Gov. Christie Helps Promote Organ and Tissue Donation

Governor of New Jersey at a town hall in Hillsborough, NJ 3/2/11 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently, New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie signed a good piece of legislation into law. It requires the state's Treasury Department to include information about organ and tissue donation in the paychecks of the state's employees during the month of April in observance of Donate Life Month. Since more than 113,000 Americans, including more than 5000 from New Jersey, are currently on the waiting list for life-saving organ transplants, I'd say it was a good move by Governor Christie. On behalf of all those waiting, I say, "Thank You."

For more information about organ and tissue donation, including how how to register as a donor, please visit Donate Life America's website by clicking here.

Source : TheRepublic.com article titled Christie signs Measure Aimed at Raising Awareness About Organ, Tissue Donation

A Family of Heroes

Mary DiNardo, widow of Jersey City Police Department Detective Marc DiNardo, was recently presented with the New Jersey Sharing Network's 2012 Ray of Hope Award. The New Jersey Sharing Network is the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) for the New Jersey area, and they annually present the award to someone who makes a difference by showing the positive impact that organ and tissue donation has on people's lives.

Image of Jersey City taken by NASA. (The red line demarcates the municipal boundaries of Jersey City.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ms. DiNardo's decision to donate her husband's organ and tissues resulted in three lives being saved with the donation of his heart and kidneys. In addition, countless other lives were improved as a result of the donation of Detective DiNardo's tissues. Not only was Detective DiNardo a hero on the job and in his death, but Mary is one, too. She made it possible for her husband to save and improve the lives of several who were chronically ill.

To learn more about organ and tissue donation, including how to register as an organ and tissue donor, please visit Donate Life America's website by clicking here.

Source : nj.com article titled Achievements : Detective's Widow Earns Organ Donation Award

Related articles

• Anti-crime bill to be named for slain Jersey City police officer (nj.com)

A '70s Classic Music Monday

Well, The Sheepdog's running a little behind this morning. It was a busy and crazy weekend, and I'm just now getting around to this week's Music Monday post. I apologize to those of you that were expecting it in your inbox when you got to work this morning. However, I think the busy weekend inspired me a little. Yesterday, I was thinking about what to play today when an idea hit me taking me way, way back into the '70s, almost 40 years, for today's video. I think it's worth your wait.

Today's video and song is Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" from his 1973 album Billion Dollar Babies. The song has been a rock classic for four decades and propelled Billion Dollar Babies to #1 in the U.S. The video is, as always, embedded below in this post or can be watched by clicking here. Enjoy.



P.S. I'll try to be on time with Music Monday next week.

Related articles

• Alice Cooper's Personal Archive Broken Into, Priceless Items Stolen (jack.radio.com)

Fundraiser at UNC to Benefit Transplant Recipients

On April 29th at 10:30 a.m., the Jason Ray Foundation is holding a fundraiser in Chapel Hill, NC at the Carolina Club in Alumni Hall. The fundraising event will have a Sunday brunch and auction.

The campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The foundation is named after Jason Ray, a University of North Carolina mascot, as a way of honoring his memory. Jason passed away after being struck by a car in 2007. However, Jason was an organ and tissue donor who died a hero.

The fundraiser is being held to benefit transplant recipients and to raise $1 Million in order to name the UNC Transplant Care Center after Jason. It should be a neat event. If you live in the area, I hope you'll make plans to attend and help out a great cause.

Source - www2.journalnow.com article titled Fundraiser for Organ Transplants Planned in Memory of UNC Mascot Jason Ray

Music Monday with Foreigner

Prior to Saturday night's NASCAR Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen sang the National Anthem. As I was listening to him, I thought, "Foreigner was one of the most popular bands of the '80s, but yet they haven't appeared on your Music Mondays yet ? What were you thinking, Sheepdog ?" So, today I am fixin' my oversight.

The Foreigner video and song I'm featuring today is "Say You Will" from their 1987 album Inside Information. I know there's a lot of Foreigner fans out there. So, I hope they will forgive my previous oversight. The video's embedded below in this post or can be viewed by clicking here. Enjoy.

Related articles

• Foreigner performs at NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Samsung Mobile 500 (examiner.com)
• Foreigner Singer Kelly Hansen At TMS Media Day (dfw.cbslocal.com)

New Hawaii Transplant Center Completes First Transplants

Back in February, I shared a story about the lawmakers in the state of Hawaii coming together to do something good for their constituents. They passed a funding bill to transfer the transplant program at the recently closed Hawaii Medical Center to Queen's Medical Center. I was happy to learn several days ago that the new transplant program at Queen's has now conducted it's first life-saving transplants !!

Two men needing new livers received the first two transplants at the new facility. Both are doing well and looking forward to their new lives and spending more time with their families. Queen's Medical Center opening it's new transplant unit might not seem like a big deal, but to these two men and the 400 other Hawaiians waiting on life-saving organ transplants, it is a BIG deal. After Hawaii Medical Center closed its doors, there was not a single transplant center in Hawaii. It meant that unless they wanted to travel several hundred miles away from home, it was likely that most of the 400 Hawaiians waiting on transplants were likely to perish. Now, they've all got renewed hope.



Source - HawaiiNewsNow.com article titled New Transplant Center Celebrates Successful First Operations

UAB's New Transplant Clinic Designed By Patients

The new Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Clinic at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) is getting a "thumbs up" from patients. The new state of the art facility was designed with input from the Kidney Transplant Patient Advisory Council. Hospital staff made a smart move when they asked for the help of their patients. Who would know better what patients need pre- and post-transplant than patients themselves ?

UAB Obelisk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Patients are happy because the new waiting room is comfortable, restrooms are convenient, and the exam rooms are private, more functional, and roomier. Additionally, they no longer have to walk two blocks to the Kirklin Clinic to have their labs drawn, because there is a lab onsite. The onsite lab also facilitates getting patients' lab results back quicker resulting in more efficient clinic visits.

UAB is one of the top-5 transplant centers in the country conducting more than 400 transplants each year. The Kidney and Pancreas Clinic does 250-300 transplants per year and is visited by more than 10,000 patients annually. Plus, UAB hospital does over 100 liver transplants, 25 heart transplants, and 25 lung transplants each year making UAB the largest transplant center in the southern U.S.

UAB saves and improves hundreds of lives each year. When I first learned I need a heart transplant over five years ago, they were the first transplant center which reviewed my case. However, the Lord worked things out, and I was able to have my transplant near home. Nothing against UAB, but I am grateful for that.


Source : uab.edu article titled Patients Help Design New Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Clinic

Easter Music Monday with The Newsboys

Here we are the day after Easter, and it's time for another "double shot" Music Monday. I'll be honest - I had planned a different "double shot" than what you are gonna see. I even had the blog post written and ready to go. I guess I'll save it for next month. The fact is that yesterday the Lord led me to change my original plans. He's got a way of doing that, you know.

Today's "double shot" will be of one of Christian music's most popular bands - The Newsboys. The band has gone through some transition in the last few years with the departure of long-time lead singer and founder Peter Furler and the addition of Michael Tait, formerly of dc Talk, to take his place. The two videos for today are of songs recorded during the Peter Furler era. Once the band releases some more videos during the Michael Tait era, I'll play some of them here on The Sheepdog, too. One video I'd really like to see the band produce is of "Save Your Life." It was one of the first singles the band released after the addition of Michael Tait. It may be one of their best ever.

Video number one today is of The Newsboys hit "Entertaining Angels." You can watch it by clicking here, or you can watch it below as it's embedded in this blog post. Video number two is of the band's hit worship song "He Reigns." It can be watched by clicking here or watching it below in this blog post, also. Enjoy. I hope everyone had a great Easter yesterday.

Oh yeah - one other thing. Even though The Newsboys are not a hard rock or heavy metal band, it's o.k. to crank them up, too. There's no rule against Christians playing their music loud.

Related articles

• Peter Furler has new 'Reach' and is 'On Fire' (christiangospelmusicdaily.wordpress.com)

Guest Column - Dale Flowers

April is Donate Life Month. It's a time when a renewed focus is placed on the importance of organ and tissue donation. Therefore, The Sheepdog's posts for April will only be about two things - Mondays will continue to be Music Mondays, and all other days will be devoted to organ and tissue donation advocacy.

Last week, I gave my two cents about former Vice-President Dick Cheney's heart transplant. I was happy to learn yesterday that V-P Cheney is now at home recovering nicely from the surgery (click here to read article). Today, my buddy Dale gives his. Amazingly, he and I are basically on the same page. Who woulda thunk it ?

RUMINATIONS ON MEDIA IGNORANCE

The ignorance of the main stream media never ceases to amaze me. They see an event that could possibly enhance their agenda and run with it. They don’t check sources. They rile up the public over the report based on a vacuum of ignorance. Local papers generally know what they are talking about, because their readers also know about the subject of the report.

Recently, the printed and oral major news media showed their total ignorance of the heart transplantation process by blasting the heart transplant Vice President Chaney received - anything to attack the conservatives is fair game, forget the truth. Here is the truth concerning heart transplantation. Am I an expert ? Yes. I am a heart recipient. I know how it works.

The waiting list protocol is simple. First on the list are those who are in the ICU. Second on the list are those in the hospital. Third on the list are those at home who receive constant care. Last on the list are those at home who can live almost normal lives. I was on the fourth level. There is only a four hour window from the time the person is pronounced brain dead until the time the heart is beating in the chest of the recipient. The size of the heart must also be considered. It must fit into the chest cavity. The heart must be a match for the recipient. The recipient, if living at home, must come to the transplant hospital in their area to be prepared for the surgery. While this is going on, the donor’s heart must be removed, examined, donor services notified, and the heart transported, sometimes over 100 miles, to the transplant hospital. It is then placed into the recipient who needs it the most, meets the criteria, and is the best match. Also, the heart must get to the transplant hospital and into the recipient within the four hour window.

The recipient of the heart cries. They cry, not because they have life, but for the family of the donor. I honor my donor above all people. No one took the donation from him / her. They gave them freely. They belong to those who throughout history have made it possible for others to live through their death. And for the main stream media to use that process for a political agenda is despicable.

Dale C. Flowers
P.O. Box 904
Hendersonville, TN 37077
toestomper@att.net

Related articles

• Transplants and Knuckleheads (thesecondchancesheepdog.blogspot.com)
• Aide: Cheney 'doing great' after heart transplant (thehill.com)
• Ex-US Vice-President Dick Cheney has heart transplant (mervsheppard.blogspot.com)
• Dick Cheney had a heart transplant. (althouse.blogspot.com)
• Dick Cheney undergoes heart transplant (bazaardaily.com)
• Dick Cheney Recovering After Heart Transplant (collegecandy.com)
• Eric Topol: Cheney heart transplant raises ethical questions (medcitynews.com)

Biggest Tour of 2012

Today's Music Monday is a little different. There's no music and no video. Instead, I'm sharing some concert information. We'll get back to music videos next week.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 20: Musicians Paul Stanley (L) and Vince Neil speak onstage to announce their upcoming Motley Crue and KISS co-headlining tour at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on March 20, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

A little over a week ago, the biggest concert announcement of 2012 was released. KISS and Motley Crue will be touring together starting July 20th, and the tour will run through late September. These two bands have been two of the most popular and well-known rock / metal bands for the last 30 years or so, and each show on the tour should be a good one. I've posted all the tour dates and locations below that have been announced so far. Plus, you can find ticket and other information by clicking on the link at the end of the list of shows.

Both bands have been at it for a long time, and it may not be much longer before they hang up the mics, guitars, and drumsticks. So, if you're a fan, you might want to go check out one of the dates below. I have to admit that September 4th Nashville date is looking awful appealing to The Sheepdog. Motley Crue is my favorite band. Rock on dudes and dudettes !!

DATE      CITY                                  VENUE

Jul 20 – Bristow, VA                       Jiffy Lube Live
Jul 21 – Virginia Beach, VA           Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Jul 22 – Raleigh, NC                      Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Jul 24 – Atlanta, GA                       Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Jul 25 – Charlotte, NC                    Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Jul 27 – West Palm Beach, FL        Cruzan Amphitheater
Jul 28 – Tampa, FL                         1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
Jul 31 – Pelham, AL                        Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Aug 3 – Houston, TX                      Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Aug 4 – Dallas, TX                         Gexa Energy Pavillion
Aug 7 – Albuquerque, NM             Hard Rock Casino Presents The Pavilion
Aug 8 – Englewood, CO                 Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Aug 10 – Phoenix, AZ                    Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
Aug 11 – Las Vegas, NV                 Mandalay Bay Arts Center
Aug 12 – Chula Vista, CA               Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 14 – Irvine, CA                        Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Aug 16 – Concord, CA                    Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
Aug 18 – Auburn, WA                     White River Amphitheatre
Aug 19 – Ridgefield, WA                Sleep Country Amphitheater
Aug 24 – Grand Junction, CO         Rock Jam
Aug 26 – Tulsa, OK                         BOK Center (on-sale 3/30)
Aug 27 – Maryland Heights, MO    Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Aug 29 – Minneapolis, MN             Minnesota State Fair (on-sale 3/31)
Aug 31 – Cincinnati, OH                 Riverbend Music Center
Sep 1 – Noblesville, IN                    Klipsch Music Center
Sep 2 – Pittsburgh, PA                      First Niagara Pavilion
Sep 4 – Nashville, TN                      Bridgestone Arena
Sep 5 – Clarkston, MI                      DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sep 7 – Tinley Park, IL                    First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sep 8 – East Troy, WI                      Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sep 11 – Allegan, MI                       Allegan County Fair (on-sale 5/5)
Sep 12 – Cleveland, OH                  Blossom Music Center
Sep 13 – Toronto, ON                     Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sep 15 – Darien Center, NY            Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sep 16 – Mansfield, MA                  Comcast Center
Sep 18 – Scranton, PA                     Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Sep 19 – Camden, NJ                      Susquehanna Bank Center
Sep 21 – Holmdel, NJ                      PNC Bank Arts Center
Sep 22 – Wantagh, NY                    Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Sep 23 – Hartford, CT                     Comcast Theatre

For more information about dates, times, and tickets, and to view the complete concert press release, visit the following link - KISS & Motley Crue – The Tour.

Related articles

• KISS Offers Roadie Job To Veteran (bravewords.com)
• KISS And Motley Crue Announce Tour, Slam Rihanna For Being Fake (beatcrave.com)
• Concert Announcement: KISS & Motley Crue At Blossom Music Center (wncx.radio.com)
• The KISS / Motley Crue Tour (youngsblog.com)
• Kiss, Motley Crue unite for U.S. tour (canada.com)
• Motley Crue to Join KISS on Fall 2012 Tour (wzlx.radio.com)
• KISS and Motley Crue tickets go on sale for White River show (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• KISS, Mötley Crüe 2012 Tour Dates (noisecreep.com)