews regained
her strength and returned
to work full time as a kitchen
supervisor at Hartford Correctional
Center. Much of her free time
is now spent raising awareness
about the critical lack of organ
donors throughout the country.
“Ninety percent of Americans believe
in donation, but only about
33 percent actually register to be a
donor. Why do we have this gap?”
Andrews said.
She said that more than 117,000
Americans are awaiting an organ
transplant. In Connecticut, 1,200
residents are still waiting, according
to a news release from Leclerc.
Countless others depend on donated
tissues, such as corneas,
tendons, heart valves, and skin, for
restored health, the release said.
Andrews often visits driving
schools and colleges to tell her
story, noting that students are
generally more receptive than
most to the idea of becoming an
organ donor.
“I’ve asked in class how many
are registered organ donors, and
usually it’s about 80 to 90 percent,”
Andrews said.
Leclerc said organ donation is an
issue dear to many of the town’s
residents. Many have had a close
friend or relative succumb to
organ failure who might still be
alive had a donor been available,
she said.
“I think it touches so many people,
and the simple act of registering to
be a donor can have the potential
to save numerous lives. To keep
that at the forefront is important,”
Leclerc said.
The town will raise the Donate
Life flag at several locations
in town throughout the
month of April in the interest of
helping to save lives in the state’s
communities.
In The News 93