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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Organ donations save countless lives in Texas and |
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the United States each year, but there is a critical shortage of |
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organs available for transplant; and |
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WHEREAS, Statistics demonstrate the urgent need for organ |
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donors, with over 110,000 individuals currently on the national |
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waiting list for transplants, more than 10,000 of whom reside in |
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Texas; a person is added to the list every 11 minutes, and each day |
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18 people die while waiting for organs to become available; and |
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WHEREAS, A single donor can save up to eight lives by giving |
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their heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, and small bowels to |
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patients in dire need of these crucial organs; additionally, tissue |
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transplants from the donor can be used to treat severe burns, |
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injuries, and impaired vision in another 50 recipients; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1995, Rodney DeBaun and his wife, Isibelle, |
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started the David Nicklas Organ Donor Awareness Foundation; named |
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in honor of the young man whose heart was donated to Mr. DeBaun, |
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this nonprofit organization is dedicated to narrowing the gap |
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between transplant patients and the nearest transplant hospital; |
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for the first five years, the foundation achieved this mission by |
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maintaining two airplanes, one to fly patients and their families |
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to the hospital at any time of the day or night, and the other to |
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perform at air shows, generating money and increasing awareness of |
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this serious medical issue; and |
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WHEREAS, Wanting to permanently endow the foundation, |
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Mr. DeBaun built The Landings of Carrier Parkway apartment complex |
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in 2000; the majority of the 281 units are rented out to bring in |
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funds, but at least five are provided free of charge to out-of-town |
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transplant patients and their families; over the years, more than |
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30 transplant recipients have lived in the complex and benefited |
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from its proximity to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, For the last two decades, the Nicklas Foundation has |
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worked tirelessly to help transplant patients obtain essential |
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medical care and to raise awareness of the lifesaving power of organ |
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and tissue donation, and in so doing, it has contributed |
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immeasurably to the health and well-being of many residents of the |
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Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 24, 2015, as Donor Day at the |
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State Capitol and commend the David Nicklas Organ Donor Awareness |
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Foundation and the other individuals, organizations, and agencies |
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involved in this worthy endeavor; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Nicklas Foundation as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |