SCRAPPERS Public awareness focus of transplant candidate

Mallary Maus will throw out the first pitch Sunday as part of an organ donor campaign.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES -- LifeBanc officials say organ donors are needed and they are hoping the smiling face of a local teen in need of an organ transplant will help get that message to the public.
Seventeen-year-old Mallary Maus is a fun-loving girl with dreams of someday becoming an educator, social worker or doctor.
Mallary Maus is also one of eight young people between the ages of 11-17 in the United States who is waiting for a pancreas transplant.
Her problem
Mallary was diagnosed as diabetic at 2 years old. Insulin injections do not work and the only solution is a pancreas transplant. She was placed on the waiting list to receive the vital organ in January.
Mallary Maus will help increase public awareness of her condition and many others in need of organ transplants. She will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game Sunday at Eastwood Field.
The pitch will take place between 1:30 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. of the 2:05 p.m. game.
According to Monica Heath, media and public affairs coordinator for LifeBanc, the nonprofit organ procurement organization for Northeast Ohio, LifeBanc is partnering with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers to host an organ donor awareness day. All three minor league ball clubs in Northeast Ohio have partnered with LifeBanc to host "Pitch for Life" events during the 2004 season.
Heath, in a press release, said more than 85,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list. Of that number, close to 1,300 are in Northeast Ohio.
Promotion beneficial
Heath said Mallary Maus is the only person in her age range waiting on a pancreas transplant in the immediate area. She said having Mallary Maus help promote the message of organ donation is extremely beneficial.
"When you are at an event like this with a lot of people together it is a great time to share the message about the need for organ donations," she said.
"It's good to put a face to those who need organ donations. Mallary could be anyone's child -- these people waiting could be your co-workers, friends or someone you grew up with."
Heath said the end result will hopefully be more people making the decision to become organ donors.
jgoodwin@vindy.com