Secretary Land presented Shining Star Awards to:
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| Sec Land, Pam Powell, Shining Star |
Pamela Powell (double lung recipient and Gift of Life volunteer) at DTE headquarters in Detroit. Pam's life changed in a way that she never thought possible on July 1,2000. It began with a call from her fiancé, David. He was going to talk to his to parents about his plans to marry her and on July 1, 2000, they became officially engaged. After all of the festivities of the day, they were on their way to dinner when her pager went off. It had only gone off once since she got it on July 14, 1999 and that was a wrong number. She made the call to Henry Ford Hospital's Lung Transplant Program and was told that the life-saving lungs that she was waiting for were available.
Pam was diagnosed in 1988 with an auto immune disease called Sarcoidosis. For many years, her condition was manageable through the use of steroids and in 1994 she was placed on oxygen. At first she only used it only while sleeping, but as time went on, the need for it became greater. In 1998, she was told that she needed a single lung transplant but after more evaluation, in January 2000 it was determined that she needed to have both lungs transplanted because of pulmonary hypertension.
Brad Stone, a 12 year-old boy, died suddenly on July 1, 2000, after having a severe asthma attack at a friend's house. Fortunately, the asthma did not damage his lungs. Brad's parents graciously decided to donate his organs.
On July 21, 2000, she was released from the hospital and was married on August 13, 2000. "I will never forget these dates including July 1, 2000," says Pam. "I want everyone to know that the gift that Brad (The Wind Beneath My Wings) gave me has enhanced my life immensely. I do not take it for granted." Pam continues "I encourage everyone I know to become an organ donor. I am a donor. My husband knows that what ever they can get from me they are welcome to take it." The Stones and Pam corresponded through Gift of Life Michigan until they met at an annual donor recognition ceremony in 2001. Since then, they've become one family.
It was not long after her lung transplant that Pam decided to share her amazing gift with others and become a volunteer with Gift of Life Michigan. In memory of her donor, Brad, she gives back to other donor families by sharing her incredible voice (and great lung capacity) at Gift of Life's Annual Betty Buckley Donor Family Ceremony. For the past several years, Pam has sung "The Wind Beneath My Wings" at the ceremony as a tribute to donors and the generous gift of life that they gave to others in need. Through her powerful voice, she captures our hearts and souls. And without her lung transplant, she would not be able to share her gift with us today.
Brad died at the age of 12, but the class of 2006 didn't forget about schoolmate Brad when planning their graduation this past May. They listened as Brad's lungs helped Pam Powell belt out "The Wind Beneath My Wings" as 115 of Brad's would-have-been classmates graduated from Lake Fenton High School.
In addition, Pam volunteers her time at a variety of events throughout the year, including:
- LIFEWalk - the annual family fun walk and run that is held on Belle Isle to promote donor awareness in our minority populations.
- ALIVE - the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan's annual fundraising and awareness event.
- Working with Michigan's Donate Life Coalition and Gift of Life to promote awareness at the Annual Health Ministry Seminar.
- Working with her church for a special woman's conference and various other awareness events.
Without Brad and his family, Pam wouldn't have seen her son get married three years ago and she wouldn't be working every day as an operational analyst for DTE Energy. Pam is dedicated and passionate about helping others to understand the importance of organ and tissue donation, and without a doubt, she is a shining star!
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