Life is not, as they say, “all sunshine and rainbows.” At times, it can be rough and seemingly too much to handle. We all have moments in life when we feel the weight of the world.
The beauty of these moments is that they can be the greatest personal tests of strength and will. Often, many of us are not aware of our full potential and capabilities. Those who are aware have endured these rough moments, seen them as blessings in disguise and pushed right through them without fear.
These times of adversity can be opportunities not only for personal growth, but to influence others with our experiences.
Eric and Shannon Sutton are living examples of strength and will. They were hit with the tragic loss of their son, Richard, at a very young age due to liver complications. The Suttons experienced tremendous difficulties in the search for a transplant for their child.
Even though they had gone through the most trying time of their lives, the two were inspired to honor their son’s memory the best they could.
In 1986, the Suttons created Transplants for Children, an organization dedicated to helping families manage the daily challenges associated with transplantation. The organization was the perfect way to share the knowledge they gained through their own personal experiences. Transplants for Children enables families to find the support they need in all aspects of the transplantation process.
As the only agency of its kind in South Texas, Transplants for Children is dedicated to assisting young organ and tissue transplant recipients and their families in effectively coping with the emotional, financial and social challenges that arise before, during and after transplantation.
Few of us know the hard truth that there are more than 112,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Almost 13,000 of these people live right here in Texas. Every 11 to 12 minutes, another name is added to that list.
Even more shocking is the average percentage of Texans who are registered organ/tissue donors. The national average is 40 percent, and Texas has an extremely disappointing 8.3 percent, putting our state next to last.
On average, 18 individuals die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplant.
One of the scariest things for families who have loved ones affected by medical conditions requiring transplants is the financial hardship. According to the National Foundation for Transplants, the average costs for transplants and first-year expenses can range anywhere from a few hundred thousand to more than a million dollars. This cost does not include the added costs of follow-up care and prescriptions.
The sad truth is that very few of us are educated in either the gravity of these numbers or the hardships that arise with medical conditions resulting in the need for a transplant.
Transplants for Children was founded with the hope of building awareness for individuals and families affected by these challenges through a blend of knowledge, care and compassion.
With a pledge to serve not only as an advocating voice, but as a pillar of support, Transplants for Children promises to “be there” when families need something solid in their times of uncertainty. Transplants for Children makes this promise because of the firm belief that the strength and will to succeed lie in each and every one of us.
With the right amount of support, we all have what it takes to overcome life’s rough patches and then pay forward the value of our own knowledge, experience and resources. Transplants for Children and the countless families it supports in their darkest hours are counting on you to be that sunshine and hang those rainbows.
For more information on Transplants for Children, please call 210-949-1212, or visit www.transplantsforchildren.org.
