Speech for donate life walk
Hello,I am Caitlyn Hie.I was asked to tell you my story and how organ donation and transplantation has touched my life. Firstly, i'd like to start by telling you all a little about myself,I am 21 years old and I live in thunder bay.I used to live in Burlington Ontario... it's just a short drive away from toronto for those that aren't sure where burlington is.
I enjoy fishing.. yes i even bait my own hooks. I love cooking sheerly for the purpose of eating what i cook and mostly i like taking it easy,i live with my boyfriend and my two big dogs but lastly I am a transplant recipient.
A little over four years ago (when i was 17) i was rushed to the Burlington hospital. I had been having severe back pain and I was not very lucid, i was a little on the yellow side and in critical condition.this is the last thing i remember.I woke up a week later in icu at a hospital in london.The nurse started by asking me if i knew my name... of course i did. If I knew how old I was... well duh..then she asked me where I was and if I knew what had happened.That's when I had realized there had been a lapse of time. she explained to me that I had underwent a liver transplant and that I was still in critical condition.she told me how I had suffered from total liver failure and my body had not been metabolizing tylenol . I struggled with recovery and it seemed only like I was getting sicker but i tried not to let that discourage me although somedays it did.worseOne day when I went to physio I "jokingly" although not at the time attempted to throw my dumbbell at my physiotherapist.
This time was hardest on my family,they come back into my room with welts under their eyes from wiping away their tears.My family could see i was getting worse and it worried them. Unfortunately, the first transplant I received was not such a great match but without it I wouldn't have made it to see the right match.two weeks after the first transplant and 5 days before christmas I received the perfect match.the greatest gift for christmas, I was given life. recovery was much easier. I was out of the hospital for new years and home by february. With medication and annual visits to my doctors I am able to live a relatively normal life.
I have great family/friends that have helped me get through some of the tough times and now I am moving on with life.I am really excited for next year, as I was just accepted to LU for the social work program. I realize that without organ donor’s and families who are going through their own personal tragedies giving this great gift, I would not be here talking with you today. When I think of what was given to me, and what that means was lost to someone else, I become very sad at their loss and grateful to them for this truly unselfish gift. Now I want to give back, spread the word, help others if I can. If today you remember to sign your donor cards or at least give it serious thought and take the time to talk with your friends and family about organ donation. Thanx for listening and caring enough to be here today.
i am hoping this will be an appropriate speech for april 17th.......