Because someone died in a motorcycle accident 10 years ago, Charlie Martin has seen things he would not have otherwise lived to witness.

Tuesday, June 06, 2000

Because someone died in a motorcycle accident 10 years ago, Charlie Martin has seen things he would not have otherwise lived to witness. He’s seen two more children marry. He’s seen nine grandchildren born. Without the heart donated by the accident victim’s family, he would have missed those things.

However, he’s also seen many friends die waiting for a donated organ that didn’t come in time.

"That’s the toughest part," he said. "Getting to know these people, knowing they have a chance, but for lack of donors they don’t make it."

The Austin native and long-time Hormel Foods Corp. employee was one of the lucky ones. It will be 10 years in September since he and several others were saved with organs from one young man’s body. Martin had waited 14 months for a donated organ; doctors told him he probably wouldn’t have lived another 60 days without the heart he now has.

"Every day, he and his family are in my prayers," Martin said. "I never met them, but most people I’ve met from families who’ve been donors say it’s a big help for the donor family to feel that the person didn’t die in vain."

On Monday, Martin was at Lions Park to support the Millennium Mayorthon, a coast-to-coast journey to raise awareness of tissue and organ donations.

A crowd of about 25 was gathered there, waiting for the Mayorthon team to come from Lyle to hand off the torch, before they walked the mile to the American Red Cross office. From Austin, the torch went to Lansing, Blooming Prairie, Owatonna and Medford.

When the walkers arrived at the Red Cross, several took the pledge to be organ and tissue donors.

"Being a donor really is a time when you can make the difference between life and death for someone," Elaine Hansen, executive director of the Mower County Red Cross Chapter, said. "It’s an important, good decision. You could help so many people."

Nancy Ascher, president of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, stressed that sometimes just signing the back of your driver’s license isn’t enough.

"Many people believe that a note or a donor’s card is enough to make sure their wishes are honored," Ascher said. "But it’s not. The family always makes the final decision. We hope the Mayorthon will encourage families in Austin ­ and across America ­ to talk to each other, make the decision as a family to become donors, and sign the First Family Pledge as a testament to their decision."

Austin residents Gene and Dawn Block and their twins, Alex and Cory, 11, are one such family. Although Gene and Dawn signed their intention on the back of their driver’s licenses after they got married; they only recently discussed it with their two sons.

"The first thing out of their mouths was that it’s a ‘neat thing to do,’" Gene said, explaining that one of his sons has only one functioning kidney, increasing the likelihood that he may someday be on a waiting list for an organ. "They are really excited about this pledge.

"It’s probably the greatest gift you can give. You don’t need your parts after you die anyway."

In Minnesota, there are about 600 people on a waiting list. Across the nation the figure is closer to 70,000.

The number of donors per year? Nowhere close to that.

"If it weren’t for that donor family, I wouldn’t be here," Martin said. "I would suggest that anyone who is thinking of becoming a donor – a wonderful thing – discuss it with their families, so they know."

Rietz and several others were wearing a button that made short work of any arguments against organ or tissue donations: "Don’t take your organs to heaven – heaven knows we need them here."

For more information on the First Family Pledge, call the American Red Cross at 437-4589.