Williston man’s organ donation helps others to live

A freak accident took the life of Williston's Jamie Allan Dore, formerly of the Fairview area, on May 24, 2009. He was a lover of life, family and friends, music (especially ACDC), outdoors in nature with hunting and fishing, keeping people on the edge of their seats until the end of a story, as well as laughing out loud.

Though Dore's life was over, many people have benefited because of his decision to donate. Luckily for his family, Jamie had already made the decision to donate and had confirmed his decision by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

It was difficult for Nancy Reiger, the love of Dore's life, to tell their children, Matthew, Casey, Logan, Malcom and Lexi, of their father's death. However, there was comfort in knowing their father's organs have allowed other people to live and enhance the lives of many others through tissue and eye donation.

When Reiger found out about the accident, and knew Dore would never again come home, confusion, turmoil, anxiousness and decisions were put at her feet. The love of her life was gone.

One comfort that the family shared was, "We just know Dad as one who knew everyone, and everyone knew him," Jamie's son Logan said. "He had an outgoing personality," Reiger said.

On the way to Billings where Dore was taken after the accident, his family drove the grueling highway where little was said, but they knew he had registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor on an online registry.

"I don't know if we really talked about it, as we already knew his donation wishes on the way to Billings, but the doctor asked us again at the hospital, and it was agreed that his organs, eyes and tissues would be used just as he wanted," Reiger said.

The question was asked to the family if donation were ever to enter their lives again, would they hesitate to give - the family quickly answered, "We would do this again."

There are several people who have been "helped" because of Dore's decision to donate. Cards and recipient information have been sent to the family, where they can contact, meet with or respond by e-mail to those recipients of Dore's donations.

When the family went to Billings at the time of Dore's death, items were given to them from LifeCenter Northwest to memorialize his donations. LifeCenter Northwest is one of the 58 federally-designated non-profit organ procurement organizations in the United States.

LifeCenter Northwest facilitates the recovery of organs and tissues in Montana. Their dedicated team provides support to donor families during and after donation.

"We were given a print of his hand about a week after his death," Reiger said. "We also have a ceramic heart and necklace, along with many books of support. There is also a ceramic heart on Jamie's wrist."

Reiger and her children will send a shirt and tie to be added to a block of a traveling quilt. This quilt includes squares created by donor families in memory of their loved ones.

The family gets counseling support at no cost for as long as it's needed through a referral by LifeCenter Northwest.

"We have been in contact with the counseling support for both the kids and myself," Reiger said. "It has been a real benefit to have this support available for all of us."

Maybe those who today are recipients of Jamie's donations will listen to music, enjoy life just a little bit more as they watch NASCAR, be outside at the water's edge tossing a line or view a whitetail through the cross-hairs of the scope. But hopefully what they enjoy most is making others around them happy and loving them immensely.

More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for organ transplants, Dore's family hopes by telling their story and educating people about the need and the importance for people to register their donation wishes, more people will make the life-saving decision to become a registered donor.

There are three ways to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor:

• Express your interest when you apply for your driver's license, instruction permit or identification card.

• At www.DonateLifeToday.com, the official online organ, eye and tissue donor registry in Montana managed by LifeCenter Northwest

• Call 1-877-275-5269 to request a brochure to fill out.

To receive more information for organ and tissue donations for Alaska, Montana, North Idaho and Washington contact LifeCenter Northwest, 11245 S.E. Sixth St., Ste 100, Bellevue, WA 98004; 877- 275-5269; www.lcnw.org; www.donatelifetoday.com. For more information on becoming a donor, go to www.DonateLifeToday.com or www.unos.org.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Marketing program manager Julie Monica at Donate Life Today and LifeCenter Northwest, as well as Leanne Smith of Flying Horse Communication, the communication contractor for Montana with Donate Life Today and LifeCenter Northwest, helped to produce this story.