Reflection rose
The "Reflection" Rose is an Australian variety of standard rose which was specially bred by Eric Welch in NSW - with special thanks to Ms Monica Brady and Fort Street High School. It is dedicated to organ and tissue donors and their families who make transplantation possible. The rose is available at the ACT Annual Service of Thanksgiving, and through contacting DonateLife™.
Advocate the wishes of the potential donor and their family
The donatelife in ACT team’s role is to work closely with families faced with the death of their loved one when donation is being considered. The medical specialist and donor coordinator nurse provides information to assist families to make a decision that reflects their loved one’s wishes and is ‘right for them’.
Facilitate the organ and tissue donation process
The team supports the donor family following the decision to donate and throughout the time that is required to arrange for the specialist medical staff to attend the hospital to perform the donation surgery. The donation nurse also coordinates the information required for the transplant teams and surgery
Provide bereavement support and follow up
Continuing care, recognition and support is offered to help families of those who have donated organs for transplantation and are provided with a 24 hour support contact number
Families sometimes wish to see their loved one following the donation surgery and the donation nurse facilitates this process. Following the donation surgery the donor coordinator nurse will contact the family (as arranged with the family) and let them know the outcomes of transplantation. Privacy laws protect all individuals involved. Donor Families and transplant recipients can write anonymous letters through DonateLife™
DonateLife™ includes rose lapel pins as part of the follow-up care package that is sent to families touched by donation. The pins symbolise the bloom of the Reflection Rose, and are presented to all families of organ and tissue donors in Australia who have affirmed the wish of their loved one to donate
Provide staff support
The DonateLife™ team provides ongoing support to the healthcare workers involved in donation processes
Provide health and community education
The DonateLife™ team works to ensure appropriate education and awareness in healthcare settings in the ACT and region. Gift of Life works to ensure appropriate education and awareness in the community, in conjunction with DonateLife™
Quilts
DonateLife™ has established a connection with quilting associations in Canberra and the region who provide individually crafted quilts for organ donors and their families. The coloured quilts soften the clinical environment, and allow the family to sense the gratitude and warmth felt by the community for their generosity. Families are provided with the quilt at the time when they leave the hospital as an ongoing reminder of the gratitude of our community. This program is entirely reliant on the continued generosity of individual nurse quilters, the Canberra Quilters and ‘Quilts for others ’.
