BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
200 locally need organ transplant
Earl Tobey has spent the past six weeks at University Hospital reading nearly a dozen books, undergoing physical therapy and chatting with other patients.
Most importantly, he's spent the time waiting for a heart.
The 44-year-old Florence resident is among about three dozen or so Greater Cincinnatians in search of a heart, and one of about 200 who need an organ.
For Mr. Tobey, who has congestive heart failure and whose heart isn't working at full efficiency, days have been spent connected to IVs and taking various medications to strengthen his heart. "I would much rather be out. I led a real active lifestyle. All of a sudden that was taken away from me, and I want it back," Mr. Tobey said Monday. "But I know that day is coming."
In an effort to speed up that day when Mr. Tobey and other Kentuckians receive organs, Mary Ann Woltenberg, Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk, is asking people to donate $1 when they renew their drivers license every four years.
The funds will be used by the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks Association to educate citizens about becoming an organ donor. The effort is held in conjunction with national Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, which began Sunday.
"There are currently more than 300 Kentuckians who are waiting for life saving organ transplants . . . Unfortunately, there will not be enough to go around," Ms. Woltenberg said.
As of March 11, more than 57,000 people nationwide were awaiting vital organs, which includes kidneys, hearts and livers. While a new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes, 11 people die daily waiting for an organ, said Mark Sommerville, director of education for LifeCenter.
Formerly known as Ohio Valley LifeCenter, the agency coordinates organ transplants for patients in Northern Kentucky, Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana.
Mr. Sommerville said it is important that organ donors tell family members about their decision to donate. Family has final say about whether the deceased will become an organ donor.
"That's why it's very important for your family to know what your wishes are because if they know your wishes they will follow through. If they don't know, they may say no and you wanted to donate," Mr. Sommerville said.
Mr. Tobey, who had agreed to donate some of his organs before his heart problems, said, "I know that definitely after this I'm going to become a full organ donor.
"It's unfortunate that it's not a lot of donors out there. You realize that your life is given back to you because someone else died. There's a lot of people that need organs."
For more information, call LifeCenter at 558-5555 or 1-800-981-LIFE.
