Introduction
In previous posts, I have shared my perspective on topics of interest to our transplantation community. Through these communications, I hope that you have a better sense of how committed Bridge to Life is to enhancing the preservation of organs awaiting transplantation, improving access to organs and reducing post-surgical complications. While you may know Bridge to Life as innovators in transplantation products, services, technology and research, you may not have been aware of the myriad creative initiatives that Bridge to Life has undertaken to bring to life the transplantation experience, touching more lives in the process.
In this column, we will hear from Aaron Gilchrist, Bridge to Life Vice President of Sales, North America, who 15 years ago serendipitously discovered the value of artistic expression to communicate the transplantation experience from the eyes of artists personally impacted by organ transplantation.
From Aaron….
It all started in 2009, when Bridge to Life joined the Organ Procurement and Transplant Community with the introduction of our Belzer UW® line of organ preservation products. When preparing for our first conference, which was AOPO 2009, in St. Louis, we talked about how we might make a splash as we were introducing Bridge to Life to the Transplant Community for the very first time. In planning, I recalled a conferenceI attended so me years prior, where a company by the name of St. Gobain displayed cans of Playdough for creative use by the conference attendees. Medical Device Engineers at this conference made delightful works of art displayed at the booth. Two weeks later, when I was at my desk, I received a box in the mail. What was in it? A can of Playdough.
That sparked an idea: What if Bridge to Life could inspire a creative outlet for expressing the organ transplantation experience while making a memory for those whom we wanted to meet? As a result, we took the risk – even though there were some who were reluctant – and I reached out to artists in the St. Louis area.
Serendipity
Having narrowed down the list via Google search, I landed on an artist by the name of Marlene Lewis. Her artwork was rich and full of color, and in my top 2 favorites found in my search. But nothing could have prepared me for our first phone call.
I explained to Marlene that I had found her on the internet and was interested to commission a piece of artwork in the coming weeks. She thought that it was fast, and wisely asked what the piece was meant for. I responded by saying it was for organ donation. Then the phone went silent. After a few moments, I asked – “I am sorry – did I say something?” Marlene said, “No – its just…It’s just my sister had a heart-lung transplant and received 7 years from her gift of life.
Needless to say, I was on the next plane to St. Louis.
In a world of disbelief, I found myself 24 hours later, sitting in a studio full of artwork, with an old comfortable sofa in the middle, sitting next to a golden retriever. Marlene’s studio was full of beautiful pieces, ranging from plein air to abstract nudes. There was a liveliness to her work and so much color. We sat down together and talked about her experience – her sister. Then (and many times since) we have discussed the journey of not just the organs, but the donor families and the recipients. This led us to the concept of the “Heart of Hope”, which Marlene painted for the conference.
Having such a serendipitous introduction, we thought, what could be better than to have Marlene there to present her artwork. Then, thinking back to the Playdough, we did one thing more – we fingerpainted hand-painted heart tiles at the conference on clear Lucite. I am pretty sure people left wondering, who are these guys at Bridge to Life? But we made a first impression – one that has lasted.
Art Takes Flight
Since that first AOPO meeting, the original Heart of Hope – and the art program – Art, Hearts and Hope, has had quite an extraordinary journey, and it seems that this wonderful work of art truly had a life of its own, through its beauty and ability to keep on giving.
It was such a hit, in fact, that we knew we needed to create a new piece every time we came to this conference. This became an annual tradition and led to the creation of the 2010-piece, Hope Takes Flight – an abstract hourglass one way, and a butterfly when rotated – and subsequent pieces such as Hope Renewed and Seeds of Hope – an abstract tree with heart shaped leaves that fall to the ground and sprout new ones (this is one of my favorites).
Each year, Bridge to Life conducted give-away raffles at AOPO, created holiday cards with our art, and loaned our commissioned art to organizations wishing to display or reprint pieces. Beyond the transplant community, we have also used the artwork with Departments of Motor Vehicles and schools, and even once created special “Have a Heart” QR code in the shape of a heart which could be scanned to register to become a donor. This made a very popular T-Shirt while registering people to donate!!!
One special extension of this project has been our work with the OneLegacy Donate Life Rose Parade Float, in a program called “Hearts for Heroes”.
Each year transplant recipients and living donor ride with the Donate Life Float at the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Also honored on the float are those who donated at the time of their passing, whose images adorn the float as “floragraphs” or floral pictures.
For the last 13 years, we have worked collaboratively to honor those heroes with a specially painted heart tile, like the ones we painted at our first conference. Each one is painted individually, using different colors, and uniquely, in inverse. As the medium is a clear lucite, the painted side comes through the other side, and the heart appears as if it is on the other side of a glass pane. They are powerful symbols – and each donor family gets to stop and find the one that reminds them most of their loved one.
Hearts for Heroes has been presented to thousands of float riders, walkers and members of donor families, and has served to connect people on what seemed a very singular journey, to realize they are all connected.
This continues to be a labor of love for the artist, Marlene.
“Paintings are ultimately metaphors for our lives. Every shape and color can be seen as our mark in this world to see our dreams and wishes are realized. And, like life, painting is a process of exploration,” expressed Marlene. “I never tire of it because I’m always looking to see what comes next,” she added.
“Creating paintings for Bridge to Life has given me the chance to give back to those individuals and families involved in viable organ donation,” Marlene continued. “Having had a sister who received a heart-lung transplant and seeing a new life of hope unfold for her, I was humbled and thrilled at the idea of creating works of art for those individuals involved in this struggle.”
More recently, Bridge to Life expanded the program and connected with a new artist Niki Litts, a multi-media artist trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia – and a recipient of a transplanted liver at age 12. When I first met Niki, I instinctively knew that her passion for expressing herself – and her liver transplant experience – through fiber arts and ceramics would be the ideal complement to the stunning artwork created by Marlene.
Niki was excited to participate with Bridge to Life because, as she put it, “It is hard to find a community to be a part of if you don’t know other transplant recipients.” Niki’s first piece was a little girl – something of a self-portrait – with her arm outstretched toward two hearts, representing her journey over 30 years ago to receive her liver transplant.
Her second piece included a mother hugging a child and a child starburst, with concentric circle dots representing different organs. This piece was aimed at the donation experience, and the grief of losing a loved one, while starting hopes and dreams for those in need of a heroic organ donation.
“My art provides an opportunity to express my feelings – feelings that resonate with the transplant community,” shared Niki. “I am grateful to Bridge to Life for providing this outlet for me. I would do this for the rest of my life.”
As our wonderful and empowered artists have demonstrated, a true metamorphosis occurs when a person is given a second chance at life. One of the most important issues is the significant number of people waiting for a life-saving transplant, and the feeling of helplessness resulting from the lack of available viable organs. Bridge to Life – through our ongoing research and collaborations with academic researchers – is at the forefront of making more organs available for transplantation.
Bridge to Life wishes to thank everyone who has played a role in this inspirational project. It is our “Hope” that this program will continue to bring joy and love to the Transplant Community we are so proud to support.
