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ROSE BOWL PARADE 2008
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| N.O.T.E. board member Debbie Ismer, and her husband, Bill, won a contest sponsored by Astellas, the makers of the drug Prograf. Bill and Debbie were flown to California to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade. Here is a short account of their very special trip. |
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| Our recent trip to Pasadena, California to participate in the Tournament of Roses parade proved to be the most humbling and inspiring trip Debbie and I have ever been on! We won the trip sponsored by Astellas, the company that makes prograf, after we entered an essay contest in June 2007. Never in a million years did we think we'd win! Astellas was very generous to us. We flew to Pasadena Dec. 28, 2007 and enjoyed every second of the trip until we returned Jan. 3, 2008. We got the opportunity to be involved in the decorating of the float, which proved very interesting. We had no idea how many uses there were for parts of flowers. There were literally millions of flowers in the most beautiful bloom. |
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| We had several receptions, meeting many transplant patients as well as reciepiants. Our hearts were touched in many ways. Some of the donor families brought recipients with them. We met people of all ages, from all over the USA. Some were givers of life, some were receivers of second chances at life. Others were guests. Everyone we saw was passionate about the same thing; life. When the float was ready to be judged the day before the parade, there were so many Donate Life volunteers standing there in silence. |
The judges walked for 3 minutes around the float, titled "Life Takes Flight", and as soon as the judging was over and the bell rang, all you heard was clapping from all the volunteers for what seemed like minutes!!! Tears were shed everywhere, hugs were given freely and we knew we all had made an impact in Pasadena for the world to see.
Bill Ismer, heart transplant #421 Tampa General HospitalTransplanted Oct 28, 1999 |
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N.O.T.E. BANQUET 2007
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| On September 27, 2007 N.O.T.E. celebrated CARE and EXCELLENCE in the transplant community by honoring Dennis Heinrichs - LifeLink with the Thomas Thrasher Award of Excellence, Nadine Hill - RN at Tampa General Hospital with the N.O.T.E. Award of Excellence and Bill and Martha Minahan - Volunteers in the community with the Emily Ortiz Volunteer Award. |
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| Dennis Heinrichs, (left) along with family, enjoy the Second Annual Tom Thrasher Award Dinner. Dennis is the president of LifeLink Foundation, a non-profit community service organization dedicated to the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissue. Dennis is the guiding force behind the everyday operations of the LifeLink Foundation. Heinrichs joined the Florida West Coast Organ Procurement Foundation, Inc. as Director of Organ Procurement in 1982 and became LifeLink Foundation's executive vice president in 1986. Dennis has served as president since 1995. |
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| Nadine Hill has been an employee at Tampa General Hospital for almost 21 years. She began her career as a Unit Clerk in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The Surgical Intensive Care Unit is where liver, kidney and pancreas patients are cared for immediately after surgery. In 1992, Nadine began working with transplant recipients and living kidney donors. She has been dedicated to transplant patients and their families ever since. Nadine is most known from the Transplant Clinic on 4-H at Tampa General where she always has a smile for her patients along with a gentle touch. Nadine joined the 4-H transplant department in 2004 and has continued to distinguish herself as an excellent nurse and patient advocate. |
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Bill Minahan is best known for his 38 years as a football coach with Hillsborough County High Schools. Bill is in the University of Tampa Hall of Fame and the Tampa Sports Club Hall of Fame. Bill has had the same donated kidney for over 21 years. He has served on the National Board for the American Association of Kidney Patients and is presently serving on the local AAKP Board along with the Legacy Board at LifeLink. Bill is a four time gold medal winner at the Transplant Games and appeared in Sports Illustrator's "Faces in the Crowd" for this achievement. Bill is very passionate about the cause of organ donation.
Martha has been Bill's caregiver extraordinaire for over 21 years. Together, Bill and Martha champion the cause of organ donation. In 1968, Martha came to Tampa to teach math at Boy's Academy and later she taught math and became a guidance counselor at Jesuit High School. During her time at Jesuit, Martha was " "the voice of the Tigers." She announced all home football games for 17 years. Since retiring, Martha has traveled, tutored and served on several boards. She is an avid New York Yankees fan and Notre Dame football fan. Martha and Bill have been to every major league baseball stadium in the United States. |
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| Linda Thrasher-Donalson, along with son, Ron Thrasher, were on stage at the Columbia Restaurant to present the Thomas Thrasher Award of Excellence to Dennis Heinrichs. Linda Thrasher-Donalson has picked up where her late husband, Tom Thrasher, left off. Linda donates, very generously, to all events and fundraisers benefitting N.O.T.E. Linda has been involved with N.O.T.E. from the very beginning. Linda and her late husband, Tom, traveled around signing up organ donors before a donor signing card was in existence. Many of the changes and policies concerning organ donation and organ transplantation are available today because of the hard work and dedication of Tom and Linda. |
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Larry Cullison, heart transplant # 627, graciously provided the music for the award banquet. The soothing sounds of Larry on the organ helped to set the mood for the event. Larry chose music that enhanced and distinguished the "Second Annual Tom Thrasher Award Dinner" from being just another function.
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Debbie Ismer, (right) a nurse at TGH, along with husband, Bill, heart transplant # 421 catch up with friends and share a few memories. Bill was Debbie's patient at Tampa General. Debbie cared for Bill during his recovery, they fell in love and are now married. Now that's a story that can touch everyone's heart!
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| Bob Gamble, (left) vice president of N.O.T.E. and heart transplant # 133 and #625, along with Linda Malzone and Denis Malzone, heart transplant # 185 share a laugh and some good times at the award banquet. |
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| Nadine Hill is a very popular and caring nurse who works on the transplant floor at TGH. Friends, guests and members of the community attended the award banquet to show their support for their friend, Nadine. Not only has Nadine distinguished herself as an excellent nurse and patient advocate, Nadine is loved by all who meet her. She touches many lives in many ways. |
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