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About TDL |
NEWS
Tiffany Ellison, Mrs. California, Shares her Story
My connection to Team Donate Life came about in almost a miraculous way. It all
started with a random phone call from a stranger that had read my story and found
me to say a simple ‘thank you’ for all of the work I do to promote organ donation.
With that phone call, all sorts of chance introductions lead me straight to a Team
Donate Life dinner. Telling a few of TDL’s Board of Directors about my
husband’s love of bike riding, need for adventure, and personal connection to
organ donation made my husband, Jared, the next Team rider, and it made me the
newest Crew Member for Race Across America 2009! What a thrill to be a part of
such an amazing experience with a group of fantastic individuals. I can honestly
say that I have never been surrounded by more exciting people in my life. Every
single person that works with the Team is virtuous in some way. When I have the
chance to be in the support vehicle on some of the team rides, I have this huge
sense of honor and respect for the riders because I feel that they are out there on
the roads spreading the message that some day may save my son’s life.
One important thing that I have learned in the past year is that adversity offers the
opportunity for greatness to happen. My best friend, Jared, and I have been married
for 17 years. Together we are the proud parents of four over-achieving, messmaking,
fantastic children. But almost four years ago, our middle son, Connor, was
diagnosed with a liver disease. As a mother, I have NO greater fear then
something bad happening to one of my children. We immediately received letters
from our insurance company approving Connor for a transplant. All I felt at the
time was this feeling of absolute helplessness. I wanted to fix him so fiercely. But
no matter what I wanted, the bottom line was we had to learn how to live with this
disease.
A new ‘normal’ became my daily mantra. About three months into his diagnosis, I
sat Connor down and asked, “How are you doing with all of this?” He simply
responded, “I just want my mom back.” I quickly realized that the daily pity
parties, the 20 extra pounds I gained (trying to suppress my fear), and the utter lack
of enthusiasm I had for life made him the most sad. It all became so clear to me
what I needed to do. I realized with the help of Connor that I don’t have control of
anyone’s vitality. But I do have control over the kind of example I am to the
people in my life… ESPECIALLY my own children.
With this new attitude in mind, I set out to reach some pretty amazing goals with a
vision board and new motivation. I have reached almost every goal on that board
so far. I had crazy things like turning this stay-at-home mom into the next Mrs.
California, losing 20 pounds, working at a news station, and becoming a Donate
Life ambassador. My main objective was to hopefully inspire my son to LIVE HIS
DREAMS, and I knew I had no business asking him to do so if I wasn’t willing to
do it myself. I also bought each one of my family members their own vision board.
Connor covered his board with football players (something several doctors told
him he would never be able to play). This past season, he actually scored a
touchdown! (See “You Tube” and enter “Connor Ellison’s Story” to watch it for
yourself). I am also thrilled to report that Connor is very stable and doing well. In
fact, he is not currently on the list for a transplant.
At the end of the day, what I hold closest to my heart is the hope that my son
Connor’s story, or my other three children sharing their own experience with their
brother’s disease to their peers, or my road to the crown, or my husband’s Race
Across America, will somehow inspire others to become registered donors. I may
never know whose lives we have affected, but I can honestly say that I wouldn’t
change a thing.
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