The Japan Donor Family Club (JDFC) was founded on September 1st, 2000, by a group of Japanese donor families. It is a club which works for the benefit of donor families and is operated by donor families themselves. They founded it to give support to donor families, share their grief over the loss of a loved one and make Japanese society aware of the presence and importance of donor families. The JDFC was also founded to safeguard the right to privacy of donors and their families.
The President: MAZAWA Yoichi wrote the prospectus on July 4th (American Independence Day).
His daughter, Asako, had a traffic accident in the United States in 1997.
She was taken to the Boston Medical Center, but she was declared brain dead.
It was her wish with her family's acceptance that she give the " Gift of Life." Through the New England Organ Bank, she has saved six American people's lives.
Vice-Presidents: SATAKE Shunji lost his son, Toshikazu, in a traffic accident in Australia. After the doctors declared that he was brain dead, the family agreed to donate his organs according to Toshikazu's wishes. The Australian Red Cross sent the family a thank-you letter in which they informed them that Toshikazu's "Gift of Life" had saved three people.
They and their families talked about their situation and consequently decided to found the JDFC.
In Japan recently, the giving and taking of life is something which has been taken for granted and not fully appreciated by many people.
However, donors are people who think about others, not only themselves.
They live with great humanity and have the highest regard for society.
Without the "Gift of Life" there would be no organ transplantation.
Donors know how important life is and they give their life to help others without any thought of reward or return.
And even though their families are in deep grief, they are brave enough to support the wishes of their loved one, because they also know the importance of life.
In Japan, brain death has been officially recognized as death since 1997. However, the fact is that the donor families of Japan have been isolated from society for a variety of different reasons. For example, with no protection, they are exposed to the media, their privacy is infringed upon, they are hurt by other's thoughtless words and the therefore desperately in need of help.
The first was to build up a system to support donor families.
The second was to teach people to accept donor families in society.
He also said that they would issue the "JDFC News" where donor families could exchange their opinions and feelings. In this way the JDFC, with its respect for life, has taken its first step on behalf of humanity.
In September 2001, The 13th World Transplant Games was held in Kobe, JDFC cooperated and assisted it.
And also, donor family Sharing Session was held thanks to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii's cooperation, and it was a great success.
In 2002, JDFC established May 17th a Memorial Day named "Bridge of Life Day".We started our own Japan Donor Family Quilts here in Japan.
2003 May 17th, The JDFC held the "Bridge of Life Day Ceremony". Forum, Donor Recognition Ceremony, classical concert, and invited American Donor Families's lecture.
2004 May 15th, The JDFC held the "3rd Bridge of Life Day Ceremony". In this year, Donor Family from England attended, BODY (British Organ Donor Society) gave 35th Lime Tree to JDFC members.
2005 May 14th, The JDFC held the "4th Bridge of Life Day Ceremony". In this year, Donor Family from Austrailia attended, Mr.&Mrs Harrion. And, July 24th & 25th, JDFC members attended National Donor Recognition Ceremony & Workshop in Washington D.C..
2006 May 15th, The JDFC held the "5th Bridge of Life Day Ceremony". And Mr. MAZAWA's family visited their daughter ASAKO's college, Framigham State College.
2007 May 19th, The JDFC held the "6th Bridge of Life Day Ceremony".
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