Topic: Affirming Life Through Organ Donation

Guest: Eleanor Vincent

Eleanor Vincent is a national spokesperson for organ donation and grief recovery. Her message is about the healing impact of her decision to donate Maya's organs. After the loss of her 19 year old daughter from a tragic accident, Eleanor wrote, Swimming with Maya, a book based upon meeting the man who now has her daughter's heart. Eleanor's decision to say yes to donation resulted in six successful transplant operations, and all six individuals are alive and well today.

Eleanor Vincent is the recipient of a Woman of Promise Award from the Feminist Writers’ Guild and a Mary Merrit Henry Award from Mills College, where she received her MFA in Creative Writing in 1995. Her articles have appeared in The San Francisco Examiner, The San Jose Mercury News, Five Fingers Reviews, The Sacramento Bee, and others. Her essays, poetry, and short fiction have appeared in a variety of anthologies, including The Santa Barbara Review, Across the Generations, and The Napa Review.

Eleanor's appearances include a transplantation symposium at Stanford University, in-service transplantation seminars for nurses and doctors, and keynote speeches at donor recognition events. She received a Community Service Award from the California Transplant Donor Network for her work as a volunteer speaker on transplantation. She lives in Walnut Creek, California.

Read an article by Eleanor Vincent: Do Unto Others Health Policy - A donor's gift.

Website: www.swimmingwithmaya.com