Help end the wait by saying ‘yes’ to organ donation

By KELLIE TREMAIN
Guest Columnist

Julie Brommer fought progressive and debilitating health issues for more than 40 years. Ultimately, she needed a new kidney to survive.

But then, late-stage colon cancer struck.

Pulled off the transplant waiting list, Julie had to be cancer free to be eligible for a transplant. She had just started a new major health battle when the unimaginable happened.

Her youngest son died unexpectedly.

While grieving, Julie also had to cope with a grueling weekly schedule of energy-zapping chemotherapy and radiation treatments and dialysis six days a week until her cancer finally subsided.

That happened for years until she was placed back on the waiting list.

Then she waited. And waited.

Until the day Julie’s body had no more fight and gave her no more time. On June 29, 2022, surrounded by her family at her northern Indiana home, Julie Luann Brommer, 49, died.

Waiting.

Today, there are about 1,300 Hoosiers – and more than 104,000 people in the U.S. – who need a lifesaving organ transplant. Most need a new kidney, like Julie did. Tragically, in the U.S., 5,600 people die each year waiting – 17 people every day.

All are waiting simply because there are not enough donated organs for everyone who needs one.

That’s why we’re utilizing the latest technology and innovation to help ensure more donated organs are available for transplant. We have also significantly grown our clinical and professional staff to respond as quickly as possible when donation may be possible. Systems and operational procedures have been improved and strengthened to maximize organ donations and save more lives.

We have also fostered remarkable relationships with our hospital partners and transplant centers we serve in Indiana and throughout the U.S. These partnerships have led to an increased rate of referrals for donation, further increasing the number of successful transplants.

And we are working to create a better understanding about how organ donation saves lives by leading educational programs that resonate with students and communities throughout Indiana, which have encouraged more Hoosiers to sign up to be organ donors.

Yes, Julie Brommer died waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant.

During her wait, though, she was able to experience what giving the gift of life truly means, through her youngest son, Cody.

Cody was an organ donor.

His gifts saved seven lives and restored sight to two others.

The legacy Julie’s son left behind deeply fueled Julie while she faced her own mortality and hoped for a miracle. What Cody accomplished in death made her proud, she said, and both physically and mentally stronger.

I share this story about Julie to simply ask you: Please help end the wait.

Take some time to learn more about how important it is to be an organ donor.

Talk about it with your family, friends and loved ones.

Hope is a powerful thing. My personal hope is that ultimately, you decide to join the more than 4.4 million Hoosiers who have signed up to be organ donors.

You may someday help end the wait for someone whose life depends on your selfless decision to say “yes.”

Kellie Tremain is president and CEO of Indiana Donor Network. She can be reached at KTremain@INDonorNetwork.org.