Celebrating giving a new lease on life; School aids organ donor awareness

[okarol]

Celebrating giving a new lease on life; School aids organ donor awareness

By TARA HAGAN
The Sarnia Observer

Friday, April 27, 2007 - 16:00

Local News - The school yard at Sir John Moore School was beaming with bright green ponchos Thursday, as about 250 staff and students formed a Living Green Ribbon in honour of National Organ and Tissue Donation Week.

Grade 7 teacher Mavis Bolton organized the event, an annual initiative headed by the Trillium Gift of Life Network and The Kidney Foundation of Canada, taking place in 11 cities across Ontario.

"It's really important for the kids to talk about it," said Bolton, who is an organ donation recipient herself. Ten years ago, she received a kidney from her sister.

"This is a great opportunity to just celebrate," she said. "It's a new lease on life; I'm blessed to be able to come to work every day."

In the weeks leading up to the event, Bolton discussed organ donation with her class, and even integrated things like kidney dialysis into the science curriculum. It's important, said Bolton, to give them a real-life connection.

"I didn't know much about it before, but now I do," said Grade 7 student David Belet. "And now I feel like I've done something really good."

Belet said he plans on becoming an organ donor now, a decision echoed by his classmates. An assembly was held at the school last week where students in all grades learned more about organ donation. "They're learning just how important it is, not only to sign a donor card, but to talk about it with their families," said Elaine Hayter, Sarnia-Lambton chapter manager for The Kidney Foundation.

The students and staff were joined by Steve Arnold, St. Clair Township mayor; Jim Townsend, Lambton Kent District School Board trustee; and Dan Kobylka, a 52-year-old, two-time heart transplant recipient from Chatham.

Kobylka, a former World Transplant Games athlete, fielded questions about organ donation from the students. He received a new heart in 1989, and another in 2000. When asked if he feels any different, Kobylka explained that organ recipients are just everyday people.

"We're teachers, parents, and athletes," he said. "It has meant 18 years of life to me, and I'm living it to my fullest."

URL http://www.theobserver.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=505106&catname=Local+News&classif=