APRIL IS DONATE LIFE MONTH — Over the years The Chronicle has featured individuals who were in need of an organ transplant or became an organ donor. Most recently we told the story of Debra Porter Gill, who received a new kidney and pancreas in 2000. Unfortunately, that donated kidney is now failing and Gill is on the transplant list again. Because of that December 2017 article, Gill tells us “a wonderful woman reached out to be tested as a potential organ donor and was found to be a match. She is currently being evaluated for her general health and assuming that they find no underlying health issues, we will be able to go ahead and schedule a transplant.”
Amazingly, the two women have cross paths several times, belonged to the same congregation and organizations, but never met. We hope to provide another update soon.
The Midwest Transplant Network reports that nearly 2,500 people in Kansas and Missouri are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. April is National Donate Life Month, and as part of that people are urged to join the Organ and Tissue Donor Registry — either online at ShareLifeMidwest.com or at the DMV when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or ID card.
LEARNING FROM SECOND AND THIRD GENERATIONS OF SURVIVORS — Evelyn Freilich, a junior at Pembroke Hill School and a member of the New Reform Temple, is beginning an ambitious project to collect letters written by the children or grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Once the letters are collected, she hopes to publish them in a book.
Evelyn was inspired to begin this project because she was “touched very deeply” after hearing Sonia Warshawski speak at her school. She believes “the most important way to learn about the Holocaust is by establishing an emotional understanding with survivors and their families. With that said, I believe reading and hearing personal stories of survivors is the best way to do this.”
These letters could include anything about how the Holocaust has affected and influenced both their personal and family lives. Letters can address their parents or grandparents specifically, if they wish, and can include all the things they have never been able to say directly to them. Evelyn said she understands this is a very personal topic, and will accept letters to be printed anonymously. For more information, or to send a letter, contact Evelyn at .
SO LONG KOSHER AT THE K — If you’ve been to a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium this year, you may have noticed Kohn’s Deli is missing. Unfortunately kosher food at the stadium was not a profitable venture for the restaurant and Kohn’s chose not to renew its contract this year. However, if you are heading to Wrigley Field in Chicago to catch a Cub’s game you can grab a kosher bite there and Kohn’s is still operating at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
MORE KCPT JEWISH-THEMED PROGRAMMING — “We’ll Meet Again: Children of WWII” will air at 1 p.m., Monday, April 23, on KCPT2. Join Ann Curry for the dramatic reunions of people separated by World War II. A Japanese-American woman sent to an internment camp hopes to find a childhood friend, and a survivor from a Jewish ghetto searches for the child of the couple who befriended him.