Latest news with #DonorAlliance
CBS News
30-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Volunteer quilters ease pain of organ donor families in Colorado
At any given time in Colorado, there are about 1,200 people in need of a life saving organ transplant. In 2022, 278 people became organ donors after their deaths. It's a devastating loss for the families of the donors, but the gift of life for the organ recipients. The Donor Family Quilt Project is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to honoring the sacrifice those donors make to others. "She said, 'We want to start making these quilts for Donor Alliance.' And I said, 'Stop right there. I'm in.'" Elaine McFarlane recalled about how she got started with the Project. "Because my husband was a twice kidney transplant recipient. Donor Alliance found him the gift of life twice." CBS It's that connection that drives McFarlane to continue making lap quilts. She and D'Anne Vangilder head up the Donor Family Quilt Project. Vangilder spent years as an ICU nurse. She cared for many patients who became organ donors. The quilts are very dear to her heart, too. "It goes with them to the operating room. It's part of the ceremony. It's something bright and cheerful," she explained. Over the years, they've put hundreds of hours into making quilts. They pick colors, patterns, and designs with the hope that they'll connect with a specific donor and their family. "Quilts show that care that you've put some personal time and thought into giving something to somebody. They're warm and loving. You put quilts on your bed to snuggle up on, so I think it's a very personal item too." Vangilder told CBS News Colorado. Donor Alliance provides the batting for the quilts. McFarlane and Vangilder source the backing from an out-of-state fabric supplier. Dozens of volunteer quilters stitch up the tops, and then quilts the parts together. In 2024, they make 370 quilts. "I love the fact that I can be creative and spend time with my sewing machine and sew. But, I also like the fact that we're perhaps able to provide a little bit of comfort to a family during a really difficult time," Vangilder said. CBS Each quilt comes with a message for the donor's family. "Please accept this with our gratitude. We hope it will provide you warmth and caring thoughts for many years to come," McFarlane read from the note enclosed with each quilt. The dream of every crafter is that their creation can serve a greater purpose. In this case, the quilts are a tangible reminder of a life lost, but also of the lives saved through organ, eye, and tissue donation. LINK: Donate Life Month April is Donate Life Month. It a time when we honor donors and celebrate recipients. It's also a good time to talk to your friends and family about your organ donation wishes.
CBS News
22-04-2025
- CBS News
Colorado woman remembers husband, daughter after deadly motorcycle crash in Thornton
A deadly motorcycle crash in Thornton changed one Colorado woman's life forever. Devin Lopeman Cirbo lost her husband in the crash and struggles with knowing she will take her daughter off life support in the coming days. "There was so much joy. They were both complete joy," is how Devin described her husband and daughter. "I think that they couldn't have survived losing each other. That's why I lost them both," she said. Brian Cirbo was a retired firefighter and devoted father and stepfather to several children. "He loved to sing; he loved to dance. He was everybody's biggest fan. Having his kids was the light of his life. He embraced my kids like his own," said Devin. Devin's daughter and Brian's stepdaughter, Brooklyn, was a 12-year-old volleyball player who could make just about anyone laugh. "She just has the most amazing smile. She has the most amazing soul," said Devin. "We were supposed to have a whole life still, and now it's gone." In a split second, the crash changed Devin's entire world when both Brian and Brooklyn became victims late Tuesday night while on their way home from Brooklyn's volleyball practice. "A lot of her teammates saw it," said Devin. Devin said both were riding on Brian's motorcycle when a 17-year-old driving a BMW crashed into them. "Brooklyn wasn't breathing and they did CPR, but Brian was able to talk and he kept telling the officers to call his wife, and they told me to come," said Devin. By the time Devin reached the hospital, Brian had passed away. Brooklyn's been on life support at Children's Hospital ever since. "Her helmet was on the entire time, but because of how she was hit, there was catastrophic swelling in her brain," said Devin. Last week, Thornton police arrested the teenager believed to be driving during the crash. He was arrested on suspicion of careless driving resulting in death, though he has since been released pending an ongoing investigation. "They're working with the accident reconstruction people to figure out what exactly happened," said Devin. "I know that the kid who hit them was there on site. He stayed. He called 911." As she grapples with the immediate loss of her husband, Devin is also being forced to prepare to lose her daughter. "We're working with Donor Alliance, and they're working to find people that she can help, and we will be taking her off of life support in the next 24 hours," said Devin. Brian's law enforcement and motorcycle friends, as well as Brooklyn's teammates, have stepped up to help Devin crowdfund and support her family during this difficult new reality. "We've lost friends riding. It happens all the time. It was never supposed to be us," she said. As Thornton police continue to investigate this crash, Devin hopes it is a wake-up call for everyone to be more aware of other types of vehicles on the road. "I know that this kid didn't set out to destroy my family, but he didn't see them, and the only way he didn't see them is because he didn't look. People have to look for bikes," she said.
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Raise a flag, shine a light to support organ, eye & tissue donation
April is Donate Life month. Donor Alliance is holding 65 events to raise awareness about organ, eye & tissue donation. Many of those events are flag raisings, where the Donate Life flag is raised outside of buildings. "So we have cities across Colorado, as well as, schools, our DMV's, and some community partners, like the arts complex Downtown is raising a flag in honor of the donors and also to celebrate along side the recipients who receive those wonderful gifts," said Cheryl Talley, Director of PR/Communications for the Donor Alliance. The Donor Alliance coordinates organ and tissue donations and raises awareness about how to become a donor. The Donor Alliance has recipients and donor families advocate for the cause. Tony Young is one of those advocates. "My journey began when I was 25-years-old, I had my first heart attack," Young told CBS News Colorado. After years of dealing with congestive heart failure, cardio myopathy, AFib and VTach, Young was listed for a heart and a kidney transplant. His kidneys were damaged by the strong heart medication he'd had to take over the years. "Fortunately for me, in February of 2020, I was listed for a heart and a kidney transplant and then March of 2020 I received a heart and a kidney from the same angel donor," Young explained. Young was the inspiration for the #ShineALight awareness campaign. "Trying to think of ways to honor my donor, always I would light two candles, one for each life saving organ that I received," he said. "One of the things you can do is shine a light in your own home. We have a little ShineALight kit that you can order. Free while supplies last," Talley added. The kit comes with a battery powered tea light and a sign that you can fill out to indicate who you're honoring. On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Donor Alliance will be hosting a lighting ceremony at Sculpture Park in Denver. They will be lighting up the dancing figures in blue and green to honor Donate Life Month. CBS Anchor Michael Spencer will emcee that ceremony. LINK: Donate Life Colorado Donate Life month runs through the end of April. It's a great time to tell your family and friends your wishes about organ, eye & tissue donation and mark 'yes' on your driver's license renewal.
CBS News
14-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
This Valentine's Day, National Donor Day emphasizes importance of organ donation in Colorado
While we are out celebrating Valentine's Day, it is important to also give back for National Donor Day. In the state of Colorado, there are more than 1,300 people waiting for an organ transplant. This is the need for tissue, organ, and eye transplants. Donor Alliance is helping to bring this number down by asking people to become organ donors. Signing up is easy, head to One person can save up to eight lives through organ donations. An organ donation can save and heal up to 75 others through tissue donation. Anyone 18 and older can sign up to be an organ donor. There are no restrictions when it comes to your age and medical history. Experts say the most important thing is having that tough conversation with your family on the importance of using your life to save others. "You should have the hard conversation with your families," said Heather Burke with Donor Alliance. "Show love and appreciation to those who are donors and their families who have given the gift of life." When you sign up, you will have the little heart added to your driver's license. Starting in Spring 2025, you will be able to use MyChart to register. This will reach 180 million more people to get them to register.
