Well-Loved Man Gives the Gift of Life
LifeShare Celebrates National Donor Day
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Rod, of Oklahoma City, had first met his wife in 1991 during their freshman year at Oklahoma State. They were great friends through college. Sixteen years after they graduated, they reconnected, met again and instantly fell in love. Today, he is remembered as a generous husband and father – but also as a hero.
February 14 is not only Valentine’s day, but also National Donor Day. The celebration is a time to recognize the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Rod, had a passion for life. Specifically, he was passionate about skiing, hiking, cowboying, biking, football – or anything outside. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He deeply loved his family more than anything. Rod had the uncanny ability to make anyone around him laugh. Everyone he met adored him, as he was a good listener, friend and loved pulling innocent pranks on his family and friends. He saw the good in just about everyone he met. He made everyone feel good just by being in his presence. |
Early in Rod’s career, he spent cowboying in Southwestern Oklahoma and South Texas. He had a passion for this work and could rope a calf like a rodeo champion. Over the years, he became involved in Healthcare Business Development as a salesman. Rod had a knack for sales, because of his genuine personality, he could sell anything to anyone!
Rod was passionate about his faith and devotion and lived his life the way God would have wanted. Often, he would accompany his wife to food ministry engagements through the Regional Food Bank and other activities through their church. He enjoyed serving others and giving back to his community at every chance. His heart was big and full with so much to give.
Even in good health, Rod and his wife had conversations about their end of life plans. Rod passed away unexpectedly and tragically due to a traumatic brain aneurism, and there was no time to have this conversation. Their conversations about donation were helpful to his wife, as there was never a doubt that he would want to help others through his death.
Through the power of donation, Rod was able to donate bone, connective tissue, skin, corneas, heart valves, and cardiovascular tissue, which improved the quality of life and saved the lives of up to 75 individuals.
"Celebrated with Valentine's Day, National Donor Day is a time to consider giving the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. The act of organ donation represents selfless love and it is very fitting that we recognize those impacted by donation on this special day,” Jeffrey Orlowski, President and CEO of LifeShare of Oklahoma said. “Out of the approximately 106,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant across the country, more than 600 are Oklahomans”.
Every day, 17 people die waiting on a lifesaving organ transplant due to the shortage of organ donors. One deceased donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance 75 more through tissue and corneal donation. A living donor can donate a kidney or part of their liver, lung or pancreas to someone in need.
Oklahomans ages 16 and older can enroll in the LifeShare registry online at LifeShareRegistry.org or through their local Tag Agency when applying or renewing a driver’s license or state ID card.
Rod was passionate about his faith and devotion and lived his life the way God would have wanted. Often, he would accompany his wife to food ministry engagements through the Regional Food Bank and other activities through their church. He enjoyed serving others and giving back to his community at every chance. His heart was big and full with so much to give.
Even in good health, Rod and his wife had conversations about their end of life plans. Rod passed away unexpectedly and tragically due to a traumatic brain aneurism, and there was no time to have this conversation. Their conversations about donation were helpful to his wife, as there was never a doubt that he would want to help others through his death.
Through the power of donation, Rod was able to donate bone, connective tissue, skin, corneas, heart valves, and cardiovascular tissue, which improved the quality of life and saved the lives of up to 75 individuals.
"Celebrated with Valentine's Day, National Donor Day is a time to consider giving the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. The act of organ donation represents selfless love and it is very fitting that we recognize those impacted by donation on this special day,” Jeffrey Orlowski, President and CEO of LifeShare of Oklahoma said. “Out of the approximately 106,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant across the country, more than 600 are Oklahomans”.
Every day, 17 people die waiting on a lifesaving organ transplant due to the shortage of organ donors. One deceased donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance 75 more through tissue and corneal donation. A living donor can donate a kidney or part of their liver, lung or pancreas to someone in need.
Oklahomans ages 16 and older can enroll in the LifeShare registry online at LifeShareRegistry.org or through their local Tag Agency when applying or renewing a driver’s license or state ID card.
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