When I started working with Andrew, it didn’t take long for me
to realize that I was working with a mastermind in the classroom. His way with
his students is humorous, intriguing and one that draws not only them in, but
me. I can’t tell you how many things I have learned by being with him on a
daily basis. From classroom management to hockey facts and stats, I feel like a student myself.
Halloween would be the only picture we have together!
It also didn’t take me long to learn that Andrew is living with Polycystickidney disease (PKD). PKD is genetic disorder characterized by the growth of
numerous cysts in the kidneys. Currently,
Andrew’s kidneys are functioning at 15%, where as you can guess, ours are
functioning at 100%. If Andrew doesn’t receive a kidney transplant as soon as
possible, he will be put on dialysis and will no longer be able to be in the classroom. As the 2011 Denver Public Schools Teacher of the Year, that would be a huge loss to our young minds at Steck Elementary.
How can you help? By becoming an organ donor TODAY.
When I spoke with Andrew about his condition, he made it very
clear that maybe YOU can’t help HIM, but you can help SOMEBODY. That somebody
is a living human being, a person whose life needs to be saved and can be saved
by someone like you and me.
When Fox31 News came to school on Friday, it dawned on me just how powerful media can be in these situations. To help you better understand his situation and hear from his current and fellow students, click the link below.
For more information, please go to the National Kidney Foundations website at: http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/index.cfm.
If you still have questions, please email me at: carrie.stavenger@me.com
This is an awesome post, Carrie. You're absolutely right- EVERYONE should be an organ donor. One of my best friends also has pkd , passed down from her fathers's side of the family. Luckily, her dad also needed a kidney transplant and one of his sisters was a match. My friend will also need a transplant down the road and it may need to come from a stranger. Why everyone is not an organ donor blows my mind. You can't take your body with you when you die, so why not use it to save the life of others?
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