Crystal Capser, will forever be grateful to my donor, Juan Namowicz, who passed away from a work injury in November of 2000. Juan was 25 years old. He left two children, Isaac and Lorena, and a wife, Kelly.
 
Juan's family agreed to donate his organs and tissue, to those in need. He was the type of individual who always wanted to help others.
 
I was diagnosed with end stage renal failure and was doing peritoneal dialysis at home twice a day, while I continued to work and remained positive that one day soon the phone would ring, with good news of a donor becoming available, that was a perfect match for me.
 
On November 8, 2000, I received the call, one that I will never ever forget. It was the luckiest day of my life. I received Juan's kidney and pancreas, after living with childhood diabetes for 27-1/2 years.
 
Juan's family's decision changed my life forever.
 
With the strength, courage and will to live and my positive attitude, I recovered from my transplant at UCSF. I  was overwhelmed in emotions of gratitude, feeling pain for a family that I knew was  mourning the loss of their loved one and knew in my heart that I was given a second chance at life and knew when the time was right, I would find a way to express my gratitude to the family.
 
As I gained strength, I would walk the halls, back and forth, in extreme pain from my surgery. I knew this was the only way to get stronger and the sooner I could go home to be with my family and four legged kids, that I missed dearly .
 
I made it a point to meet other fortunate patients who were there for the same reason. We were on the transplant floor. I encouraged other patients to join me for a walk and a chance to get to know each other.  It pleased me to witness other patients showing interest  in my ideas. The transplant team was so impressed by my enthusiasm; they put an "S" on my gown and named me "Superwoman" of the transplant wing.
 
At that point, I knew I had a mission to accomplish. I wanted to find a way to give back in helping others.
 
I became involved with The California Transplant Donor Network, educating our community, schools, youth groups, hospitals, churches and service organizations about the importance of organ and tissue donation. I'm involved with The American Diabetes Association on mentoring recently diagnosed diabetics and assisting pre and post op patients with their new lifestyle.
 
Through my stories, and experiences, sharing my journey to a second chance at life, and how I became a passionate messenger. 
 
I feel very fortunate to have a loving husband, Joseph, who was my ROCK. He gave me the strength and determination to get through this challenging journey.  His warm smile and presence seemed to make everything better.
 
One year after receiving my transplant, the day I had wished for, finally came true, I met my donor's family. It was a day I will cherish.  It was filled with many emotions, tears, laughter and stories.
 
I'm proud to be able to call them my family and the bond I have with Juan's mother, Lupe. She's like my second Mom. It pleases me to know that the letter I had sent the family shortly after receiving my transplant, a letter I could remember, even today.

Assuring the family,that their loved ones organs had been given to an individual who was very grateful and would do everything in my power to care for my precious gift for years to come.  I celebrated my 10 year transplant anniversary in 2010. My transplant doctor has always been impressed by my lab work and feels that I will enjoy a long and happy life with these organs.
 
I strongly believe that a healthy lifestyle, making the right choices,, being diligent on taking my transplant medications and vitamin supplements, including exercise on a daily basis and  taking time to smell the roses, have played a huge role in my success.
 
I feel confident that the message is becoming clear to many communities about organ and tissue awareness.
 
We must continue to spread the message to as many people as possible to help others in this world live a better life and enable them to have a second chance.
 
I'm living proof of that.
 
You DO have the power to Donate Life.

Make life happen …
California residents can check "YES! I want to be an organ and tissue donor" when they apply for or renew their driver's license or ID card through the California DMV. Or they can sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor with the Donate Life California Registry at http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org/ or its companion Spanish Web site, http://www.donevidacalifornia.org/.

Information about the impact of providing the "gift of life" to others through donor or tissue donation is at those web sites as well as at www.ctdn.org.