LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nearly 1,000 people across Kentucky are waiting for an organ transplant, according to the most recent data from the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. The University of Kentucky is taking part in a blood drive honoring the life of an Ohio-Kentucky Consortium of Physical Therapy Programs member.
The University of Kentucky and 12 other universities from the Ohio-Kentucky Consortium of Physical Therapy Programs partnered during the For Pete’s Sake Blood Donation for the seventh year. It’s been going on since 2015 to memorialize Peter Mosher, a faculty member and Director of Clinical Education at Mount St. Joseph University.
Mosher was also a member of the Ohio-Kentucky Consortium of Physical Therapy Programs because of the university he worked for, but he suddenly passed away on December 7, 2013 while waiting for a lung transplant.
Lynn English is a retired professor and the Director of Clinical Education for the University of Kentucky Doctor of Physical Therapy who knew Mosher very well because of the consortium and doing the same job.
“He was a joyous person, always spreading his intellect and his enthusiasm for physical therapy and for life. Yeah I miss him, even now,” English said.
Nine years later, English still smiles at Mosher’s picture because she remembers the fond memories of a good friend.
“Mosher was in the physical therapy program at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. He was a faculty member there, and at a very young age [age 32] he developed an idiopathic lung disease. We lost Pete while he was waiting for a lung transplant,” English said.
English doesn’t hesitate to give blood or to be registered as an organ donor because she and her colleague Kara Lee know 1,000 people across Kentucky are awaiting the gift of life, according to KODA.
“I had a real connection to Pete. We had a favorite band that we loved called Over the Rhine. He was just a very engaging and wonderfully inspirational person. So for me, it’s very emotional. And in fact, I was inspired last year to donate a kidney to someone, Pete was really in the back of my mind when that happened as well,” English said.
English was joined by her former colleague, Kara Lee, who currently serves as Director of Clinical Education for the University of Kentucky Doctor of Physical Therapy.
“You know, people walking behind me today could have some condition that they’re not even aware of yet. So anything that we do can be a help,” Lee said.
One pint saves three lives. All it takes is squeezing a ball and sitting still for 15 minutes.
Lee and English want to encourage more people to donate.
“Anyone who’s considering organ donation, either as a living donor or as a donor after death, It’s a very simple process to register, so please look into it and donate life,” English said.
The For Pete’s Sake Blood Donation continues April 1st from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. in UK’s Gatton Student Center.