A Partnership for Life

By Chris Fiorentino
Director, Civic Engagement and Students for Community Service

The university community is involved in many types of service to our community.   From direct service, such as tutoring children to read, to research on ways to improve our region’s air and water quality, faculty, staff and students offer their time and talents to improve the lives of others.   Then there are people who give a little more; as in more of themselves.   These individuals give of their own blood, bone marrow, tissue and/or organs to help others not just live better, but to simply live.

Take, for example, the case of Fresno State alum Chad Hathaway.   In 1998, then a senior here, Chad was diagnosed with leukemia and was informed that the only way to save his life was to have a bone marrow transplant.   As Chad discovered, this dangerous medical procedure is made even more complicated by the fact that finding a donor whose genetic make-up provides the correct match is extremely difficult.   Chad was one of the lucky few who quickly find a match, yet, he selflessly set out to ensure that all leukemia victims would have better odds when it comes to finding a bone marrow donor.  At Fresno State, he organized what became the largest blood and bone marrow drive ever held on a college campus in February of 1999.

Later, he pushed for and still champions legislation that will fund the cost of screening that potential donors often have to pay.   Just last month, the American Institute for Public Safety honored Chad as a regional recipient of the 2004 Jefferson Award.

“Upon my diagnosis I was overwhelmed by the incredible amount of support from my professors and my fellow students,” said Chad. “In my time of need they answered and because of them I am here today.   “People don't often think just how important giving blood really is.   During my months of treatment, blood, plasma and platelets single handily kept me alive.   As far as marrow donation is concerned, I wouldn't be alive today without it.”

Next, consider the case of Dr. Luz Gonzalez, interim Dean of the College of Social Sciences.   In 1996 she donated a kidney to help save the life of her seriously ill father.   A couple of years after her donation, Dr. Gonzalez remarked that, “I was fortunate to be able to give my father hope” by donating her kidney to him.

Dr. Gonzalez has always believed that it is important to sacrifice for the good of others, even when that means giving up one of your own vital organs.

Then, there are the 1,700+ students, faculty and staff who participated in the 2003-04 Fresno State Blood Drives.   Each of these individuals offered an important part of their own life to help save the lives of others.   Each year, the university sponsors a series of campus blood drives in conjunction with the Central California Blood Center, raising enough blood to treat thousands of area medical patients.   The schedule for this year’s drives can be found at http://www.csufresno.edu/scs/blooddrive.html.

Recently, the President’s Cabinet decided to become involved in the national “Workplace Partnership for Life” program, designed to increase the number of organ, tissue, marrow and blood donors throughout the nation.   During the coming year you will have numerous opportunities to learn more about and become a blood, marrow, tissue and/or organ donor.   For more information on donation options available, please contact:

Central California Blood Center : (559) 224-2900

Community Tissue Services: (800) 201-8477, www.cbccts.org

California Transplant Donor Network: (888) 570-9400, www.ctdn.org

National Marrow Donor Program: (800) 627-7692, www.marrow.org

As Chad Hathaway states, “People do not realize how much of an impact they can make on someone’s life through donation.   Organ, tissue, blood and marrow registration are all direct life savers.   I don't think there is an easier way to save someone’s life. As a former patient, when I walk into my local blood bank and look around all I see is a room full of heroes.”

Be a hero! Get involved in the Workplace Partnership for Life activities, including the campus blood drives, taking place this year.

“Spotlight on Service” is a monthly Journal feature that highlights the good works of the campus community. Faculty and staff members are encouraged to submit information (up to 150 words) about community service-learning projects in which they and their students are involved. Include name, major (if student), department (if faculty or staff member), what the service involves, where and what the impact to the community is. Digital photographs are welcome. Send information to journal@csufresno.edu.