Dragonfly Transplant Fund
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Register on Team Dragonfly! Iowa Donor Network Green 5K

3/15/2023

 
The Dragonfly Transplant Fund is proud to support the Iowa Donor Network and their fundraising efforts through this year's Green 5K in Des Moines! 

"The Green 5K Fun Run honors those who have given the gift of life, celebrates the lives of organ and tissue recipients, and recognizes those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant," explains Iowa Donor Network. "This is a family-friendly event so no matter your skill level the Green 5K is open to everyone. Honor and support those who have been impacted by organ, eye and tissue donation and wear your best GREEN + BLUE apparel to celebrate the gift of life!"

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In 2022, Team Dragonfly raised nearly $400 for the Iowa Donor Network through participation in the event. In 2023, our co-founder, Ed Brown, will again be attending the 5K in Des Moines with his partner-in-crime and favorite dog, Star, along with a designated runner for the event. 

To support Team Dragonfly, you can make a donation, join as a participant (in-person or virtually!), or simply share the link below with friends and family. Iowa Donor Network supports our Dragonfly mission as they are dedicated to working together to transform lives through organ and tissue donation in the state of Iowa and beyond.
Support Team Dragonfly

Surprise! A Valentine's Day Brunch Celebration

2/15/2023

 
Three men in collared shirts holding sign to acknowledge Valentine's Day brunch event
L to R: Woody Bruhn, Ed Brown, Darrin Yuska
On Tuesday, February 14th, three of our volunteers with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund visited the UIHC Transplant Center to serve a special brunch to their staff. This includes:
  • Transplant surgeons
  • Transplant medical physicians
  • Transplant administrative staff
  • Transplant pharmacists
  • Nurse transplant coordinators
  • Transplant psychologists
  • Physician assistants with transplant specialties
  • Transplant social workers
  • Financial counselors dedicated to transplant cases
  • Full resources of Iowa's only academic medical center

The Dragonfly Transplant Fund was happy to serve more than fifty boxed brunches, catered by the Bread Garden Market. This special meal was to celebrate the UIHC Transplant Center's success in 2022.

"We handed out the {boxed brunches} and I was able to personally talk with at least a dozen of the Transplant Center team members," said Darrin Yuska, Dragonfly Transplant Fund volunteer. "Everyone was so apprecative and we would definitely do this again for them. They deserve it."  

Last year alone, there were 115 organ donors and 979 tissue donors registered in Iowa. The total number of organ transplants was 347!!! Our volunteers would like to again congratulate and thank the UIHC Transplant Center team for what they do every single day to make this happen.
​
Become a Donor Today

Iowa Donor Network Announces Their 2022 Annual Report

1/18/2023

 
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The Iowa Donor Network just released their 2022 annual report. Highlights from this past year include:
  • 115 organ donors
  • 979 tissue donors
  • 347 organs transplanted

What a year in the world of organ and tissue transplant! Thank you to IDN and all of their staff as well as volunteers that support transplant patients, their caregivers, and their families.
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View Report

Crystal Ellis Shares Her Story

12/8/2022

 
"I had my first cornea transplant in 2005 with Dr. Jacobs at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a scary whirlwind. I didn't know anyone else that ever had a cornea transplant and I felt completely alone afterwards. About six years after my transplant, I had the amazing honor of meeting my donor's family. We celebrate birthdays, holidays and most importantly, my donor Jarren. Becoming a volunteer for the Iowa Donor Network was also life changing for me. My donor's mother and I share our stories and volunteer for IDN and the Iowa Lions Eye Bank together. I love being able to educate people on myths about donation and hear that because of me, or my donor's mother, they're going to reach out to their donor or loved ones recipient. If that doesn't give you goosebumps to hear.

​I also found Team Iowa through IDN and learned, I was not alone. Through the connections attending the Transplant Games of America, I have been able to meet SO many other people that have had cornea transplants. I love hearing their stories and also being able to be the person for some, I never had for support after my transplant.
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I've recently had to undergo a second cornea transplant in my same eye in October of 2019 with Dr. Greiner at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I wrote a letter to my second donor family, but I haven't had the opportunity to connect with them. I made sure to let them know the incredible impact their decision had on my life, and that I would live the rest of my life honoring both of my donors. And that's what I do! I start each day with a grateful heart and always count my blessings."
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 -Crystal Ellis, Cornea Recipient

Free Patient Care Bags

10/27/2022

 
In 2022, the Dragonfly Transplant Fund was able to collaborate with the nursing staff at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Organ Transplant Center to create a special patient care bag, also called a "swag bag." This care bag is given to transplant patients and their families as they conclude their stay at UIHC during the transplant process.

The bag is a reuseable bag with a few resources and tools for them to take home, including:
  • Blood pressure cuff
  • Thermometer
  • A special pillow
  • Information on the Dragonfly Transplant Fund and organ donation
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Theresa Moore is a nurse in the Organ Transplant Center at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is one of the individuals who delivers the Dragonfly care bags to patients and their families. This is what she has to share about the bags:
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When presented with the "swag bag," patients give me a smile. The bag contains a pillow shaped like a liver, kidney, or pancreas. The signable pillow comes with a sharpie-like pen, a couple of bracelets, a single-dose pill box, a stress ball, and a water bottle. The new items: a blood pressure cuff, thermometer, pen, and pad of paper gifts are from Dragonfly Fund. These are a very welcome addition to the swag bag; the patients love them. Some comments heard: “This is so nice,” “I feel like a star,”...“Thank you for making my day” are the most common. The patients love these bags of goodies and it is my pleasure to give them to the post-transplant patients.   
Make Your Impact Now

First Dragonfly Scholarship Awarded in 2022

9/8/2022

 
In 2022, the Dragonfly Transplant Fund was able to create an endowed fund in honor of Deb Brown through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement. This fund was developed to award scholarships to medical professionals working at the UIHC Transplant Center for specialized trainings, meetings, and other continuing education opportunities to improve the transplant process for patients, caregivers, and families.

Andrea Koehler, RN, BSN, Assistant Nurse Manager at UIHC Transplant Center, was the first recipient of the Dragonfly scholarship. We were fortunate to have Andrea present at our 5th Annual Golf Outing and Fundraiser reception. Andrea shares a bit more of her story with us today.
"I have been part of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Transplant Team for 6 years. In my time working with pre-kidney and pancreas transplant patients and now in a leadership role, I continue to be amazed at the resilience of not only the patients but the nursing staff as well.

In August, I had the opportunity to attend the NATCO (The Organization for Transplant Professionals) Annual Meeting in Kansas City with the help of a scholarship from the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. At this meeting, we discussed upcoming advances in transplantation and organ procurement as well as best practices other transplant centers are using throughout the country.

A big thank you to the Dragonfly Transplant Fund for helping me attend the NATCO meeting!"
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Congratulations to Andrea on receiving this scholarship! We look forward to meeting future scholarship recipients and sharing their stories with our Dragonfly Transplant Fund supporters.

5th Annual Golf Outing & Fundraiser Results

9/7/2022

 
On behalf of our volunteers with the Dragonfly golf committee, we are thankful for each and every one of our golfers, volunteers, sponsors, and donors for contributing to a successful golf outing in 2022! We are thrilled to announce that our total funds raised in 2022 topped last year's funds...
Photo of golf committee members presenting oversized check with tree in background
...in the total amount of $48,925! This amount has been put into the Dragonfly Transplant Fund for transplant support at the UIHC Transplant Center through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement.

Our work to continue the vision of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund by creating an engaged community of survivorship and re-birth from end-stage organ failure for pre-, peri- and post-transplant patients and for their caregivers through philanthropy revolves around our focus on the future, including: 
  • A short-term vision to provide amenities for patients and families during their transplant experience
    • Meals, coffee cards and other resources (as examples) for those in financial need
    • Short term housing at local motels for those in financial need
    • Tools for successful transition to home for monitoring and recording progress and success
  • A longer-term vision in alignment with the UIHC master plan to create the Dragonfly Resource Center, a physical location for transplant recipients, caregivers and their families within the walls of UIHC to serve as a respite and a learning center
    • Long term fund growth earmarked for a physical space in the 10-year master plan for UIHC
    • Once complete, the Dragonfly Resource Center will provide a physical space to foster a community of support and survivorship for patients and their caregivers
  • Aspirational vision to provide short and medium-term permanent housing for patients and families receiving life-saving abdominal transplant surgery at UIHC
Photo of the photos and items displayed at Tin Roost during the party
We loved celebrating at Tin Roost in North Liberty with our friends from UICA, Alli and Taylor, and presenting them with the official (BIG!) donation check. We look forward to sharing photos from the golf outing very soon. 

​We look forward to announcing the date for our 6th Annual Golf Outing and Fundraiser in 2023! 
​

Small Things, Big Impact

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In a recent mailing campaign with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, previous donors of UICA in 2022 received a letter with information on how to donate in the future. In this letter, the first designated fund on the submission portion of the letter was listed as the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. This may seem small, but this is a huge step for our fund as we continue to raise awareness for the need of transplant support. 
Donate Now

Don't Forget! Download Your Foursome Photo

Our golfers were a joy to have on the course with us in August! If you haven't already, please take a moment to download your official foursome photo from hole #1 with co-founder of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund, Ed Brown, via the link below. 
Download Your Photo
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Leslie McCloy Shares Her Story

9/1/2022

 
We had the opportunity to meet Leslie McCloy, Post-Transplant Kidney/Pancreas Coordinator at UIHC at the Iowa Donor Network Donor Dash 5K in August. Leslie has an incredible passion for transplant care and a special story to share, and we are honored to share her story with our Dragonfly supporters:
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"Donation and transplant have been the cornerstone of my nursing career. I had the privilege of working with organ donors and their families through my role at Iowa Donor Network as an organ donation coordinator. This experience led me to my current role as a kidney/pancreas post transplant coordinator, working with our transplant team to guide our recipients after they have received their transplant.

​My recipients inspired me to pursue living kidney donation, and on September 9th, 2021 I was able to donate my left kidney to a man I did not know. He and I both continue to do well after surgery, enjoying simple things like spending time with family and friends.

​I feel like it is within our power to say YES to donation. It was the right choice for me, and it is a powerful creed to believe in."

Register Today To Be A Donor

REPLAY: Q&A with Leslie McCloy and Iowa Donor Network

Golf Outing Updates

8/29/2022

 

Watch the Reception Replay

For those of you who were unable to attend our golf outing, you're welcome to replay the live stream from our reception at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort. The video can be played below or you can also find it on our Facebook page. 

Our Golfers

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Thank you to each and every single one of our golfers who joined us at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course! Your support means the world to our group of volunteers. 

On behalf of Ed Brown, we appreciate you taking the time to stop and chat with us at Hole #1. We enjoyed getting to know each of you and sharing our story of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. As yet another token of our appreciation, we'd love to share your official foursome photos with you. 

To get a copy of your foursome photo, you can click the button below and enter your email address to retrieve your copy. 
DOWNLOAD FOURSOME PHOTO

Final Results

We will be sharing photos from Cory John Photography in the coming days as well as our official announcement and final tally of the funds raised from our 5th Annual Golf Outing & Fundraiser. Stay tuned - we are beyond excited to share the results! 

Iowa Donor Dash 5K 2022

8/27/2022

 
Today has been great day! Ed and Star made it to Iowa City for the Iowa Donor Network Donor Dash. The weather was perfect and the support for IDN was incredible. We were fortunate to recognize Deb in the special memorial tribute.
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    Authors

    Volunteers with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund established by Ed and Deb Brown are dedicated to supporting the UIHC Organ Transplant Center through giving. We share their stories, fundraising efforts, and memories here with followers, friends, and family who support the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. 

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    Click here to learn more about the UIHC Transplant Center in Iowa City, Iowa.


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Website sponsored by EJ Brown & Associates

​Contact Us

Phone: (319) 318-2376
Email: dragonflytransplantfund@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 
​260 33rd Ave SW, Ste M, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
Donate Now! givetoiowa.org/dragonfly 
NOTE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization where tax-deductible contributions are identified via tax ID # 42-0796760. 
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