This weekend is Father’s Day, and I can’t help but think back one year ago to Mother’s Day 2009 … definitely a very special Mother’s Day for Tara (and me).  Cole, our 9-month-old son, received a life-saving liver transplant at Riley Children’s Hospital.  He’s now almost two years old and doing great … walking, laughing, growing, and getting into EVERYthing (and we love it).  Tara & I are constantly reminded that our family received the most amazing gift anyone could ever receive on that day:  the gift of Life.   

It was also a tragic day for another family on the other side of the state as they dealt with the death of their young daughter.  We’re enternally thankful for that family’s generosity, in the midst of their sorrow, to agree to donate their child’s organs for transplantation.  Their gift saved the lives of several children, including Cole.  Words can never express our gratitude to both that family, and the wonderful staff at Riley for saving our son’s life.

Today, more than 100-thousand Americans need a life-saving organ transplant … and another name is added to that waiting list every 10-minutes.  Meanwhile, eighteen people die each day waiting for a compatible organ.  On behalf of our son, Tara & I urge you to visit Donate Life or our personal DeLIVERlife4COLE site to learn more, read about Cole’s story, and sign up to become an organ donor.

Our story is unique, and special to us; but, it’s not the only story.  Alex Band, former lead singer of The Calling, checked in with our Smiley Morning Show this week and shared his experience with organ donation which eventually led him to become an international Donate Life ambassador.  Here’s the podcast:

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And, check out the video of Alex performing his current solo hit “Tonight” live in Germany prior to the World Cup.

But, if you’re not familiar with the area, it might be hard to visualize the enormity of the damage.  So, let’s imagine if the same oil slick were to originate in downtown Indianapolis.  Here’s a map showing how much of the Midwest would already be affected!

You can keep an eye on the size of the Gulf Oil Disaster, or move the slick to your own hometown, courtesy of IfItWasMyHome.com.

Click here to visit the map and find out how you can get involved.

As some of you know, liver disease has directly affected my family.  Tara & I have formed a team walking this weekend in celebration of our 21-month-old son, Cole, who was born with a rare metabolic disorder affecting his urea cycle.  Last May, he became the fortunate recipient of a life-saving liver transplant.  We hope to celebrate this joyous anniversary by reaching our team’s fund raising goal, as part of the American Liver Foundation’s larger goal for this year’s walk.

The Heartland Liver Life Walk is this Saturday, May 22, 2010. 

Please join the deLIVERlife4COLE.com team and help sponsor our walk.  Any donation amount will help make a difference.  All the money raised goes to research and services that support people affected by liver disease.  To donate online, just click here!

Read more about the Liver Life Walk Indianapolis.  Tara & I also invite you to visit our son’s website at DeliverLife4Cole.com.

In case you’re not familiar with the prevalence of liver disease, and the importance of supporting this important health cause:

• 1 out of every 10 Americans is affected by about 100 types of liver disease
• That’s 30-million people in the United States affected by liver disease; or roughly the same number of people who live in America’s fifteen largest cities … combined!
• 60% of the 26,000 people who die each year from cirrhosis have no history of alcohol abuse
• Nearly 17,000 people are on the waiting list for a liver transplant
• Approximately 15,000 children are hospitalized every year with Pediatric Liver Disease or disorders

Click here to donate or join Team deLIVERlife4COLE.com and help us make a difference!

Thank you.
Scott, Tara, & Cole

Concert                                    Times
The Elms:                                  4:15 p.m.
Jake Owen:                               5:45 p.m.
LL Cool J:                                  7:15 p.m.
Goo Goo Dolls:                          8:45 p.m.
Location: White River State Park
Admission: Free

Bracket Town^TM refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero^TM
12N-8P Sunday & Monday
Location: Indiana Convention Center – Entrance and Exit is Hall D
Description: Bracket Town^TM refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero^TM is the ultimate Final Four^® fan fest! Fans of all ages can test their skills and enjoy championship action with the POWERADE ^TM 3v3 Tournament, AT&T’s “At the Half Video Play-by-Play” television studio, Coca-Cola’s slam dunk competition, and the LG Interactive Zone, which will host the EA NCAA Video Game Tournament. The excitement continues with a variety of other hands-on entertainment options including the Capital One NCAA Championships Zone, where fans can engage in a variety of NCAA sports or view thrilling championship highlights in the Capital One NCAA Hall of Champions Area and Theater, and the CBS Sports Highlight Area. Fans also have access to vitaminwater^® revive NCAA Youth Clinics, the NCAA Kids Zone, former NCAA player and coach autograph sessions, demonstrations, prizes, and much more.
Admission: $10 (ages 12 and over); $6 (ages 3-11, college students*, senior citizens (55 and older), and military*); Free (ages 2 and under); *Appropriate ID required.
Beginning March 8, courtesy of NCAA Corporate Champion, Coca-Cola, advanced tickets can be purchased for $2 off at select Meijer stores throughout the state of Indiana or they can be purchased at regular price on the day of the event at the Indiana Convention Center box office.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o />

NCAA® Final Four® Dribble
Hours: Dribble begins at 3 p.m.; All participants, including pre-registered, must check-in prior to 2:30 p.m.
On-site Registration: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (only several hundred registrants will be accepted on-site)
Location: Start: NCAA National Office (located in White River State Park) Finish: Indiana Convention Center (corner of West and Maryland)
Admission: Free
Description: Basketball fans, under the age of 18, will have the opportunity to dribble from White River State Park to the entrance of Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero® at the Indiana Convention Center. Participants will receive a free basketball and t-shirt courtesy of the NCAA. Participants wearing the Final Four Dribble t-shirt will also receive free admission to Bracket Town on event day.

Annual King-Kennedy Commemoration
Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
Location: MLK Park; 17th and College
Admission: Free
Contact: King-Kennedy Committee members on-site in addition to Chris Radford; NCAA; cradford@ncaa.org; (317) 614-5608 (cell)
Description: Every April 4th the Indianapolis community honors two men who are bound by local and national history at this site. The speech given by Senator Robert F. Kennedy the evening of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death on April 4, 1968, in MLK Park, now known as King Park, is credited with saving the city of Indianapolis from violence and riots. The NCAA will collaborate with the King/Kennedy Commemoration Committee to support this special event that recognizes the positive effects that came as a result of Senator Kennedy’s impassioned speech.

AT&T NABC Guardians of the Game Awards Show
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: The Murat Centre, 502 N. New Jersey Street
Admission: $15
Description: The top men’s college players and coaches, as well as some legends of the game, will receive awards from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The State Farm Division I All-America first and second team members will be present along with the two coaches making it to the NCAA championship game. Among the awards to be presented are NABC coach and player of the year in NCAA Division I, II and III; Defensive Player of the Year; Big Man of the Year; and the Naismith Trophy for Division I Player of the Year. Hosted by Tim Brando of CBS Sports.

Click here to watch video from LEX18, WLEX-TV/Lexington (embed not supported, you may need to watch a brief commercial before the video plays).

I wonder if these comments will someday cost our man Mitch those valuable 8 Electoral Votes from Kentucky? 

Leave your comments on our blog, or call Smiley in the morning!