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:

"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."

Today begins Donate Life Month. We are proud to support Iowa Donor Network and encourage friends, family, and loved ones to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Together, through spreading the word and educating others about donation, we can take small steps each day towards saving more lives. Register now at https://www.iowadonornetwork.org/register.

Join Team Dragonfly for the Iowa Donor Network Green 5K! Walk in-person on May 7th at Racoon River Park in West Des Moines, walk with us virtually, or make your donation to stay comfy on your couch and still support.

This fun, family-friendly event commemorates the lives of organ donors, celebrates the lives of transplant recipients, and recognizes those who continue to wait for the lifesaving transplant. Our team walks in memory of our co-founder, Deb Brown, who received a liver transplant at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in 2016. Deb passed away in 2020, but her memory lives on through the Dragonfly Transplant Fund.
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The Dragonfly Transplant Fund had an active and exciting year in 2021!

The year kicked off with a Valentine’s celebration brunch for the office staff at the UIHC Transplant
Center. The celebration was to recognize the record breaking number of transplant recipients in 2020
at UIHC at 103 patients! In partnership with the Bread Garden Market, Dragonfly volunteers delivered
box brunches to all the office staff at their work stations. Reports indicate that 2021 may break the
record again.

In April, the Dragonfly put together a team to participate in the lowa Donor Network Green 5K and raised over $500 for Iowa Donor Network. In case you didn’t know, April is Donate Life Month.

In August, we held our 4th Annual Golf Outing at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa. 2021 was the best year yet! With over 100 golfers and more than 50 volunteers, we raised over $28,000 donations for the Dragonfly cause. A highlight of the event was to have a number of both organ donors and recipients present at the event. Great job, Dragonfly Golf Committee!

In addition to the golf outing in August, we were able to host Deb's Celebration of Life. In recognizing
her courage and our vision, an endowed memorial fund was established. This fund will use its annual
earnings to provide educational scholarships for the nurses and staff at the UIHC Transplant Center. To
honor Deb's legacy, this fund is named the "Deb & Ed Brown Endowed Dragonfly Fund for Transplant
Support.” We owe a big thank you to the University of lowa Center for Advancement for their help and
guidance in making this happen. Deb and I wanted to say thank you to everyone at UIHC. It’s a fact that
a more knowledgeable staff will help everyone.

To close out the year, the Dragonfly Action Steering Committee committed 10% of the current Dragon-
fly fund to be used to enhance the transplant process for UIHC patients, families and caregivers. We asked the transplant nursing staff for their input and received valuable ideas as to how we can help
make this happen. We can’t wait to show everyone what awesome things are coming in 2022 with this
allocation!

I would be remiss if I didn't make note of the growth that the Dragonfly has experienced in the media
and marketing department throughout the whole year. Our Dragonfly website and Facebook have
proven to be a valuable method of communication and these digital marketing tools have helped us
grow awareness for the need for more people to sign up to be organ donors. To everyone who is a
donor, we have to say THANK YOU!

No, we have not accomplished our long-term goal - yet! A physical resource center and lounge for
transplant patients, caregivers, and families within the walls of UIHC to provide the support their needs
is still to come. Once our goal is achieved, the Dragonfly Resource Center will provide a physical space
to foster a community of support and survivorship.

When I reflect on the Dragonfly’s accomplishments in 2021, it’s obvious that it was a great year - and the best is yet to come! Where Dragonfly is today and where Dragonfly will be in the future is all because of you and your support. From our Dragonfly family to you, thank you, thank you, thank you - and happy holidays!

Sincerely,
Ed Brown
Co-Founder of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund 
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"National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation." - https://www.donatelife.net/ndlm/

Important Organ Donation Awareness Days
NEW! Donate Life Living Donor Day
NEW! Blue & Green Spirit Week
National Donate Life Month Blue and Green Day is Friday, April 16, 2021.
National Pediatric Transplant Week is April 18-24, 2021.

Show Your Support on Facebook
You can help support the #DonateLife cause by adding a Facebook frame to your profile pic. Choose either a 2021 Donate Life Month garden theme or a Donate Life green band frame.
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To add the frame, you can go to www.facebook.com/profilepicframes or hover over your profile pic, click Update on your profile picture, click Add Frame, search for the frames by entering National Donate Life Month, choose the frame you want to use and click Use as Profile Picture. Thank you! #DonateLifeMonth

Tell Iowa Donor Network why you participate in the Green 5K and who you are running for! Use the special Virtual Green 5K signage to design an inspiring sign and possibly win a prize. 

For inspiration on videos, check out the creative videos submitted in 2020 HERE. Don't miss out on a chance to be a part of this special program! The deadline to submit content is April 15th.