Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - CH - 3

COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Heart transplant
recipient Tom
Michna, with his
wife, Jody, pictured
at left, and
cornea transplant
recipient Kathleen
Sojka are both
grateful to their
donors and their
donors' families.

HONORING ORGAN,
EYE AND TISSUE DONORS
Hammond resident Tom
Michna was first diagnosed
with heart failure in 1997.
After bypass surgery, his heart held
steady for the next 19 years until
October 2016.
"It was a shock to hear that your
heart is failing and you are not going
to live with the one you have," he says.
"There is no medical treatment that
will keep your heart functioning. It
was bad."
He got a second chance because of a
generous donor.
"The real heroes in this are the family
members who supported me-as well
as the donor and the family who signed
the papers to donate their loved one's
organ," Michna says.
Kathleen Sojka, a retired nurse
from the emergency department at
St. Catherine Hospital and a cornea
transplant recipient, agrees that those

who decide to donate give the ultimate
selfless gift of life.
In 2004, Sojka was diagnosed with
advanced keratoconus, a progressive eye
disease where the normally round cornea
thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like
shape. This cone shape deflects light and
causes vision distortion.
At the time of her diagnosis, Sojka says
she was having trouble driving at night.
"I couldn't see the lights very well and
my commute became miserable," the
Valparaiso resident explains. She was
traveling 60 miles to and from work.
"If I wouldn't have had the transplant, I
would be disabled and not have a job. I
would not be able to see the beautiful
details of life such as my grandchildren's
faces, the leaves on the trees and all of
the beauty that life has to offer."
"I tell my story to express my gratitude in the hopes that it moves someone else to make that choice to donate

their loved ones' organs and make a difference in someone's life," Sojka says.
Throughout the year, the hospitals
of Community Healthcare System partner with Gift of Hope and VisionFirst
eye bank to raise awareness regarding
organ, eye and tissue donations. Each
hospital flies the Donate Life flag for
48 hours following every organ donation
as a silent salute to those who have provided the greatest gift.
One person can save up to eight
lives through the donation of lifesaving organs-including their heart, kidney, liver, lungs, pancreas and small
intestine-and enhance the lives of more
than 50 people who need corneas to see,
skin to heal burns, and bones and connective tissue for common knee, back
and dental surgeries. ■

WEBSITE

Are You a Donor?
Indiana residents can register
their intent to be organ and
tissue donors while obtaining
or renewing a driver's license.
Registration also is accepted
at donatelifeindiana.org.

SUMME R 2019

3



http://www.donatelifeindiana.org

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - CH

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