National Foundation for Transplants: December 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Transplant Discussion Groups

Have you considered the benefits of finding a support group of others who also need transplants? Or maybe your child faces transplantation and you’d like to talk to other parents. Talking to others experiencing the same health crisis as you may really get you through a troubling time.

Visit these sites online to connect with other transplant candidates and recipients or transplant patients’ family members and friends:

Transplant Buddies

Transplant Cafe

NFT on Facebook

NFT on Twitter

Friday, December 18, 2009

30 Rock Actor Needs Kidney Transplant

According to a People.com article, 30 Rock actor Grizz Chapman needs a kidney transplant. He has been battling severe hypertension and recently learned a transplant is critical to his survival. Before he can be added to the transplant waiting list, he must lose 75 pounds to become a viable organ transplant recipient.

Chapman is facing a challenging and frightening health crisis that more than 105,000 Americans are also facing. Sadly, 18 people will die each day without receiving a second chance at life. This may seem like a startling number, but the truth is there is a national shortage of organ donors. Unless more people are willing to become organ donors, the number of patients waiting for lifesaving transplants will only increase day by day. In fact, a new name is added to the list every 11 minutes.

Like so many others, Chapman wants nothing more than to spend many more years with his friends and family, and he is ready for the fight of his life. "Whatever I can do for the longevity of my life, I'm going to do," he told People Magazine.

Please take the time to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. You could truly save the life of someone suffering from a life-threatening illness. To accept the Transplant Challenge and become an organ donor, visit the NFT Transplant Challenge Web site. If you’d like to sign up to become a bone marrow donor, visit the Be the Match Registry.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

December Patient of the Month: Ilene McBride

Ilene was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2007, and has bravely endured aggressive treatments for her cancer. A bone marrow transplant is the only cure for this disease. Thankfully, her mother will serve as her donor as soon as Ilene is well enough to sustain the transplant surgery.

Though Ilene enjoyed a successful legal career, she found it didn't compare to the joys of motherhood. She and her husband, Tom, welcomed their first son in 2003, and Ilene gave up her career to become a full-time mother. Ilene and Tom enjoyed parenthood immensely, and their second son was born in early 2005. Unfortunately, he was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), commonly known as brittle bone disease. Within the first two months of his life, he suffered six fractures.

The McBride family coped well, despite the difficulties of their youngest son's life, and by 2006, they had settled into a comfortable routine. Soon, though, their lives were once again interrupted by unwanted news as Ilene received her diagnosis.

Although Ilene knows she faces a battle, she is determined to take on her sickness in the same way she has handled the rest of her life--with spirit, courage, hope and faith. She looks forward to the day she is cured, so she can continue on her quest of fundraising to help find a cure for her son's OI disorder.

To make a donation in honor of Ilene McBride, or any other NFT patient, please visit the NFT Web site.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Kiethen Taylor Chosen as an Honoree for This Year’s Donate Life Float

Kiethen was no ordinary 7-year-old boy. Of course, like all little boys, he loved running, climbing, jumping and riding bikes with his brothers. But young Kiethen also loved to help others, whether that meant doing the dishes or visiting with his neighbor who was mentally challenged.

Last September, while riding home from church, Kiethen and his family were in a car accident. While his family’s car sat at a standstill, a woman who had blacked out from an epileptic seizure collided with their car while going 80 miles per hour. Kiethen was killed instantly.

During this tragic time, Kiethen’s family knew he would want to continue helping others by donating his organs. “He always wanted to help. So we knew by giving the Gift of Life, Kiethen would be helping others in his death like he did in his short life. Why would you not?” explained his mother, Sharon.

According to the MidSouth Transplant Foundation, Kiethen will appear on the Donate Life Rose Parade float among other organ, eye and tissue donors who in their death, saved, healed and gave hope to thousands of people in need. Kiethen’s parents, Sharon and Kiethen, Sr. and his brothers Thomas and Curlandrius will fly from their home in Memphis, TN to Pasadena, CA to see Kiethen’s image transformed into one of 76 floragraphs that will adorn the Donate Life float in the 2010 Rose Parade.

Kiethen’s story is an inspirational one that may encourage others to become donors themselves. To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit the Transplant Challenge Web site.

Friday, December 4, 2009

NFT Partners with Pugh’s Flowers

All of us at the National Foundation for Transplants are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Pugh’s Flowers! Beginning today, you can choose from a variety of flower arrangements and balloon bouquets while supporting NFT.

Simply visit the NFT page on the Pugh’s Flowers Web site and choose an arrangement you’d like to send to someone special. Any option can be delivered worldwide, and $5 from every order will go directly to NFT.

We are so appreciative of Pugh’s commitment to helping NFT raise funds to assist the more than 1,000 transplant patients we serve throughout the country. For more information about Pugh’s Flowers, click here. For more information about NFT, click here.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Chase Community Giving

Chase is giving away $5 million to various charities, and we want YOU to help NFT become one of the lucky recipients.

If you have a Facebook account, visit the Chase Community Giving page, enter National Foundation for Transplants in the search bar and click Go. It’s that easy! Chase wants you to give your charity the recognition it deserves and needs with Chase Community Giving.

On December 11, Chase will give $25,000 to the 100 charities with the top votes! Please support NFT and help us become part of this generous giving program. For more information about NFT’s services to transplant patients across the country, click here.