Blood: the gift of life!

Buzula owner Buster Foster visited the club to talk about the importance of donating blood at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center. Buster was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C in 2007. In need of a liver transplant â€" and after a long ordeal, he was accepted as a liver transplant candidate at Baylor in Dallas. In October he was given blood while he waited for a suitable organ donation. Shortly before Thanksgiving he was hospitalized with kidney failure and the gift of blood once again came to his rescue. A liver became available, but Buster's sodium levels were too high for a successful transplant. Finally in December another liver was available. Blood donations helped to sustain him through the 12 hour surgery. Unfortunately the liver had damage that was undetected before the surgery and the transplant failed. In need of another transplant, Buster was kept alive for nearly a month with blood. In early January, another liver became available, this time a perfect match. In February 2008 after 65 days in the hospital Buster went home and lives a healthy, productive and blesses life in Amarillo.

Member Patrick Freeman, classification, Investments spoke of his move to Amarillo with his wife and children and of his work. Patrick grew up in Arlington and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He offers a wide variety of investment opportunities to his clients and lives in Amarillo with his wife and two daughters. A third child is on the way!

Member Rosemartha Cates gave an update on the progress for our pass the hat drive for Snack Packs 4 Kids, and outlined how important the program is for those in need.

Rotary Foundation raffle tickets have been distributed to all members. Tickets are $10 each and checks should be made out to the Rotary Club of Amarillo. Please be sure to turn in your funds and ticket stubs to Gina by November 1. The winner will receive a $1,000 gift card, the Rotarian that sells the most will receive $500 and the person who sells the winning ticket will receive $500. Proceeds will go to a local charity to be decided.

Sincere appreciation to the following for their contribution of time this week:
Club President, Renee Wilson for presiding and playing piano.
David O'Dell for leading us in song.
Bill Summerhill for providing the invocation.
Jeff Neely, Dale Bippus and Gina Rodriguez for greeting us.
Beaumont Boyce for introducing guests and visiting Rotarians.
Julie Ontiveros for serving as August program chair.
Basil Walker for manning the Foundation ticket sales and to Melvin Edes for his gift of Beef Jerky for our drawing and to Rocky Gafford for providing another wonderful pizza prize!