Heart transplant recipient Rick Brittell shares his story during the July 28 Threads of Life event at ITD Headquarters.

Threads of Life quilt visits ITD’s Headquarters July 28

The Threads of Life quilt — dedicated to the memory of those who gave the gift of life, sight and mobility — made a stop at ITD Headquarters July 28. The quilt will remain on display at the agency through the end of August before traveling to other parts of Boise and maybe the state.

“ITD was our first stop, as we wanted to let people know how important our relationship is with the Driver’s License Division, explained Intermountain Donor Services director of Public Education & Relations, Alex McDonald.

McDonald is pictured below at the lectern.

McDonald welcomed the crowd of nearly 40 who had gathered for the quilt’s unveiling. He was followed by Rebecca Simon of the Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, who coordinated the assembly of the quilt. Vicki and Jay Thomas next spoke about organ donation in the aftermath of the passing of their son, Andrew. The event concluded with Rick Britell discussing his heart transplant and what his donor’s decision meant for him.

“Each day is truly a blessing,” Britell said. “I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am.”

Thanks to Idaho’s Driver Services, 64 percent of Gem State drivers have elected organ donation on their licenses. This compares favorably with the national 51-percent rate.

McDonald said there are 800 people on the waiting list in Idaho for organ donations.

The quilt consists of individually designed squares created by people touched by organ, eye, and tissue donation in Idaho. Each unique square carries its own special meaning. The 2016 YesIdaho Scrapbook allows you to get a view of the quilt and learn about the stories behind each square.


Published 08-05-16