On Saturday we supported organ donation in Rockford, IL at the North End City Market. This is a weekly farmers market sponsored, in part, by UW Health, and we had a great time talking to vendors and shoppers alike. They all seemed to be a family that met weekly, and even though we were new to their market, they welcomed us warmly. We shared Hannah’s Story for five hours! Everyone that we talked to was very sympathetic to our loss, and several of them had their own stories of loss as well. Although there aren’t words to make someone feel better after their loss, these are special times of remembrance. There definitely is a uniquely personal connection that we hurting people share. As strangers we talk about the weather, the price of gas, and day-to-day things, but once we bring up our loss, they open up and tell us about that person that they lost. Those minor things fade away, a respect and appreciation is formed, and two loved ones are remembered for the special people that they were.
We also talked to several people who had personal connections to organ donation. Some of these were on the donor family end like us, and others were on the recipient side of things. It’s always great to hear the reasons and the stories behind these connections to donation. Although it seems like no one else could possibly understand how we feel, we regularly see that we are not alone. There is a big world of people who are proud of their loved ones who donated, and there is a big world of people who owe their lives to that “one special person” who made that decision and gave them a second chance at life!
As we shared Hannah’s Story with everyone, we also talked about allergies. Nearly everyone that we talk to has a connection to allergies. Saturday was a beautiful warm fall day, and the bees were out in force. So, not only was Hannah’s Story a reminder of how devastatingly close to home these allergens are, the bees also did their part to remind everyone that an allergic reaction could be only inches away. With this in mind, we were able to tell everyone about Dillon’s Law in IL. Hopefully soon all Illinois residents can access epinephrine and live allergy prepared!
Speaking of Dillon’s Law, Angel and George Mueller (Dillon’s parents) were flown out to New York this past week to receive an award from Allergy Advocates of New York for their lives of service and activism in the allergy community on a national level. I will close with the explanation from Allergy Advocates of NY themselves:
“Nancy Sander Award – Angel and George Mueller
Nancy Sander started a newsletter in 1985 to provide information to fellow parents of children with allergies and asthma. It grew to become the Allergy & Asthma Network, a national nonprofit organization. The Nancy Sander Award recognizes those who are either beginning to make their mark as advocates, much as Nancy did when she started her journey, or individuals and organizations whose advocacy has made a significant impact on the national level.
This year’s recipients are Angel and George Mueller of Wisconsin, founders of the Dillon Mueller Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization to honor their son who tragically died from a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. His life likely could have been saved if he had received timely access to epinephrine.
In the years since, they have advocated in state legislatures across the country for laws to increase access to epinephrine. They also train community groups and organizations through the Do It for Dillon Anaphylaxis Certification Program, teaching individuals how to carry epinephrine and administer it to anyone in need. They have trained more than 3,000 people in their home state and provide the program free of charge.
We are thrilled to recognize Angel and George, who have taken an unfathomable loss and turned it into something that has saved multiple lives through their epinephrine training program and helped enact meaningful change through their legislative advocacy.”
Great job Angel and George! Great job Allergy Advocates of NY! And thank you to everyone we met on Saturday at the North End City Market!
We are blessed!
P.S. We can’t do this alone. If you would like to donate to Hannah Helps:
PayPal: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/5609126
Venmo: venmo.com/u/hannahhelps19
Your support is needed and greatly appreciated!
Thank You!
