18 people in the U.S. die each day while waiting for an organ donation.
A Klamath Falls woman who lost her son to a gunman’s bullet finds comfort in her son’s decision to become an organ donor, which has saved three lives.
Janice Entriken’s son Terry was shot in the head on a rainy Easter evening…but Terry Entriken wasn’t pronounced dead until a few days later.
“Terry was kept on life support.” Explains Janice Entriken. “Until they could get everything situated, that they could do for the harvesting of his organs for donation.”
Terry’s liver went to a 40 year old restaurant worker.
One of Terry’s kidneys went to a retired nurse’s aide, and his other kidney went to a retired veteran.
“One organ donor can save up to eight lives.” Notes Clinical Nurse Specialist MaryAnne Keane of Sky Lakes Medical Center. “One tissue donor can save up to fifty lives.”
While 90% of Americans say they support organ donation, less than a third know what steps to take to donate their organs.
Keane points out that Oregonians have two options…
“One, is the D.M.V., which is probably the one most people are familiar with to get that ‘D’ on your license. The other is to go directly to the website, register online, at:www.donatelifenw.org “
Janice Entriken says she’s proud that her son chose to become a donor…
“We’re very, very proud that Terry made the decision to help somebody continue their life, because he was so full of life himself.”
Entriken adds that she hopes to meet the organ donation recipients someday.
28 year old Leland Thomas Nicholson is accused of shooting and killing Terry Entriken, and is charged with murder. Nicholson’s trial is scheduled for April 14th of 2014.
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