Brenlain
08-09-2004, 06:07 PM
Someone I knew in RL just died the other day, 17 year old female who I actually tried to run againgst for school mascot died unexpectly because of somthing was wrong iwith her liver. I will let you guys read the article, but the question is how could somthing like this happen all of the sudden and the person and parents not knowing this before hand? I really dont understand GOD.
8/6/2004 Student’s decision to be organ donor provides gift of life to 4 others
By LYNN WINTHROP, The Lufkin Daily News
An unexpected illness may have brought a tragic end to Lisa Marie Tutt's life last week, but the generosity of her spirit will continue living in the people whose lives were saved by her gift of organ donation.
Lisa would have started her senior year at Central High School in a matter of days. The 17-year-old died on July 30 after suffering acute liver failure.
And although there's no way to measure how much they'll miss their daughter, parents Stephen and Sherri Tutt said Thursday they do find comfort in knowing that her selfless actions were able to help others continue living.
"She was a donor, and although we'll never have her in our presence again, we're comforted by that," Sherri said. "We haven't buried Lisa yet, but we've already received word that she saved four lives and we find a lot of comfort in that fact."
Lisa's parents said their daughter loved spending her free time with friends and family. Her dad said that like most teenagers, she also loved her car. Lisa had taken a job at Effective Teleservices Inc. to help pay the notes, even though it meant she no longer had much time for softball and basketball, sports she had enjoyed while younger. She had also really enjoyed serving as the Central High School mascot during the 2002-2003 school year.
Lisa suffered acute liver failure on July 28 while visiting her aunt and uncle in Alaska. Doctors there had her transported by helicopter to the University of Washington hospital in Seattle when they realized the extent of her illness. Sherri took a flight out of Houston and met Stephen, who had been working in Florida at the time, in Seattle to be by their daughter's side.
Doctors didn't offer much hope in their original call, Stephen said, but were saying there was a chance of recovery if she could receive a liver transplant. Lisa's parents said they immediately signed the necessary paperwork for the transplant.
The family sat with Lisa for two days — waiting — but Stephen said his daughter just didn't have enough time. Lisa died before a match could be found.
"We waited and waited and it didn't happen for us, but it did happen for other families," Stephen said.
A decision Lisa made earlier this year meant that four others needing a transplant might receive a little more time than she had. Sherri said her daughter told her in March that she had heard about becoming an organ donor, and decided that it sounded like a neat idea. Sherri and Stephen said the idea wasn't something the family had encouraged, or even given much thought to previously.
"In fact, when she mentioned it to me I didn't think I would ever have to make that decision," Sherri said. "It was her decision to do this."
"She was a joy to us when she was alive, and she's able to help other people now that she's gone," Stephen said.
"Now, there's an added amount of respect that I have for her," Sherri said of her daughter's decision. "I just really admire her for that. And I would encourage others to become donors due to the decision that Lisa made."
"It is comforting to me now that she did do this," Sherri continued. "We'll see Lisa today and bury her body tomorrow, but her life is not over. There are other people who have benefitted, and that's a good thing."
Sherri said that although it may seem like a silly thought to some, she had to smile when she learned that a woman in Montana's life was saved after she received Lisa's lungs. Her daughter had always wanted to travel and go places, she said.
Stephen recounted that while waiting at the hospital for Lisa to recover or receive a transplant, he had several conversations with a man whose wife had just received a liver transplant herself. The man later remarked after Lisa's death that while sitting and talking with the Tutt family — and thinking of his own wife's situation — it seemed that although sad, perhaps a "circle of life" had been completed.
"And that's the way we see it now, that it's a circle of life," Sherri said. "Other people are rejoicing that they have their lives back."
Services for Lisa Marie Tutt will be held at 10 a.m. today in the Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel. An account to help the Tutt family with Lisa's medical expenses has been set up at Regions Bank.
Lynn Winthrop's e-mail address is lwinthrop@coxnews.com.
Questions and answers about organ donation
Q. Who can become a donor?
A. All individuals can indicate their intent to donate (persons under 18 years of age must have parent's or guardian's consent). Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.
Q. Are there age limits for donors?
A. There are no age limitations on who can donate. The deciding factor on whether a person can donate is the person’s physical condition, not the person’s age. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors.
Q. How do I express my wishes to become an organ and tissue donor?
A. Indicate your intent to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver’s license;
carry an organ donor card; and discuss your decision with family members and loved ones.
Q. If I sign a donor card or indicate my donation preferences on my driver’s license, will my wishes be carried out?
A. Even if you sign a donor card it is essential that your family know your wishes. Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur.
Q. What organs can be donated?
A. Organs: heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines; tissue: cornea, skin, bone marrow, heart valves, and connective tissue; and bone marrow.
Q. Are there any costs to my family for donation?
A. The donor’s family does not pay for the cost of the organ donation. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
Q. How are organs distributed?
A. Patients are matched to organs based on a number of factors including blood and tissue typing, medical urgency, time on the waiting list, and geographical location
For more information, go to organdonor.gov., the federal government's official organ donation site.
8/6/2004 Student’s decision to be organ donor provides gift of life to 4 others
By LYNN WINTHROP, The Lufkin Daily News
An unexpected illness may have brought a tragic end to Lisa Marie Tutt's life last week, but the generosity of her spirit will continue living in the people whose lives were saved by her gift of organ donation.
Lisa would have started her senior year at Central High School in a matter of days. The 17-year-old died on July 30 after suffering acute liver failure.
And although there's no way to measure how much they'll miss their daughter, parents Stephen and Sherri Tutt said Thursday they do find comfort in knowing that her selfless actions were able to help others continue living.
"She was a donor, and although we'll never have her in our presence again, we're comforted by that," Sherri said. "We haven't buried Lisa yet, but we've already received word that she saved four lives and we find a lot of comfort in that fact."
Lisa's parents said their daughter loved spending her free time with friends and family. Her dad said that like most teenagers, she also loved her car. Lisa had taken a job at Effective Teleservices Inc. to help pay the notes, even though it meant she no longer had much time for softball and basketball, sports she had enjoyed while younger. She had also really enjoyed serving as the Central High School mascot during the 2002-2003 school year.
Lisa suffered acute liver failure on July 28 while visiting her aunt and uncle in Alaska. Doctors there had her transported by helicopter to the University of Washington hospital in Seattle when they realized the extent of her illness. Sherri took a flight out of Houston and met Stephen, who had been working in Florida at the time, in Seattle to be by their daughter's side.
Doctors didn't offer much hope in their original call, Stephen said, but were saying there was a chance of recovery if she could receive a liver transplant. Lisa's parents said they immediately signed the necessary paperwork for the transplant.
The family sat with Lisa for two days — waiting — but Stephen said his daughter just didn't have enough time. Lisa died before a match could be found.
"We waited and waited and it didn't happen for us, but it did happen for other families," Stephen said.
A decision Lisa made earlier this year meant that four others needing a transplant might receive a little more time than she had. Sherri said her daughter told her in March that she had heard about becoming an organ donor, and decided that it sounded like a neat idea. Sherri and Stephen said the idea wasn't something the family had encouraged, or even given much thought to previously.
"In fact, when she mentioned it to me I didn't think I would ever have to make that decision," Sherri said. "It was her decision to do this."
"She was a joy to us when she was alive, and she's able to help other people now that she's gone," Stephen said.
"Now, there's an added amount of respect that I have for her," Sherri said of her daughter's decision. "I just really admire her for that. And I would encourage others to become donors due to the decision that Lisa made."
"It is comforting to me now that she did do this," Sherri continued. "We'll see Lisa today and bury her body tomorrow, but her life is not over. There are other people who have benefitted, and that's a good thing."
Sherri said that although it may seem like a silly thought to some, she had to smile when she learned that a woman in Montana's life was saved after she received Lisa's lungs. Her daughter had always wanted to travel and go places, she said.
Stephen recounted that while waiting at the hospital for Lisa to recover or receive a transplant, he had several conversations with a man whose wife had just received a liver transplant herself. The man later remarked after Lisa's death that while sitting and talking with the Tutt family — and thinking of his own wife's situation — it seemed that although sad, perhaps a "circle of life" had been completed.
"And that's the way we see it now, that it's a circle of life," Sherri said. "Other people are rejoicing that they have their lives back."
Services for Lisa Marie Tutt will be held at 10 a.m. today in the Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel. An account to help the Tutt family with Lisa's medical expenses has been set up at Regions Bank.
Lynn Winthrop's e-mail address is lwinthrop@coxnews.com.
Questions and answers about organ donation
Q. Who can become a donor?
A. All individuals can indicate their intent to donate (persons under 18 years of age must have parent's or guardian's consent). Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.
Q. Are there age limits for donors?
A. There are no age limitations on who can donate. The deciding factor on whether a person can donate is the person’s physical condition, not the person’s age. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors.
Q. How do I express my wishes to become an organ and tissue donor?
A. Indicate your intent to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver’s license;
carry an organ donor card; and discuss your decision with family members and loved ones.
Q. If I sign a donor card or indicate my donation preferences on my driver’s license, will my wishes be carried out?
A. Even if you sign a donor card it is essential that your family know your wishes. Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur.
Q. What organs can be donated?
A. Organs: heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines; tissue: cornea, skin, bone marrow, heart valves, and connective tissue; and bone marrow.
Q. Are there any costs to my family for donation?
A. The donor’s family does not pay for the cost of the organ donation. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
Q. How are organs distributed?
A. Patients are matched to organs based on a number of factors including blood and tissue typing, medical urgency, time on the waiting list, and geographical location
For more information, go to organdonor.gov., the federal government's official organ donation site.