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This Thing Called Life is a podcast dedicated to acts of giving, kindness, compassion, and humanity. Host Andi Johnson introduces you to powerful organ, tissue, and eye donation stories from individuals, families, and front-line healthcare teams. These stories are meant to inspire and remind you that while life can be challenging and unpredictable, it’s also incredibly beautiful. We hope this podcast inspires you to connect with our life-saving and life-healing mission.
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, Andi speaks with Stephanie Gastaldo. This is our 6th episode in our series of exploring how the donation process works from the OPO lens.. Stephanie talks about her role in the department as a connector to the hospital partners and just keeping the education going and the lines of communication open. Tune in now!
Episode Highlights:
- The purpose of the series is twofold; Andi wants to explain more about the OPOs role in functionality so that you can understand how the gifts of organ, eye and tissue donation come to be as well as just understand everything that goes into this life saving and life healing process.
- Stephanie talks about her role at the Life Center. She also talks about how her brother was an organ and tissue donor.
- Stephanie talks about her work at the Life Center as a Hospital Services Coordinator. She says that the best part of her job is to tell her elder brother's story and make people aware of organ, eye and tissue donation.
- Stephanie's role is to make sure she is first and foremost and building relationships with the teams that includes physicians, bedside nurses, chaplain respiratory therapist, a hospital unit coordinator, patient care support staff to make sure that she is building these relationships, that they know who is life center, why we need to work together specifically educating that it's a center for Medicare and Medicaid services requirement.
- Daily at 7:00 AM Stephanie takes a call with all the coordinators and the staff they connect to discuss what's going on, what the day is going to look like as it's always changing.
- Apart from her day-to-day duties Stephanie also focuses on building education and scheduling events.
- Stephanie talks about the challenges faced by her department during the pandemic and how they coped up in the entire situation.
- As a Hospital Unit Coordinator, you can't be super reactionary to things, you will have to be a hustler and good responder to challenging situations, says Stephanie.
- As a Hospital Unit Coordinator, you have to have really good skills of just listening and responding to what people are telling you and then being able to find the important information from what they are telling you.
- The biggest challenge of Stephanie's job is to slow down amidst all the hustle-bustle around her.
- One of Stephanie's ways to reset her emotional dial is to hear a donor story or a donor family story or to hear the recipient's stories.
- Stephanie talks about her biggest challenge in community relations.
- Not everyone has this same understanding or experience or level of support of donation that others may have made, says Andi.
- Stephanie's goal every day is just to make sure that her hospital staff is aware of the process to ultimately give these families what they deserve, which is the most respectful supportive braces through donation.
3 Key Points:
- Stephanie talks about her life altering experience post losing two of her brothers.
- Stephanie shares the importance of relationship building and how she trains and motivates the staff and educates them so that they become ready to deal with patients and their families.
- Stephanie shares the skill sets and characteristics that are required to succeed as a Hospital Unit Coordinator.
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Today on This Thing Called Life, Andi leads the discussion for the the 5th episode of the special series- The Donation Process From the Lens of the OPO (Organ Procurement Organization). In this episode, Andi talks with Michele Meyers, a tissue recovery tech, to discuss the tissue recovery side of this process. If you have missed the previous episode in this series, please go back to follow along the fascinating journey of organ donation with its intricate details and required collaboration. Tune in now to catch the new part of this series.
Episode Highlights:
- With this series of podcast, Andi has been explaining more about OPO roles and functionality so that you can know how the gift of organ and eye tissue donation come to be as well as the intricacies of this lifesaving and life healing process.
- Michele was a surgical tech and she decided that she wanted to do something else, but she still wanted to kind of stay in the surgery field. There was somebody who mentioned tissue recovery tech and she thought that was something that she could do.
- Michele enjoys the feeling of knowing that she is helping change and save someone's life with tissue that they recover.
- Michele works in three-man teams. They have two tissue recovery techs and a team lead. The team lead role is to receive the donor, do the paperwork, and the physical assessments.
- The donor age creates a lot of challenges to work with, especially if it is a child as a donor, but we have a really supportive team, says Michelle.
- There have been many times when Michelle came across people who didn't even know about tissue recovery.
- The first thing to start as tissue recovery tech, you have to have a sense of humor because it gets you through a lot of things, Michelle.
- Michelle has never worked at a company where the CEO knows everybody's name.
3 Key Points:
- Michele talks about what it looks like when the tissue recovery process happens.
- What are the skills and traits one needs to have in order to become a tissue recovery tech?
- In addition to what Michelle does as a tissue recovery technician, she also volunteers her time to help on the community education side.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
On this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi talks about the donation process from the lens of the OPO, where they explore how the donation process unfolds within the Organ Procurement Organization. OPO is central for the multi-faceted process that is donation and transplantation. Today's guest is Ethan Fuqua who is an organ recovery specialist at Life Center. Tune in to hear more about the next steps in the process!
Episode Highlights:
- Before working at Life Center Ethan was employed as an EPIC analyst with Mercy Health and then before that he was a nurse's aide at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
- The family service coordinator works with the family to walk them through the process of their loved one being a donor and then there is a transition where the ORS becomes a part of this process, says Andi.
- Once we have consent for donation, we begin an allocation process and that process is facilitated by the donation coordinators, says Ethan.
- ORS arrives at the OR before the patient comes to the OR. ORS arrives at OR to set-up equipment, to talk with staff about what they can expect, what they will need during the procedure and similar things.
- Once the donor is in the OR, we help with getting them onto the OR table, prepping, draping, and the procedure begins when our surgeon has formed a timeout, says Ethan.
- Ethan always thinks that someone is going to have a significant increase in their quality of life because of what he is doing today.
- Every department within the life center is working together, all integral and all working towards the same goal for the same mission, and he thinks that's what makes Life Center so good.
- It is kind of surprising for a lot of people when they hear that we send kidneys on commercial flights, says Ethan.
- Ethan has such a positive attitude, and he is super professional and very easygoing. Ethan talks about the most challenging part of his role as an ORS.
- While ORS are performing a lifesaving mission, they are also dealing with death and the emotional parts.
- Ethan doesn't know any OPO that absolutely requires a person to complete a specific degree program in order to be an Organ Preservationist or ORS.
- When you are working with the surgeons, you can't be timid. You got to know what you are talking about, where you are and what you're doing, says Ethan.
- Everybody has their role in the OR and we all have to be on point because there is no room for not knowing what you're doing, says Ethan.
- Ethan wanted a job that allowed him to make an impact that was positive on the world because as per him the goal in life should be to leave the world a little bit better than what we came into it as.
- In transplant you are intersecting so many different disciplines within science. There is just so much to learn in this field and so much to take in if you are someone who likes lifelong learning, says Ethan.
- It is extremely important that everybody become registered as a donor because please consider the gift that you can give is literally life. It is the ability for somebody else to live, says Ethan.
3 Key Points:
- A person in the role of ORS has the ability to multitask and understand the various specific steps that have to happen because of rescuing the organ. “There really is not much room for error”, says Andi.
- Through a team collaborative effort, we can really get a lot of work done and all the ORS have a great collaborative relationship with each other and all other teams, says Ethan.
- Leadership recognizes that this is heavy work, and we need to be able to speak to people who can help us process hard feelings because sometimes debriefing with colleagues isn't enough, says Ethan.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeCenterOH
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation.
Resources:
- https://lifepassiton.org/
- https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
- Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson continues the series on the full donation process from beginning to end; If you have missed the previous episodes in this series, you are encouraged to go back and listen to get the full picture. Today Andi speaks with Jen Malof, who is a Family Services Coordinator. Tune in.
Episode Highlights:
- Andi reviews the speakers in this series and the collaborative process of the organ donation process.
- Jen Malof has been with Life Center for just over a year. Andi explains how the Family Services Coordinators are the third critical piece in the donation cycle.
- What does a Family Services Coordinator do to facilitate donation?
- Andi asks Jen what led her into this field.
- Jen was looking to do something that felt larger than myself and helped other people, and working on a team.
- What is the training and background needed for someone who is a Family Services Coordinator?
- Jen shares about the variety of backgrounds that make up the current team they have.
- Jen explains how they set realistic expectations in the interview process and also shares that it is a very supportive culture.
- Family Service Coordinators are on call a certain number of times. Jen explains how it works.
- Andi and Jen discuss the unique dynamic of the role of Family Service Coordinator.
- It all begins with the family. You are a nurturer as a Family Service Coordinator. Jen explains the importance of the team members noting and setting up the next one who will carry on with the family in a successful way.
- Andi asks Jen what she considers to be the most challenging part of her role.
- There are office responsibilities, trainings, and on call for the position.
- Donation actually brings meaning and something positive to the donor families; In a way it brings some peace, comfort, and benefit to them. Jen explains how they see and experience that from the up close relationship with the families.
- There is extreme caution and care with analyzing the health of a potential gift and never move forward unless it is healthy enough for recovery. In rare cases, a dcotor can be in surgery and realize the organ is not viable. Jen explains the heartbreak and challenge that is.
- Organ donors all have after care no matter what the circumstance.
- Andi asks Jen what is most rewarding about her job and Jen says she doesn’t have enough time to share all of the ways.
- What is the honor walk in honor of the donor?
- There are other memory making support services; Jen shares about them.
- What is the skill set of a Family Service Coordinator? There is a lot of information to communicate in real time and a lot of non-verbal skills as well.
- Families have to receive a lot of stats and information and there is a lot of paperwork and recording that has to take place also.
- Jen shares that she is a long time breast cancer survivor and how her life experiences help her relate to the families she works with.
- For more information, check out https://aopo.org/
3 Key Points:
- The organ donation process begins with a person who designated themselves to be a donor or their family who made the decision for that individual to be a donor.This life saving and life-changing gift all begins with that and is a collaborative process from start to finish.
- Family Service Coordinators fulfill the role of being the main point of contact for that family whose loved one has either chosen to be a donor or if that family makes that decision to move ahead with donation: to support them , to educate them, to answer their questions, adn to be with them throughout the entire process.
- Donation actually brings meaning and something positive to the donor families; In a way it brings some peace, comfort, and benefit to them. Jen explains how they see and experience that from the up close relationship with the families.
Resources Mentioned:
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Community Heroes is a special extension of This Thing Called Life’s podcast. In this series we talk to community leaders, share important information about organ and tissue donation and honor those who have been instrumental in saving lives through the gift of donation. In this episode we talk about the renewal symbolized by the month of June, Pride month and Mens health month.
Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/LifeCenterOH
Life Center Phone # 513-558-5555
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
This episode of TTCL Community Heros will feature an interview with Julie Luebbers on La Mega. The monthly interview will provide the Spanish Community with information about Life Center and the incredible miracles that happen with Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation.
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
During this episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson continues the series on the donation process from the OPO (Organ Procurement Organization) lens. In the last episode we heard from Erica Randall of Donation Support Services. This week, Andi is speaking with Christenne Wilson, a long time staff member at Life Center; She is the Senior Donation Coordinator. She meets family in very difficult times. Tune in to hear about her experiences as it relates to the important process of organ donation.
Episode Highlights:
- Many people believe that organ, eye, and tissue donation is just a service of the hospital but Andi shares how it is much bigger than that and requires the collaboration of many.
- Christenne has been with the Life Center for over 20 years and is currently the Senior Donation Coordinator. She explains her role as one of the individuals who handles the evaluation, medical management, organ placement, and logistics of the operating room for an organ donation.
- Andi asks Christenne to share what kind of training and background is required to do work like she does.
- Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation about her sister who had epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
- What does brain dead mean? Christenne shares facts that listeners may not be aware of. She explains the difference between that and vegetative state or coma.
- Organ donation and the education around it has grown significantly over the years.
- Christenne explains her connection to the Life Center and how meaningful it has been to her on several levels.
- Christenne put herself to paraemedic school and applied as an organ coordinator.
- Andi asks Christenne how she prepares for her day and meeting with families in desperate times.
- What happens at the bedside to evaluate potential organ donation?
- Christenne shares that some cases have changed her forever and how it has been a blessing.
- What goes into supporting the families who are in contact with ?
- Andi talks about how COVID caused many people to reflect and seek more meaningful jobs.
- Andi asks Christenne to share what a typical work day looks like for a donation coordinator.
- Logistics and time frames are very important in the process; Christenne explains.
- A lot of communication is required for this job because of the many pieces that must come together.
- An average case lasts about 72 hours so that the right thing is accomplished with the donor.
- Christenne talks about when organ gifts are placed in other locations.
- The donation coordinators are very passionate about giving each individual the best preservation options.
- Have you thought about registering to be a donor? Find out more at https://lifepassiton.org/
3 Key Points
- Christenne shares her personal experience with organ donation when her sister passed away and saved several other lives.
- Organ donation happens through the collaboration of many. Andi and Christenne talk through the organ coordinator role and the piece it is in the overall process.
- Emotional taxation is high in the role that Christenne has. She talks about the challenges, blessings, and how she perseveres through.
Resources Mentioned: