Organ recovery agency sets training sessions

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Feb. 20, 2003
Meridian will host a training session to teach people how to spread the word on the need for organ and tissue donation.
The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency is hosting the training that will be held by Frank Bodino and Jack Locicero, founding members of Transplant Speakers International.
Linda Allan of the House community, an organ transplant recipient and president of Second Chance Transplant Awareness Group of East Central Mississippi, participated in the training last year in Jackson and helped schedule it for Meridian.
She said about 15 people regularly attend the local support group she heads. It is one of six organ donation support groups in the state.
Spreading the word
James Laird of Brookhaven is volunteer services coordinator for MORA. He said the training will teach volunteers who are members of donor families or donor recipients to make calls to civic clubs, church groups and other outlets. He said volunteers currently cover the state speaking to groups and answering questions at health fairs.
The men holding the training session are both New Jersey natives. Bodino received a life-saving transplant in 1996. Locicero is the father of a transplant donor. His daughter, Amy, was fatally shot in the Long Island Rail Road Massacre in 1993.
Laird's son had a liver transplant when he was 7 months old.
Laird credits Mississippi's increase in organ donors with an increase in education about transplants.
Public speaker training
The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency will host public speaker training sessions, presented by Transplant Speakers
International, in Meridian and Jackson next month. Seating is limited so early registration is encouraged. The seminars are free and include lunch. For more information or to register call Chris Veal or James Laird at MORA, toll free, 1-800-690-8878:
Meridian In Meridian the seminar will be held March 8, at the Holiday Inn, 111 U.S. Highway 11. The volunteer training session will begin at 10 a.m.
Jackson In Jackson the seminar will be held March 9, at the Holiday Inn &Suites, 5075, Interstate 55 North. The volunteer training will begin at 11 a.m.
"Sorrowful Joy" Donor family members are encouraged to arrive one hour prior to the volunteer training for a special session called "Sorrowful Joy" that deals with grief-related issues.