Transplant House of Cleveland, a home-away-from-home for organ transplant patients and their families, is raising awareness of the importance of organ donation by trimming the House in blue and green on Friday, with the help of its neighborhood friends, ZBT fraternity. April is organ donation awareness month, and Blue & Green Day was designed to inspire activities that give a visual reminder of the need for organ, eye and tissue donors. During this day, the public is encouraged to wear blue and green, hold events and fundraisers, and partner with local restaurants, malls, media, and community organizations in an effort to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation and the extreme need for registered donors.
Transplant House of Cleveland, which established itself in University Circle last fall, has provided temporary housing and tender support to 68 different families so far, each of which has come to Cleveland for some phase of the organ transplantation process: evaluation, pre-transplant care, transplant surgery, or post-transplant follow-up. Sadly, a number of Transplant House guests have lost their loved ones as they waited for an organ. Many others have received that amazing gift of life and have gone home healthy and forever changed. “One life saved through organ transplantation has a huge ripple effect through families and entire communities,” comments Elaine Turley, Transplant House board member. “We all become witness to one family’s tremendous loss becoming another’s new life, and it takes our breath away. We are in awe of the courageous and generous decisions made.”
ZBT fraternity at Case Western Reserve has been Transplant House’s go-to source of volunteer assistance since its opening. They too, have been touched by organ transplantation. “Many of us have seen firsthand the challenges transplant patients [including their own fraternity brother] and their loved ones must deal with, and we are privileged to help an organization that aims to provide relief for patients undergoing transplant surgery,” says Marcus Dempster, ZBT Member. “As a group of young college men who dedicate themselves to the principles of social responsibility and intellectual awareness, we welcome the Cleveland Transplant House to the University Circle community!”
The Transplant House of Cleveland mission is to provide affordable temporary housing in a home-like environment to organ transplant patients and their families while they visit Cleveland for medical care. “University Circle, Inc. has been a tremendous partner in allowing us to rent nine apartment units on Mayfield Road, next door to the historic Cozad-Bates House and the Hope Lodge,” explains Ms. Turley. “ZBT fraternity was our very first volunteer group, hopefully setting the stage for many others who will donate time and financial resources to help us keep our costs in line so that we can provide housing and needed support to every organ transplant patient who needs it.”
For more information about Transplant House of Cleveland, please contact Elaine Turley (Secretary, Co-Founder and Board Member), 216-973-2691 or elaineturley60@gmail.com. Visit the Transplant House of Cleveland web site: www.transplanthouseofcleveland.org
