The Belt and Beyond | February 11th, 2016

Give the Gift of Life this Valentine’s Day by
Registering to be an Organ Donor
by Candy Martin
February 14th is Valentine’s Day, the day to
celebrate love with chocolates and flowers. It is
also National Organ Donor Day, a day to celebrate
the gift of life. Those who have received a gift
from an organ donor celebrate this day with great
emotion.
Lisa Rigione and her family became involved
with the “Gift of Life Organ Donor Program” one
year ago. Lisa’s son, Mike Debiase was an organ
donor, giving the gift of life, on National Organ
Donor Day, February 14, 2015. His organs were
donated and saved the lives of six individuals.
Saving their families from suffering the heartache
and grief that Lisa and her family have been
dealing with since losing her 23 year old son
unexpectedly.
This is Mike’s story and his mother Lisa wants
Mike with his son Benny.
to share it in hopes of bringing awareness to the importance of organ donation.
Lisa, who was in the hospital, received a call from her husband John checking
on her and had mentioned that Mike, who had been sleeping on the couch,
was snoring unusually loud. Lisa casually said to wake him. John tried but
Mike didn’t wake up, he didn’t even move. John, being a paramedic, knew
immediately something was wrong and called an ambulance. Mike was rushed
to St Luke’s Anderson campus. Lisa met her husband and son when they arrived
at the hospital.
After a cat scan and extensive tests it was determined that Mike had a “brain
bleed” and was transferred to St. Luke’s in Bethlehem. Two days later Mike’s
doctor, informed Lisa and John that there was no sign of brain activity. Faced
with the grim news and making difficult decisions Lisa and John had asked
about organ donation and were informed that Mike was an organ donor. Lisa
recalled Mike saying that he checked the box to be an organ donor when he got
his driver’s license. Mike wanted his organs to be donated and Lisa and John
wanted to honor his wishes.
Mike Debiase passed away on February 12th, 2015. One week before his 24th
birthday.
The Gift of Life Program representative immediately stepped in once the
decision was made and was with Mike and his family from that moment
forward until the very end. Mike’s heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys were donated
to six individuals to give them the gift of life.
Mike, was Lisa’s oldest son. She called him “Sunshine” they shared a special
bond and had a connection with the sun and sunflowers. Mike was genuine,
he had a big heart, and he loved his family. His son Benny, his wife Sara, his
mother Lisa, little brother Connor, his step dad John and his friends were the
most important people in Mike’s life.
Mike attended FIT, Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City for Jewelry Design. When his
grandmother passed away Mike had told his mom
that he wanted to be cremated and his ashes made
into a diamond.
Lisa, is currently in the process of having a ring
made in honor of her son’s memory by Infinity
Diamond. The process is quite unique and is made especially for you from your
loved one.
Lisa’s ring will be yellow and amber in color. Some of Mike’s family and friends
are also having diamonds made. For information on Infinity Diamond visit their
website http://www.infinitydiamond.com/.
Since Mike’s passing Lisa has become involved with the Gift of Life Donor
Program. Volunteering her time and getting involved to help bring awareness to
organ donation.
Recipients are told very little about the donors, although most are extremely
curious to know more about the amazing person who chose to save their live.
The donor program encourages
but does not require the donor’s
family to write to the transplant
recipient. Lisa has learned
through the Gift of Life Donor
Program that a man in his
thirties received Mike’s heart, a
man in his forties received his
February 11, 2016
liver, the recipient of Mike’s right kidney is a man in his forties and his left
kidney is a man in his fifties. The recipient of his right lung is a man in his
seventies, and his left lung recipient is a man in his sixties.
Lisa said” It's never too late to turn your life around & become a “Hero" Mike
is my Hero, My son, my Sunshine. He choose to become an organ donor, now
he lives on in 6 others, there is no greater gift . Everyone can be a hero, Be Like
MIKE.”
Since Mike’s passing at least two dozen family members and friends have
registered to become organ donors.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank all the nurses at St. Luke’s who took
care of Mike as well as the needs of myself and my family, nurses Sheila, Anne,
Erin, Jenn, Karen, Kelly and Dr Lischner and the head of The Gift of Life Team
Timothy Snyder. The kindness and compassion shown to us during the most
difficult time of our lives will never be forgotten.” said Lisa
There are many myths and misconceptions about organ donation. Every
organized religion believes in organ donation. Here are a few facts about organ
and tissue donation.
On average, a single organ and tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of
50+ people.
More than 121,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in
the United States. Almost 2,000 of them are 18 years old or younger. Nearly
6,000 people await transplants in the Gift of Life Donor Program service region (
eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware)
More than 80 organ transplants take place in the United States every day.
More than 30,000 patients began new lives in 2015 thanks to organ
transplants.
More than 47,000 patients had their sight restored last year through cornea
transplants.
An average of 22 patients die every day because there are not enough organs
donated.
Every 10 minutes a person is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting
list.
More than 1 million tissue transplants are done each year and the need for
tissue has been rising.
The best way to indicate your decision to become a donor is by adding the
organ donor designation to your drivers license or state I.D. card and then tell
your family of your decision.
One Donor Can:
Donate kidneys to free two people from dialysis treatments needed to sustain
life.
Save the lives of patients awaiting heart, liver, lung or pancreas transplants.
Give sight to two people through the donation of corneas.
Donate bone to repair injured joints or to help save a limb
threatened by cancer.
Help burn victims heal more quickly through donation of
skin.
Save eight lives. In 30 seconds.
Become a registered organ and tissue donor today.
This Valentine’s Day think about making the decision to
become an organ donor. Organ donation is a gift of love.
Mike with his buddy,
little brother Connor.
Mike when he was younger with his
mother, Lisa and Step father John Rigione.
For more information about organ donation and to
register to become an organ and tissue donor visit www.
donatelifepa.org or www.donors1.org
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