It is hard to believe that it has been over three years since Dr. Anh Reiss, wife of Harris County Assistant District Attorney Josh Reiss, passed away from myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of leukemia.
I first met Josh back in 2009 when there was a bone marrow registration drive at the CJC in the hopes of finding a suitable match for Anh. Although the registration drive signed up many new donors, a match was not found for her. Josh and I ended up becoming good friends and I kept up with Anh's condition as she and the Reiss family fought the disease for the next seven years. Unfortunately, she ultimately passed away on February 26th of 2016 after a truly long and courageous battle.
Josh texted me yesterday to notify me of this editorial in the Houston Chronicle detailing Josh's efforts to have the anniversary of Anh's death officially memorialized Texas Bone Marrow, Blood, and Organ Donation Day in Texas. The bill in the legislature to create this day is sponsored by Democratic Representative (and HCDA Alum) Gene Wu. As noted in the editorial, it is also co-sponsored by a bipartisan list of area legislators.
Obviously, this is an uncontroversial and fantastic idea. There are some very interesting statistics listed in the editorial regarding how many people favor the idea of donating organs and blood versus how many people are actually signed up to do so. You can learn more about the bone marrow registry by checking out bethematch.org.
I'm proud to say that I signed up to be a blood marrow donor during a lunch break when I was a JP prosecutor way back in 1999. You should do it, too, if you haven't already.
Good luck to Josh and the Reiss family on getting the Texas Bone Marrow, Blood and Organ Donation Day recognized, and thanks to Gene Wu for drafting the legislation to get it done.
3 comments:
I am blessed to be the sister of an organ transplant recipient as well as the daughter and granddaughter of people who donated their bodies to science. It’s an amazing and wonderful gift to be able to help someone in need. Please don’t take your organs to heaven, heaven knows that we need them here.
I am blessed to be the sister of an organ transplant recipient as well as the daughter and granddaughter of people who donated their bodies to science. It’s an amazing and wonderful gift to be able to help someone in need. Please don’t take your organs to heaven, heaven knows that we need them here.
Im was so grateful to have Dr Reis as my OBGYN, she delivered all 4 of my children. She was very passionate and stern about having a healthy pregnancy. I remember she came in to deliver my first child and was dresses so well that i asked if she was coming from a party lol. I want more kids but cant see myself going to another Dr, i was young and she would get on me about getting pregnant so soon after the delivery. I miss her
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