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Speakers at recent Rotary Club of Tryon meetings focused on the Rotary theme of “Disease Prevention and Treatment.” The speakers informed Rotarians about orthopedic services available at St. Luke’s Hospital and the urgent need for organ and tissue donors.

 

During a January meeting, Tryon Rotarian Amanda Thompson introduced club members to Dr. George Azar. Dr. Azar is the new orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor at St. Luke’s Hospital. In his practice, Dr. Azar focuses on paying attention to his patients’ needs and customizing a treatment plan that will allow the patient the best possible outcome. He believes these custom procedures offer tremendous benefits to patients, including managed pain and a faster recovery, increased range of motion, and greater ease in performing everyday activities such as golfing, biking, and gardening.

 

The Rotary Club of Tryon also learned about the importance of organ and tissue donation during a presentation by Mason Jackson from Lifeshare Carolinas. In his work with LifeShare Carolinas, Mason serves as the link between generous donors and those waiting for lifesaving organ, eye, and tissue transplants.

Mason explained the importance of organ donation. More than 3,300 people are waiting for organs in North Carolina. A new name is added to the national list every 9 minutes. The most commonly donated organs are the heart, kidney, lung, liver, pancreas and small intestine.

 

While most Rotarians had heard of organ donation, Mason also explained that thousands of lives are greatly changed every year thanks to tissue and eye donors. The medical criteria for tissue and eye donation are different from the organ donation criteria, making it more likely that tissues and eyes will reach a patient in need. The most commonly donated tissues are bone, ligaments and tendons, heart valves, veins and arteries, and skin. An eye donor can give the gift of sight to two people with their corneas and help up to eight more if the whole eye is donated.

 

If you are interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of Tryon, please contact the Rotary Club of Tryon President, Carol Browning, at carolbrowning72@gmail.com or 864-580-1000.

 

Submitted by Dave Scherping