Calling attention to organ donations

Brooke Porter, a 20-year-old South Hill resident, is determined to make it to the softball fields near Joe Albi Stadium the weekend of July 22 and 23.

She planned to be there last year, as a featured guest of the annual Krista L. Baker Memorial Softball tournament, but became ill and could not attend.

Porter suffers from cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that can affect many different organs. One year later, Porter said, she is in stable condition. However, she’s still awaiting a double lung transplant. Inflammation in the lungs is among one of the most common characteristics of the disease.

The softball tournament, spearheaded by John Baker, is used to draw attention to organ donations. Baker became devoted to educating people on the subject after his 20-year-old daughter, Krista, died of cystic fibrosis in 2000. Krista, an honor student and 1998 Ferris High graduate, was waiting for a double lung transplant. Before dying, she donated her corneas, giving sight to two young men in Washington state.

The softball tournament features more than 30 female teams, ages 8-17, from the Spokane Youth Sports Association. Baker said he estimates the weekend will attract more than 1,200 people.

Porter, the recipient of a liver transplant in St. Louis four years ago, said if she were to pursue a lung donor through the St. Louis network, she’d have to live there for a year. Before her liver transplant, she and her mom, Cheryl Porter, lived in St. Louis.

However, the Porters are considering working with University of Washington Medical Center in an effort to find Porter a lung donor there. Although it could be years before a donor is found, Porter said, she’s not discouraged.

“I’m doing OK,” said Porter, one of four children who live with their parents on the South Hill. “I’m lying out at the pool (given to her by the Make-A-Wish Foundation). I’m going with the flow.”

Porter is one of approximately 93,000 people in the nation awaiting organ transplants, according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (www.unos.org). Nineteen people die every day waiting for a life-saving organ.

She also is one of the several area organ recipients scheduled to be at the tournament. Recipients will be throwing out the first pitches and visiting with fans and players.