[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E502-E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of 
National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week which begins April 21-
27, 2002. As a nurse, I saw firsthand how transplants and the 
generosity of donors save lives. As a Congresswoman, I have been proud 
to help my constituents work through the process of transplant surgery, 
and bring awareness to the importance of donors.
  A few years ago my office was fortunate enough to help a constituent, 
John Pellegrino of Floral Park, New York, navigate through the 
insurance maze. I'm pleased to note John celebrates his two-year liver 
transplant anniversary on April 13. However, John's anniversary is 
bittersweet, especially for his donor's parents, now also his good 
friends, Harold and Melinda Yarbrough of Louisiana. In the midst of 
facing the agony of losing their precious daughter Breann, the 
Yarbroughs gave life to John and six other people.
  It is fitting to honor John and the Yarbroughs--as well as the 
thousands of transplant recipients and donors. According to the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Congress first designated the 
third full week in April as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness 
Week in 1983 (Public Law 98-99) to raise awareness of the critical need 
for organ and tissue donation and to encourage all Americans to share 
their decision concerning donation with their families. Bone grafts 
enable individuals to walk again while skin grafts save the lives of 
critically burned patients, and donated corneas prevent or correct 
blindness. Heart valves help repair critical cardiac defects. Today, 
more than 79,000 men, women and children wait for an organ transplant, 
without an increase in donation, that number will continue to escalate, 
Currently, 16 people die each day because there are not enough organs 
available for transplant. Every day 114 individuals are added to the 
national waiting list for organs.

[[Page E503]]

  I commend Breann's parents for making a decision that allowed John to 
live. I am grateful to Breann for her gift to John. We need more heroes 
like Breann. With awareness about organ and tissue donation, more organ 
transplants can save and enhance lives.
  Join me in bringing awareness to National Organ and Tissue Donor 
Awareness Week, April 21-27, 2002.

                          ____________________