April is Donate Life Month in Placer County for 3rd year

Placer County has declared April as Donate Life Month for the third year. "The commitment of medical professionals, researchers, national partners and all those who work tirelessly to save and heal lives through donation and transplantation is deserving of recognition," the proclamation reads. The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the proclamation Tuesday, which also recognizes Sierra Donor Services for its efforts in 2023: 442 organ transplants that were possible due to 171 Northern California donors. The proclamation notes this was Sierra Donor Services' most successful year in its 40-year history. The proclamation was accepted by Valen Keefer, an Auburn resident and patient advocacy consultant for the transplant diagnostics business at Thermo Fisher Scientific, transplant recipients Lorin Meeks-Harris and Charleen Roccucci and Audrey Stout, whose sister saved five lives with her organ donations after being declared brain dead as a result of an accident. "This year marks 20 years since I've been a patient advocate and it's really important to me to talk about this journey and help inspire other people who not only educate and empower patients but also highlight the impact that we can all have on someone else's life and the difference it's made in mine," Keefer told the board. "It's not just the recipient; it's every life that the recipient touches. It gave my parents their daughter back. Gave my husband his wife back. Gave me an opportunity to become the woman that I am today." The board also heard the impacts of organ donation from Meeks-Harris, Roccucci and Stout. "This is something that's pivotal. It's really important because not only is it about everything that it brings to the transplant recipient. … It's the flip side of the coin. It really brings something back to the donor families," Stout said, noting her sister's donation turned a "horrible tragedy into something that was worth moving forward with." As part of her advocacy, Keefer launched a podcast this month called "Unpacking the Gift of Life" and co-hosts with Cristen Wathen. Keefer describes the podcast as "two friends and transplant recipients sharing stories of hope, health and emotional wellbeing along the kidney disease and transplant journey." Listen to "Unpacking the Gift of Life" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or visit unpackingthegiftoflife.buzzsprout.com. The colonnade of the Placer County historic courthouse in Auburn has also been lit blue and green in honor of Donate Life Month. According to donatelife.net, the Donate Life brand and logo were created to "place the cause of organ, eye and tissue donation in the context of life and living, a selfless gift, showing compassion for humanity. Blue, green and the swirl represent the sky, earth and circle of life." The board approved the proclamation in a unanimous vote.