[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/connie-schoechert.jpg” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” alt=”connie schoechert” title_text=”connie-schoechert” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
To Connie Schoechert, the orange dot on her driver\u2019s license symbolized her pledge to donate organs. But years later, she learned first-hand that donation isn\u2019t limited to the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas.<\/p>\n
Special gifts she received after two workplace accidents changed her life. They also helped increase her awareness of how the donation of tissue \u2013 bone, skin, valves, veins and tendons \u2013 can improve strength, mobility and independence for patients in need.<\/p>\n
In 1994 while working at a paper mill, Connie slipped on some steps and fell, injuring her right leg. The company nurse said the impact separated the muscle from her femur and would take some time to heal. But healing didn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n
Over the next two years, she experienced pain and difficulty walking, despite regular rounds of ultrasounds, physical therapy and home exercises.<\/p>\n
Finally, Connie was diagnosed with chondroblastoma, a rare benign bone tumor that required surgery to remove. She was surprised to find out that small bone fragments were used to replace her damaged tissue, thanks to the generosity of a deceased donor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat really changed my idea of a donor,\u201d Connie says. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing that so many things can be used to make someone\u2019s life better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her experience with tissue donation didn\u2019t end there. In 1999, Connie, now working at a dry cleaner, fell victim to another accident. A press malfunctioned and pinned her left arm, badly burning her skin from the back of her hand to her elbow.<\/p>\n
Connie once again found out about the healing power of tissue donation. Over the next year, she received two grafts to repair and restore the scars on her arm \u2013 one from her own skin and the other from donor skin.<\/p>\n
Today, Connie lives a healthy lifestyle in Nekoosa, Wis., and enjoys hunting, fishing, snowshoeing and biking. She also is serious about fitness and adheres to a low-carbohydrate diet.<\/p>\n
She says the journey was challenging and a lot of hard work. And she is grateful to those whose gifts helped her get her life back. \u201cI haven\u2019t received a lung. I haven\u2019t received a heart\u201d she says. \u201cBut the little stuff really makes a difference. The quality of life is still there.\u201d<\/p>\n
What would she say to her donors? \u201cA million times, thank you,\u201d she says. \u201cThank you for the selfless act, for the little miracles that happen every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Donate Life organization, each year there are approximately 30,000 tissue donors and more than a million tissue transplants. The need for donated tissue is steadily rising. While one organ donor can save as many as eight lives, one tissue donor can enhance and heal the lives of more than 75 people.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To Connie Schoechert, the orange dot on her driver\u2019s license symbolized her pledge to donate organs. But years later, she learned first-hand that donation isn\u2019t limited to the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas. Special gifts she received after two workplace accidents changed her life. They also helped increase her awareness of how the donation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-987495438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987495438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=987495438"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987495438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":987495442,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/987495438\/revisions\/987495442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=987495438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=987495438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwdproduction.com\/ats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=987495438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}