Beauty campaigns for organ donors
by Misti McNeese, Reporter

   Organ failure causes 15 deaths in the United States every day, but one local resident wants to lower that number.
   Brooke Webster, 20, Miss Northeast Tarrant County, has devoted her time to raising awareness of organ donation.
   Webster has a personal reason for her interest-her younger brother.
   On March 13, 1998, Ryan Webster, 11, died of a brain aneurysm. Doctors said he had the aneurysm since birth, but without an MRI, it went undetected.
   Webster's parents donated his organs. As a result, seven people received a second chance at life.
   "Prior to this night, Ryan was watching an Oprah Winfrey Show with recipients being reunited with the donor's family. He asked my mom what the show was about and why they would donate their organs. Ryan and my mom actually made a pinky swear that if anything were to happen to them, they would donate their organs to save another's life," Webster said.
   This promise between a mother and her son occurred only two weeks before Ryan's death.
   Since then, Webster founded For the Love of Ryan, a program that educates individuals on the importance of organ donation.
   "Through my program, For the Love of Ryan, I hope to change at least one person's decision about becoming an organ donor," she said.
   Another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 14 minutes. Currently, more than 80,000 people are on the waiting list.
   Transplantable organs include kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers, pancreases and intestines. After five years, 82 percent of patients who undergo a kidney transplant are still alive.
   "There are so many misconceptions about organ donation, and yet we jump to conclusions and turn our backs to those in need," Webster said.
   Everyone can be a donor. A common myth says testing is required before becoming a donor.
   Webster would like to have a bill passed in the Texas State Senate to increase funding for those individuals awaiting a transplant.
   "We have to stop and realize that you never know what tomorrow might bring," she said.
   For more information on organ donation, visit www.brookewebster.com or www.fortheloveofryan.org or e-mail Webster at fortheloveofryan@yahoo.com.