Steve Arbogast, Kathleen Reynolds, Linda Fahy, and Rev. Karen Burger organized a "Donate Life Sunday" at Drew United Methodist Church on December 6th, 2009. The timing of this event was set to be within the Advent season; a season of Hope and Giving. December 6th was also the date when the "Hope" candle was lit on the Advent wreath during Church Service.

Within the Drew U.M.C. family there are at least five families that have been touched and blessed by either donation of organs by family members or by recipients of organs from other people. We have two families that have either donated or received corneas. We also have a family where the husband was a recipient of a liver. We have a member where their mother received a kidney transplant. And, we have Thelma, my wife who was the recipient of a kidney on February 1, 2008.

I was personally moved to deliver the message on this Donate Life Sunday about the journey that Thelma and I have been on. While it is often hard to talk about, it is important that we share the message about this journey with our friends and especially our families.

For those of us who put this program together, we felt honored to have so much interest in the message, and we were especially honored to have Dr. William Asch, MD/PHD from Yale New Haven Hospital with us on this special day. Dr. Asch is one of Thelma's doctors and he has become a good friend.

Following the Church service we had time to gather around a Donate Life registration table and we also enjoyed some refreshments. The picture includes from right to left: Dr. William Asch, Kathleen Reynolds, Linda Fahy, myself, and the two little ones in front are Karleigh and Makayla, my two oldest granddaughters.

To listen to the message you can simply click on one of the following links:

WAV format: Donate Life Message in WAV

MP3 format: Donate Life Message in MP3

As of December 21st, 2009, I know that we have 22 people that signed and mailed the Donate Life Registration forms. I am pleased that so many people were moved to make this life giving decision. Forms are available in the Church for others that would like to register with the Donate Life organization. And for more information about Donate Life you can visit their website at Donate Life America Website.

God Bless everyone of you!

Steve Arbogast