[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR AWARENESS WEEK

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to honor National 
Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, April 21 through April 27, 2002. 
I want to commend the thousands of families each year whose selfless 
generosity helps save the lives of others. Since January, 115 people in 
my State of Michigan have received organ or tissue transplants. 
Unfortunately, in that same time, 40 people in Michigan have died 
waiting for needed organs.
  Each day in America, about 63 people receive an organ transplant, but 
16 die waiting. Over 79,000 Americans are on waiting lists for organs 
and tissues. For many of them, this issue is about their very survival. 
Right now, we have almost everything we need to save these lives. We 
have skilled doctors and medical professionals and we have hospitals 
with transplant facilities. All we need now are people who are willing 
to share the gift of life with others.
  I would like to share the story of Maria Compagner, a 5-year-old girl 
who lives in Holland, MI. When Maria was 2 months old, she was 
diagnosed with hepatic hemangioendotheliomas on her liver, which caused 
her liver to grow at such a rapid pace that it pushed her other vital 
organs out of place. She was hospitalized, received chemotherapy and 
Alpha Inferon treatment, followed by steroid treatments. The treatments 
permanently damaged Maria's thyroid gland and inhibited growth hormone 
production. She will have to take synthetic hormones for the rest of 
her life.
  Maria suffered from congestive heart failure, severe respiratory 
distress which led to many intubations, a pulmonary hemorrhage in her 
lung, several serious infections, hypothyroid condition, a collapsed 
lung, pneumonia, chronic emesis, aspiration, and severe reflux, all 
before her first birthday.
  Just before her first birthday, Maria finally received a precious 
gift of life, a new liver. She spent the next year in and out of the 
hospital. After a little catching up, Maria is a happy and well-
adjusted 5-year-old.
  But she's not out of the woods yet. In November 2000, doctors 
discovered that Maria's portal vein and inferior vena cava are blocked 
and her hepatic artery is narrowed. She is now waiting for a second 
liver transplant to correct those problems.
  This week, I urge all Americans to consider becoming an organ donor. 
I urge them to think about filling out a donor card. And most 
importantly, I urge them to talk to their families about their 
decision.
  When you become an organ donor, you guarantee that you will live on 
not just in the memories of your loved ones. You will live on in the 
heart and soul of the fellow human beings you save, and in the heart 
and soul of every loved one that person gets to touch.




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