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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, National Donor Day is taking place on February 14, |
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2017, and this occasion offers an opportunity to recognize a group |
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of Central Texas residents whose recent experiences reflect the |
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profound and positive impact that organ donation can have on those |
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who are involved in this life-giving process; and |
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WHEREAS, Emily Chenevert, who works for the Austin Board of |
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Realtors, and her husband, Hunter Chenevert, who is employed as a |
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nurse, became the parents of a son, Barrett, who suffered from a |
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congenital medical condition; he experienced total renal failure |
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shortly after birth and underwent surgery so that he could begin |
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dialysis treatments; at 13 months of age, he was approved for a |
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kidney transplant but was placed on a waiting list, as neither his |
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mother nor father was an eligible donor; and |
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WHEREAS, Lydia Clay of Austin learned about Barrett's |
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situation after meeting Ms. Chenevert while both women were taking |
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part in the 2016 Leadership Austin program; having lost her father |
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in 2008 while he was on a waiting list for a liver transplant, |
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Ms. Clay was inspired to help the Cheneverts and volunteered to |
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undergo testing to see if she was a compatible donor for Barrett; |
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after the tests showed that she was an appropriate match, the |
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surgery was scheduled, and the successful kidney transplant took |
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place on November 17, 2016, in San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Now two years old, Barrett is enjoying a healthier |
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and happier childhood under the loving care of his parents; he is |
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currently attending speech therapy and is fond of playing outside |
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and watching his favorite show, Sesame Street; Ms. Clay is |
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continuing her career as a project manager with the Momark housing |
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firm and is also serving as an advocate for organ donation, an |
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undertaking that she considers a fitting tribute to her father; and |
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WHEREAS, Lydia Clay and the Chenevert family joined together |
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to respond to an urgent medical dilemma, and their story stands as |
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an outstanding example of the good that can be accomplished through |
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organ donation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Lydia Clay and Barrett, Emily, and Hunter |
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Chenevert on the occasion of National Donor Day and urge all Texans |
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to find out more about the actions they can take to support the |
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organ donation process; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Clay and the Chenevert family as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |