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DonateLifeNC.org
Volume 2 Issue 3 Summer 2013
Why Donation Matters To Me:
An Eighteen-Year-Old’s Perspective
In May, Courtney Montgomery
became the first graduate from the
Hospital School, a partnership
between Durham Public Schools
and the Duke University Health
System. For over ten years,
Courtney battled with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy and other various
complications. By the age of 10,
Courtney had both a defibrillator
and a pacemaker: not a typical
experience for any family or child.
District Supervisor Reggie Kyle
joined Donate Life NC staff to
represent the North Carolina
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
at the national Donate Life
America conference in June.
Reggie was able to meet other
state driver’s license personnel
and learn more about organ and
tissue donation. We are so glad
Reggie could join us!
On April 26, 2011, Courtney
received a life-saving gift heart
transplant at Duke University
Medical Center. I had the
opportunity to talk with Courtney
about growing up “sick” and how
her life evolved from her diagnosis.
Courtney (left) with her donor’s mother, Lisa
What was it like having hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of eight?
I was young. To me, I was sick, and I was getting surgery and that was going to fix it. I
didn’t think later on in my life I would need a transplant.
In what ways were you restricted as a child?
I was limited in school and in sports. Physically, I just could not do certain tasks. It
created conflict between my mom and me. I was not able to understand what my
mom wanted. She became extremely protective, especially after I had a defibrillator
implanted one month after my initial diagnosis.
What is it like being 16 and having a heart transplant?
It’s hard. You want to run around with your friends, try new things, drive a car, etc.
You have to be responsible. That’s hard at 16. You have a lot of maturing to do by the
time you are learning that you are getting a heart to the time you actually receive
one. You have to be aware of your body – no one knows your body as well you.
You admitted you were against getting a transplant initially. What helped you
change your mind?
Continued on Page 2
Contact Us:
Inspiring North Carolinians to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.
Donate Life North Carolina
PO Box 51262
Durham, NC 27717
Email: info@donatelifenc.org
Website: DonateLifeNC.org
Facebook.com/DonateLifeNC
Twitter: @DonateLifeNC
Page 1
“Why Donation Matters to Me” Continued from Page 1
I wanted to see someone like me receive a transplant. I had seen other recipients,
babies and older adults, but not other teenagers. Then, I met Josh. He had returned
to school and played sports. He had friends and could eat a cheeseburger and onion
rings. If he could do it, I could.
“Create A Legacy”
Starting in July, we will begin
three pilot programs to target
the 50—64 age demographic.
We will be working with
membership and faith-based
organizations, sending direct
mail pieces, and partnering with
medical professionals to break
down myths (“I’m too old/sick”)
to encourage people to join and
remain on the NC donor registry.
Help create your own legacy by
signing up as an organ and tissue
donor today!
What motivated you in the recovery process?
Everyone else's’ happiness made me happy. I drew support from my Mom,
grandparents, medical professionals, and my donor family, specifically my donor’s
mom (Lisa). Lisa has shown so much love to me. It took only eight days to recover. I
ran my first mile ever. That was the first time I had purchased a pair of sneakers
since I had been unable to run up until now.
Many transplant recipients speak about their own feelings of guilt for living while
someone else had to die. What is your experience with survivor’s guilt?
You just have to get passed the point that the person has left the natural world and
live your life. It’s important to reflect on the fact that this person helped you and be
willing to accept the help. Return the favor in any way you can. Be a good advocate
and a good person.
What are your thoughts on recipients and donor family members communicating?
It’s hard to put a time limit on it. You want to have a lot of time of what you want to
say but also be mindful of the donor family’s feelings. I was scared that my donor
family would be resentful. They were still in the grieving process.
How often do you speak with other patients waiting for a transplant?
Make a Financial
Contribution Online
DonateLifeNC.org
When I would visit the hospital for school, sometimes the teachers will give me a
head’s up to talk with kids. I visit the PICU [Pediatric Intensive Care Unit] every
couple of weeks. I know how annoying it is to sit and wait in a hospital room. I also
hang out with other kids and teens who had transplants. We will text and call each
other, go out and have lunch. It’s nice to be on the same page with others who have
shared experiences.
How can we encourage people to register?
Sharing Your Story?
On February 1, we launched our
online blog, Donation Corps, to
create more dialogue on organ,
tissue and eye donation. We
encourage guests to share their
stories, whether personal or
professional. Has your life been
touched by transplantation or
donation? We promise writing a
blog post is painless! It’s a great
way to talk about how this topic
touches your heart. If interested,
email info@donatelifenc.org.
I think we have to allow people to see more of the good that comes from donation.
By being an organ donor, you are doing a huge public service. You are giving
someone the ability to live their life. Michelle: “Parents have to understand the
other parents love their children. There is only so much they can do when son or
daughter needs a heart. You have to look at it from all perspectives. You never know
when you might be the one who needs it.”
So, what’s next for you, Courtney?
I want to take the summer to recuperate. I definitely want to take a break from
being at the hospital. Durham has been a temporary home, and I am looking
forward to returning to Asheville. Additionally, I want to be there for my nine-yearold sister and give my mom a breather. I have missed doing family things, such as
going out to dinner, visiting festivals, etc.
I want to major in business and minor in journalism. Overall, I want to have the tools
to do my own thing in life, so if I want to open a business, I have the knowledge and
skills. Someday, I want to start a foundation. I feel that I have some understanding
of the financial difficulty of transplants. I want to give everyone else the opportunity
to undergo a transplant without fearing costs or other financial constraints.
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Power of Six: Life-Saving Kidney Exchange
License, Permits, IDs
Whether a customer is applying
for a Limited Learner Permit,
Limited Provisional License, Full
Provisional License, ID Card,
Learner Permit, or Driver
License, all individuals ages 16
and older should be asked
whether they want to register as
an organ donor. The question
should not be available to ask to
those under age 16, We
truly appreciate the DMV’s role
in helping to facilitate this
opportunity for North
Carolinians to save lives each
and every day. We never know
what one “yes” may mean!
Check out our new
Donation Corps Blog at
DonateLifeNC.org/blog
Living Donation Risks?
For those interested in living
donation, one might wonder:
what could happen to me?
According to UNC Living Donor
Coordinator Michael James, the
risks are minimal. James writes,
“Since living donation is not
considered a required surgery,
there is extraordinary emphasis
put on your evaluation to keep
you safe.” Best part: living donor
transplants often have very high
success rates and excellent
outcomes because of the living
donor’s own good health.
This journey started in the late 2008/
early 2009. My daughter, Stephanie, was
diagnosed with end-stage renal failure.
We weren’t sure at the time where to
start. We knew she would be placed on
dialysis, which we were dreading, but it
was the only recourse for immediate
help. Dialysis can bring on other health
problems and unfortunately for
Stephanie, everything it could do, it did.
Once it was determined she would need
a kidney transplant, I immediately
stepped up to the plate. I was the first
and only family member to be tested.
Stephanie (kidney recipient) and her mother, Darlene
Once the doctors determined I was a
(living donor), participated in kidney exchange.
good
candidate, they needed to
determine if I was a match for her. I was
a good match but not the ideal match. This meant her body would form various antibodies that would fight my kidney. We come from a very strong faith family and
so we remained faithful in Christ and kept a positive outlook especially after the
transplant team at Vidant Health in Greenville introduced us to the possibility of a
kidney swap.
We ended up participating in the first six-person kidney exchange in the Carolinas
through Vidant. The surgery took place on December 13, 2011. My kidney ended up
going to a man from Greenville, NC. Stephanie received her kidney from James of
Durham, NC. James’ mother, Lynnette, was also one of the three recipients that day.
There are no words that can describe the love, respect and admiration we feel for
each other as well as the entire Vidant transplant team. We are all bonded for life.
Before the donation, I felt great physically. Emotionally, I felt so blessed to be able
to make life better for not only my daughter but for someone else. The doctor’s told
me that it is perfectly normal to be nervous, but oddly enough I wasn’t nervous at
all. It was as if a calming peace came over me, and I just knew that I was going to be
just fine.
After the transplant my daughter’s feet never hit the ground. Almost immediately
she began to look like herself, and she was so full of life and endless energy.
Stephanie is the mother of my two beautiful granddaughters, who keep her very
busy. She herself is a full-time student studying criminal justice. I work full time with
the Warren County Board of Education where I’ve been employed for 22 years. My
extended work family was very supportive through this whole process. I don’t know
what I would have done without them and our family.
Before my daughter’s medical situation, I hadn’t ever considered being a donor. This
experience has given our entire family a whole new perspective on being organ and
tissue donors. You can save lives by registering today at DonateLifeNC.org.
Darlene Phillips, Living donor and wife of DMV Examiner Alvelon Williams
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Recap: Legislative Day 2013
2013 NC Registry Data
Between January 1 and May 31,
2013, we are thrilled to report that:

Almost 48,000 North
Carolinians joined the state
donor registry at the DMV.

Over 550 residents joined the
state registry online through
DonateLifeNC.org.

135 people joined the registry
via paper enrollment forms at
community events.

Overall, our rates look stronger
than 2012, which gives all of us
more hope!
Join us on Twitter:
@DonateLifeNC
#DonateLife
Donate Life License
Plates Available!
You can now order your own
plate from your local DMV
license plate agency. Orders
via the DMV website will be
available later this summer. If
you pre-ordered your plate and
still have NOT received it, email
us at info@donatelifenc.org.
On May 14, we held our
second annual Legislative Day
at the General Assembly in
Raleigh. We could not have
asked for a more glorious day
in Raleigh to advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation!
While our legislators were
very busy during “crossover
week” (that Thursday was the
deadline for bills to pass at
least one chamber and still be
“alive” for consideration
Sandra Coley, donor mother, adds twigs to the arrangement as
during next year’s “Short
Dwain Cooper with Carolina Donor Services looks on during the
Session.” If a bill does not
Linking Hands For Life event at Legislative Day. In this bouquet twigs jump that hurdle, the issue is
represent those who gave life through organ, tissue & eye donation. “dead” until the next Long
Session in 2015), many of
them and their legislative assistants took time to learn from the more than 60
advocates who joined us for the day.
Our inspiring kick-off session featuring Senator Rick Gunn, the primary sponsor of
Duffy’s Law which was signed by Governor McCrory in early April designating the
month as Organ Donation Awareness/Donate Life Month, and former Senator Steve
Metcalf, rallied the group to meet with their delegations. Steve shared his inspiring
story of surviving 35 years post-kidney transplant, which brought tears to many eyes in
the auditorium and reminded us of why the gift of life makes such a tremendous
impact. Steve’s transplant made it possible for him to watch his son and grandchildren
grow up – and to dedicate his work-life to service to our great state, first as a Senator,
then as a member of Governor Hunt’s administration, and today as a highly respected
and influential lobbyist.
We were blessed with gorgeous weather for a Linking Hands for Life celebration led by
Dawn Hall from Carolina Donor Services. This celebration featured volunteers helping
to create a bouquet with twigs representing the death of donors required for the gift
of life, greens representing the medical professionals that make transplants possible
and flowers representing the transplant recipients who are blossoming today as a
result. It was a beautiful and powerful ceremony to witness.
At Donate Life NC we are reviewing feedback forms and are thrilled to see many new
legislators identified as champions for donation. If you were unable to participate, you
are strongly encouraged to touch base with your legislators now or even after the
Session ends to educate them about the importance of the donor registry, driver’s
education and the funding from the License to Give Trust Fund Commission. We are
always available to help with fact sheets, statistics and advice for educating your
community leaders about the power of the gift of life. You can learn more about
advocacy and sharing the message at on our website at DonateLifeNC.org.
Page 4
DMV Awards 2012: Presentations Given During May 2013
For our third annual Donate Life DMV Awards program, we recognized those offices in each of NC’s 14 districts that achieved
either the highest and/or most improved donor designation (sign-up) rates for the year.
[Above] Sanford DMV: Most Improved Designation Rate for District E and
for North Carolina
[Above] Boone DMV: Highest Designation Rate for District L and
for North Carolina
[Left] Kernersville DMV: Highest Designation Rate for District I
[Above] Fuquay-Varina DMV: Highest Donor Designation Rate for District E
[Left] Newland DMV:
Highest and Most
Improved Designation
Rates for District M
Did You Know?
Two offices earned BOTH the highest and
most improved designation rates for their
districts in 2012. Congratulations to
Newland and Havelock!
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[Below] Henderson DMV: Most Improved Designation Rate for District D
[Above] Carrboro DMV: Highest Designation Rate for District G
[Above] Elkin DMV: Most Improved Designation Rate for District L
[Above] Raeford DMV: Most Improved Designation Rate for District H
[Above] Fayetteville (South) DMV: Highest Designation Rate for District F
[Right]
Manteo DMV:
[Above] Lumberton DMV: Most Improved Designation Rate for District F
Highest Designation
Rate for District A
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