National Foundation for Transplants

Tom Brady's Personal QB Coach Awaiting a Kidney Transplant

2012-01-27T15:33:00.002-06:00

The following article is from The Washington Post:

Tom Brady hopes that Tom Martinez, his personal quarterback coach, can soon find the kidney he needs for a transplant.

Martinez lives in northern California and has been working with Brady since the New England Patriots quarterback was about 13. Brady has stayed in touch with Martinez and received guidance from him throughout his NFL career.

"He’s been a great friend of mine for a long time,” Brady said Thursday after the Patriots’ first practice for the Super Bowl against the New York Giants on Feb. 5. He said Martinez has been seeking a kidney for some time.

Kidney Transplant Facts:

Of the 112,000 Americans awaiting a transplant, 90,000 need a kidney transplant.
Last year, nearly 14,000 people received kidney transplants.
A living organ donor can donate a kidney to save someone's life. Are you an organ donor?

Transplant Nurse Donates Kidney to Patient

2012-01-18T15:56:00.002-06:00

From FoxNews.com:

Clay Taber, 23, had just graduated college in August 2010 when doctors told him he was in complete kidney failure. Now, less than two years later, he’s getting ready to marry his long-time girlfriend after a transplant nurse donated her own kidney to him.

Taber, who is from Columbus, Ga., celebrated his birthday and his college graduation from Auburn University in Alabama when he began feeling ill and suffering from occasional night sweats. Originally, he tested positive for some signs of mononucleosis, but additional tests revealed his kidneys were in failure.

“I was in the grocery store when my phone rang,” said Clay’s mother, Sandra Taber, in a press release. “It was the doctor’s office, and they told me new tests showed that Clay was in complete kidney failure. He needed to get to a hospital immediately. Needless to say, it was one of those phone calls no parent ever wants to receive about their child.”

Doctors diagnosed Taber with Goodpasture's syndrome, a life-threatening disorder, which causes the immune system to create antibodies that attack the lungs and kidneys. The disorder can be triggered by a viral infection or by the inhalation of gasoline or other hydrocarbon solvents.

Taber had recently taken a trip to the Gulf of Mexico and wondered if swimming in water affected by the recent oil spill could have impacted his health.

Luckily, the disorder was discovered before Taber’s lungs were affected, but he still needed a kidney transplant. He was admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta on the transplant unit floor, where, by chance, he met nurse Allison Batson.

“Immediately, when Clay came onto our unit, he became a special patient that everyone just gravitated to,” Batson, 48, said in a press release. “Here was this young man with everything in his life ahead of him, and he was fighting for his life. He quickly became friends of many of the staff, and really was just a tremendous inspiration to us all.”

Taber was one of 90,000 people in the United States waiting for a donor kidney, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. He was placed on the waiting list for a cadaver kidney, but doctors told him he likely wouldn’t receive one for three to five years.

Taber’s mother tested positive as a potential match for him, but the doctors decided the lining of her kidneys was too thin to remove one.

That was when Batson, who had known Taber for only six weeks, decided to step forward.

“It just devastated [Sandra], and I really related to her as a mom,” said Batson, who has four adult children. “I thought, you know what, ‘I can do this.’ I talked to my family about it, and all of them were incredibly supportive.”

Batson tested positive as a match, and doctors determined that her kidneys were healthy enough for the transplant. Leading up to the day of the surgery, she said she had no reservations.

“I knew just from meeting him that this young man needs a chance to start his life the way he should,” Batson said. “My husband and I are fortunate to have four grown children who are doing very well. One of them just got married the summer before I met Clay, and he told me he was about to get married, and that point I said, ‘Well, you had me at hello.’”

Taber said he was ‘completely overwhelmed’ by Batson’s offer. “I was very emotional,” he said. “It’s been a long year and a half. I know there are a lot of other people out there on dialysis and with kidney failure worse than me. The fact that Alison would do this – after no longer than six weeks knowing me – was very special. It made me feel very blessed.”

Both Taber and Batson’s procedures went as planned. Today, Taber is preparing for his wedding in June, and he hopes in the future to pursue a banking career or work in the athletic department of his alma mater. He calls Batson his ‘third mom’ alongside his own mother and the mother of his fiancé.

The fact is, according to Batson, anyone who is determined eligible for a transplant can donate at any time – even to a stranger.

“You can sign your driver’s license and say you want to be a donor, but I don’t think it occurs to a lot people that you don’t have to wait,” Batson said. “I mean, if you are healthy and get through the approval process – and believe me, they won’t let you do it unless you qualify –you can step up and do it for anybody.”

In fact, Batson said, she once witnessed a medical student who had spent some time in a dialysis clinic step up and donate a kidney to a stranger.

“He just said, ‘you know what, I can do this. I have two kidneys, and there’s no reason not to.’ I thought that was very selfless.”

Taber added, “When somebody is in need, it’s amazing to see what people are capable of.”

January Patient of the Month: Sean Semon

2012-01-06T14:30:00.003-06:00

In 2005, Sean was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy after a virus attacked his heart. He woke up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, and doctors ultimately decided the best treatment was to implant a defibrillator. However, while he was on the operating table, the surgeon decided that at just 28 years old Sean was too young for the procedure and attempted to treat his illness with medications instead.

Two years later, Sean collapsed at work, and finally had the defibrillator implanted to assist his heart functions. In 2010, his defibrillator was put to the test when it shocked him to save his life. Doctors have told Sean a heart transplant is now critical to his survival.

Before he can be added to the transplant waiting list, Sean must raise $150,000 to prove he can pay the out-of-pocket expenses for the procedure.

Sean, a former semi-professional football player, looks forward to the lifesaving transplant that will allow him to once again live a healthy, active lifestyle. Sean wants nothing more than to spend many more years watching his four nephews and two nieces grow up. But he needs your help.

Throughout his health battle, Sean and his family have learned so much and have been very humbled by the experience. They want to start a nonprofit organization to open a camp for children with heart problems. He dreams of kids running and playing with others, while learning to cope with their disability.

To read more about Sean or to make a donation in his honor, visit his web bio on the NFT website.

December Transplant Birthdays

2012-01-05T16:27:00.000-06:00

Happy new birthday to you! We are so excited for our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month.

Diana Green (liver) at Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute
Ida Helton (liver) at Carolinas Medical Center
Katie Johnson (kidney) at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Justin Jokisch (liver) at Tampa General Hospital
Carl Lawson (kidney)
Carl Moss (liver) at University of Oklahoma Transplant Center
Dwight Osborn (lung) at University of Utah Healthcare
Kim Peek (liver) at Tulane Medical Center
Chip Simpson (heart) at Duke University Medical Center

Donate Life Launches 20 Million in 2012 Campaign

2012-01-04T15:49:00.000-06:00

From Donate Life America:

Today is Jessica Melore’s 30^th birthday, a milestone birthday she did not always think she was going to have. At only 16 years old Jessica received a sudden and lifesaving heart transplant. Today, Jessica’s story of hope helps to launch Donate Life America’s bold new initiative, “20 Million in 2012.”

Donate Life America, the national organization promoting organ, eye and tissue donation in the United States, is launching this bold new initiative, “20 Million in 2012.” The initiative focuses on radically increasing the number of people registered on state donor registries. This official launch of the campaign comes on the heels of its announcement during the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, where every year since 2004 it has sponsored the Donate Life float. This year’s float again featured inspirational stories of organ donors and their families, a tradition that the “20 million in 2012” campaign will continue throughout 2012 as it features powerful stories of those affected by organ, eye and tissue donation.

“I am so proud to be part of Donate Life America’s “20 Million in 2012” campaign, as part of the I am HOPE storytelling project,” says Melore. “New Jersey is the first state to promote the 2012 stories of hope. Real life stories like mine can inspire people to sign up to be organ, eye and tissue donors. These commitments to donation provide hope to the more than 112,000 men, women and children on the organ transplant waiting list, along with the hundreds of thousands more in need of cornea and tissue transplants.”

Additionally, the “20 Million in 2012” campaign will feature four national Donate Life events during 2012: the Donate Life Flash Mob on March 24th, Donate Life Blue and Green Virtual Fashion Show on April 20th, Donate Life Champions in Fall 2012 and Donate Life Linking Hands for Life all year long.

“In 2012 we are making a bold statement about our commitment to save more lives,” says David Fleming, President and CEO of Donate Life America. “With the majority of individuals in the United States wishing to be organ, eye and tissue donors, the biggest challenge to meeting our goal of 20 million will be getting people to take action and register today as an organ, eye and tissue donor at DonateLifeAmerica.org.”

Successful Auction in Honor of NFT Patient

2011-12-22T10:32:00.002-06:00

Volunteers for NFT patient Billy Masterson recently held a very successful auction to raise funds for his transplant-related expenses!

For three days leading up to the event, they posted photos of the auction items on Facebook, allowing people to enter early bids before the big day. More than 60 items were donated, including yummy gift baskets, sports tickets, comedy show tickets, Christmas decorations and jewelry.

Even with inclement weather, the hard work of Billy's dedicated volunteers paid off, as the event raised more than $2,600!

December Patient of the Month: Steve Collins

2011-12-09T15:05:00.001-06:00

About 10 years ago, Steve Collins began battling what he thought was simply a cold and congestion. After several rounds of antibiotics and no improvement, he began experiencing shortness of breath and drove himself to the ER on Christmas Eve. He was shocked to learn he was suffering from congestive heart failure, which has caused his mitral valve to leak. Over the years, his health worsened until doctors said a heart transplant was critical to his survival.

Thankfully, after being on the transplant waiting list for just three months, he received his lifesaving transplant on November 29, 2011! Sadly, a complication during surgery damaged his spinal cord and has left him unable to walk. He will most likely endure a year of physical therapy before doctors can know how long-term the damage is.

Despite these challenges, Steve has remained optimistic and never lost his sense of humor. He loves making people laugh, and tries to brighten others' days even when his are dark. He is a proud father of two adult daughters and grandfather of two. His wife, Vicki, has been by his side every step of the way; he is thankful for the love and support from her and her daughter, who is away at college, and their family and friends. Steve, a proud LSU graduate, loves playing the guitar, songwriting and going to concerts and movies, but lately he only has the energy to play the guitar. He looks forward to resuming his active lifestyle and visiting with his newest grandbaby, who was born this fall.

To read more about Steve or to make a donation in his honor, visit the NFT website.

Unusual Heart Transplant Saves Little Girl's Life

2011-12-06T10:33:00.001-06:00

Over a seven year period of time, more than 500 children in need of a heart transplant didn't get one in time. But one little girl's successful surgery may be changing the rules, and in the process, saving lives.

Four-year-old Kallie Finn and her daddy, Mitch, are two of a kind.

"We're real close anyway, she's always been my little buddy," said Mitch Finn.

When he was 5, Mitch Finn had to have a heart transplant. This year, he learned Kallie's heart was failing, and she'd need one, too.

A ventricular assist device kept Kallie alive for weeks, but the clock was ticking.

"Essentially three times as many kids die on a waiting list compared to adults," said Dr. Pirooz Eghtesady, chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital and co-director of the Heart Center.

So Kallie's cardiac surgeon made a surprising call. He decided to give her a donor heart other centers had rejected - a heart with a hole in it.

Holes in hearts are congenital defects that change the normal flow of blood through the heart. Treatment for the condition has greatly improved over the last few decades and kids who have it can survive to adulthood.

"It was hard for me to justify throwing away really a good organ for a child who needed it," said Dr. Eghtesady.

Kallie's surgery went perfectly.

"I closed the hole in the heart and then I did the transplant," said Dr. Eghtesady.

As she gets ready to head home, Kallie's doctor hopes her story opens a door.

"There are probably a lot of hearts that can be used that perhaps are not used, and perhaps this is an opportunity to extend it cautiously to other potential organs that may be available," said Dr. Eghtesady.

Kallie's doctors say given another similar situation, they wouldn't hesitate to use a heart with a hole, as long as it was otherwise healthy. They're hoping other doctors will follow suit.

November Transplant Birthdays

2011-12-05T13:26:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month! We are so happy for you all!

Jonta Bailey (heart) at Duke University Medical Center
Bill Bulford (double-lung) at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Dustin Burton (liver) at Tampa General Hospital
David Hackley (kidney) at Ohio State University Medical Center
David Kinley (liver) at Carolinas Medical Center
James Reese (kidney) at Duke University Medical Center
Jeffrey Rifkin (kidney) at Carolinas Medical Center
Felton Tabor (liver) at Medical University of South Carolina

Thankful For His Good Health, Memphis Priest Willingly Shares in 'Act of Gratitude'

2011-11-30T12:03:00.001-06:00

The following article is from The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN:

Kidney transplant recipient Ed Garavelli and kidney donor Father Val Handwerker, recovering from their Nov. 8 surgeries, are back at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where they join in prayer with Tobia Fuller, a member of the church's Pastoral Council.

By the time parishioners, parents, students and staff at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception got Father Val's e-mail that Tuesday morning, Nov. 8, he was already in surgery.

"Peace in the Lord!" read the e-mail from Rev. Valentine Handwerker, a 63-year-old Catholic priest who lives his life as if every day should end with an exclamation point.

"I want to go over something with you. Often times I speak about stewardship. As you know, stewardship first and foremost is gratitude to God for the gifts and blessings entrusted to us. Out of that gratitude to God, then, we are called as stewards to use these gifts and blessings not only for ourselves but also for the good of others."

In 2009, Father Val became Monsignor Val, an honor bestowed on him by the Pope at the request of Bishop J. Terry Steib of Memphis. The title is from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord."
Handwerker, the son of Kathleen and Vallie Handwerker of North Memphis, is one of the community's leading advocates for social justice, and still prefers the title Father Val.

"Throughout my life God has blessed me with excellent health. In ministry I am often with persons who face serious illness. Being with them only reinforces the blessings of health which I have received. Over time I have been drawn to use my health also for the benefit of others."

On Dec. 16, 2009, Father Val sat at his kitchen table and read a newspaper article about 13 patients who received new kidneys from donors they didn't know. It was the world's largest kidney exchange. "It's not like I'm doing anything courageous," one of the donors told The Associated Press. "If I don't donate, who will?"

As the article noted, there are about 90,000 people on a national waiting list for a kidney transplant.

About 17,000 kidney transplants are performed each year -- about 5,000 from living donors.

"I need to do this," Father Val thought as he read the article. Over the next several months, he thought about it and prayed about it. Earlier this year, he told his doctor he wanted to donate one of his kidneys to someone -- anyone -- who needed it.

"Out of prayer and discernment I have decided to be a living kidney donor. I have gone over that decision with my spiritual director. I have also sought the permission to be a living kidney donor from Bishop Steib. I am very grateful for his support throughout this process, and that recently Bishop Steib celebrated with me the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick."

The sacrament, also known as Extreme Unction or Last Rites, is no longer administered only to the dying, but also to those who are gravely ill or about to undergo a serious operation. As it says in James 5:14-15, "Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man."
On Sunday Oct. 30, Bishop Steib administered the sacrament to Father Val in a private ceremony with a few others at the Midtown Cathedral. On Sunday Nov. 6, Father Val administered the sacrament to the man who would receive one of his kidneys.

". . . In the beginning of this process I knew that I wanted to donate a kidney and was very open to placing this donation on the National Kidney Registry for my kidney to be given to an undesignated recipient in need of a transplant. During the testing process, however, I realized that a Cathedral parishioner with a serious kidney illness might need a kidney donor."

About a dozen years ago, around the time Father Val became rector of the Cathedral, Ed Garavelli, then 50 years old, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, which usually leads to kidney failure.
Ed's kidney function began to decline gradually, then rapidly. About two years ago, Ed was placed on the kidney transplant waiting list, and was told it might take three to five years to get one.
"I was pretty sure I didn't have five years," Ed said.

". . . I knew that Ed already had a prospective kidney donor. I later learned that, during the medical tests, the prospective kidney donor found out that he was not a suitable candidate to donate a kidney. At the same time I learned how serious Ed's kidney failure is. Presently his kidneys are functioning only at 11%. As soon as I received word that I passed all the medical tests and am able to be a living kidney donor, I went to Ed and Jerri. Before that they had no idea that I was interested in being a living kidney donor. I then asked Ed if I could be his kidney donor."

Ed, the founder of Pinnacle Press, couldn't bring himself to ask anyone he knew to be a living donor, but a few offered to be tested. Ed's wife, Jerri, wasn't a match for his type B-positive blood. Her sister was, but then she developed kidney stones. High blood pressure eliminated two close friends.

About a week after the fourth potential donor fell through, Father Val called. He wanted to come to the house and talk.

"I thought he was going to ask us for a donation," Jerri said. "Instead he was bringing us one."

Ed, who like Father Val is 63, shook his head. "What can you say about a gift like that?"

"This morning, Tuesday, November 8th, Ed and I shall undergo surgery during which one of my kidneys will be transplanted to his body. It was only four days ago that the surgeons and specialists of the Transplant Institute at Methodist University Hospital gave their final approval for Ed and me to proceed with this surgery."

Surgeons removed Father Val's healthy left kidney and placed it in the right side of Ed's body. Each procedure took about two hours.

"Did it work?" Father Val asked Jerri as he was being wheeled to his room after surgery.
It did, Jerri assured him. "He was so delighted," she said. "He was like a little kid who had just given someone his favorite toy."

Ed jokes that he knows the recovery process won't be easy.

"Especially for me," Ed said. "If Father Val wants a favor, it's not like I can turn him down. I have this feeling I'll be washing a priest's car every week for the rest of my life."

"My surgeon, Dr. James Eason, thinks that I should be totally recovered from the surgery within two months. Hopefully I look forward to returning to the parish on a part-time basis in a few days."

After the surgeries, Ed bet Father Val an Italian dinner that he would be the first to return to Mass at the Cathedral.

They tied.

Last Sunday, when Ed and Jerri arrived for 10 a.m. Mass, Father Val was there as well.

"I'm grateful to be celebrating Mass with you this morning," the priest said. "I'm awed by what it means to be one body of Christ linked together."

He was speaking to the entire congregation but he was looking at Ed and Jerri.

". . . We thank all those who have made this possible, and we are very appreciative for the expertise and care by the medical staff of the Transplant Institute at Methodist University Hospital."

Parishioners are calling Father Val's gift a living homily.

"For many of us it brought forth the question, 'What am I giving back to others of our time, talents and treasures?'" said Dr. Gene Mangiante, a parishioner and a professor of surgery at the UT Health Science Center.

Steib said he considers "Monsignor Val's act of kindness to be heroic and life-saving."

Father Val sees his donation as an act of gratitude.

"Everything we have is a gift from God," he said, "a gift to share with others."

"I also want to thank Father Kris Rusin (and other 'visiting' priests), the Cathedral staff and other parishioners for 'covering' for me during my absence. I ask that you pray that Ed's body accepts his new kidney. Please pray for Ed's complete recovery, and mine."

While Father Val and Ed were in surgery, students at IC Cathedral School were praying the rosary. They had known that one teacher's husband was receiving a kidney, but they hadn't known who the donor was until that day.

"You could have heard a pin drop when we told them," said IC principal Karen Gephart. "This is such a great lesson in compassion."

Earlier in the school year, Jerri Garavelli was talking to her fifth-graders about her husband's pending transplant. They were curious about kidneys so she showed them a chart of the human body and explained how kidneys work.

One child asked why people have two kidneys.

"So we can give one away," another child replied.

Intermountain Healthcare Celebrates Kidney Transplant Milestone

2011-11-23T09:01:00.001-06:00

The following article is from KSL.com Utah. To watch a video of this interview, visit the KSL Utah website.

History in the making, a cause for celebration, and a reason to give thanks: That's the way doctors with Intermountain Medical Center announced the 1,000th living donor kidney transplant on Monday.

The news was that much sweeter because the 1,000th was Pam Sheppard, who donated a kidney to her husband, Lee. "Believe me," he said, "we were a perfect match in marriage. Now we are a perfect match again."

On Thanksgiving last year, Lee and Pam Sheppard found themselves in an emergency room, followed by emergency removal of both of Lee's kidneys. Lee had been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease 11 years prior, which killed with his father and grandfather.

In 2010, doctors had told Lee his kidneys would only last about a year. But large, dark cysts soon caused severe pain for Lee and brought concern about cancer from the doctors. Following the surgery, Lee began dialysis and Pam began to ponder giving him her kidney. "It was amazing how many lovely people came out of the woodwork and volunteered their kidneys," she said. "It's not something that's easy to say ‘thank you' to when somebody offers you such a great gift. I felt so privileged that I became the best match."

"How overwhelmingly grateful I am for my wife for making such a sacrifice," Lee said. "We feel so liberated and energized for what the future holds, so we're deeply grateful.""We already enjoyed a rich love together," Lee added, "but this last year, which has been a journey, has reinforced it in such a way that it's hard to put a finger on it."

Dr. James Stinson, a nephrologist at Intermountain Medical Center, recalled the first such donation, 28 years ago, when sister gave a kidney to her brother. "It freed him from dialysis and gave him many years of life that he would not otherwise have had," Stinson said.

He also praised the medical team and staff who coordinate to make successful transplants possible.Want to be a donor?Dr. Diane Alonso, a surgeon with the Intermountain Transplant Team, said Monday's milestone recognizes the courage and generosity of the human spirit."It cements that living donation is a vial source of organs, not only in this state, but in the country," Alonso said.

"At our institution, 50 percent of our kidney donations are from live donors."That cuts down on the wait time for a kidney. In Utah, patients wait an average 10 months for a transplant. In California, however, the wait can be up to five or six years.Six months before she was cleared as a match, doctors discovered Pam had nodes on her lungs, so there were more tests to find out if she had cancer.

By mid-October 2011, she became the official donor.Lee and Pam went into surgery together and came out together. They could be seen walking the halls, pulling their IV stands and holding hands."This is a thousand live donors whose lives have been turned around, and they can again feel like they can contribute to society. That's just fabulous." Pam said.

And with a bright smile, she added, "It'll be a much better Thanksgiving than the last one.""That's for sure," Lee echoed.Anyone can be screened to find out if they are a match for a patient who needs a kidney or a liver. Intermountain Medical Center's transplant team has performed 31 of these so-called "Good Samaritan" surgeries since 2002.

Great American Smokeout

2011-11-16T16:00:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow marks the American Cancer Society's 36th annual Great American Smokeout!

Take this time to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit. By doing so, they will be taking an important step toward a healthier life--one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S., yet more than 46 million Americans still smoke. However, more than half of these smokers have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year.Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help.

The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide the resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit the ACS website.

NFT Patient Orlan Holmes on Fort Wayne News

2011-11-11T10:56:00.001-06:00

The following article is from FortWayneHomepage.net:

More than 100,000 people across the U.S. are in need of an organ transplant, and one local man is using his story to encourage others to donate.Orlan Holmes is in need of a rare double-lung transplant due to a severe case of COPD.

The operation and aftercare will cost more than $600-thousand, but his insurance will only cover a portion of the costs.On Wednesday, the Sunshine Cafe on Coldwater Road held a benefit for Holmes -- contributing 10-percent of its earnings to his recovery fund.Holmes is also encouraging others to consider becoming organ donors.

To see Orlan's interview with local reporters, visit FortWayneHomepage.net.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

2011-11-10T11:09:00.002-06:00

With nearly 26 million children and adults in America living with diabetes, and another 79 million at high risk for developing type-2 diabetes, the disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country. Yet, most Americans don't consider diabetes a serious matter. They feel it is someone else's responsibility, someone else's problem.

Recent numbers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal just how serious this issue is:

Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to stop diabetes.

Visit the American Diabetes Association for more information.

Chris Klug Enters Ski Hall of Fame

2011-11-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

The following article is from the Aspen Daily News:

Chris Klug

Aspen’s Chris Klug, the three-time Olympian and liver transplant recipient, will be inducted into the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame tonight, where he’ll be honored for his groundbreaking career and inspirational life.

“It’s a great honor,” Klug said Thursday. “I’m really excited about it. It’s been fun to reflect on the last 30 years.”

Klug said he’s spent time in recent days reminiscing with his mother, Aspen High counselor Kathy Klug, his father, Aspen Square general manager Warren Klug, and his wife, Melissa, about his life on snow.

Some of his fondest memories, he said, are of his days snowboarding in the early ’80s as the sport was emerging, when he duct-taped Moon Boots to a crude Burton board and schlepped to races in his parents’ Wagoneer.

Those early days of the sport led Klug into 20 years of World Cup competition, which concluded last year with his 11th U.S. title. He competed in snowboard racing’s first appearance in the Winter Olympics, in Nagano, Japan, in 1998.

Two years later, he received a lifesaving liver transplant to treat a rare disease with which he’d been diagnosed in the early 1990s.

He returned to racing after his recovery and in 2002, became the first organ transplant recipient ever to compete in the Olympics while also winning a bronze medal.

He founded the Chris Klug Foundation in 2003 to spread awareness and raise money for organ donation, and continues to devote much of his time to the cause. Klug then chronicled his story in the 2004 memoir, “To the Edge and Back.”

Last year, he competed in the Olympics for the third time, in Vancouver.

At tonight’s ceremony, Klug will be joined by his family, including his 6-month-old daughter, Bali, along with his longtime coach, Rob Roy, and teammate Ian Price.

The family of the teenage gunshot victim who gave Klug his new liver, he said, also will be traveling to Colorado from Idaho for the event.

At 38, the freshly-retired Klug is among the youngest athletes the Hall of Fame has inducted.

While he said he plans to attend the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia as a commentator, he’s loath to rule out racing.

“I truly believe if I put my mind to it I could compete at the highest level in Russia,” he said. “But there are so many other things I want to do right now.”

Indeed, though Klug’s not in race training these days he is certainly no slouch. Over the last year, he’s competed in the Aspen area’s toughest endurance and mountaineering events — from the Elk Mountains Grand Traverse, to the summer and winter Power of Four competitions, to the Leadville 100 bike race.

“I’m going to keep challenging myself with these mountaineering adventures,” he said. “So I’m not done yet.”

Since giving up the itinerant schedule of a competitive racer, Klug also has spent much of the last year working on his real estate business in Aspen.

He’s currently planning a new undertaking, through which he wants to raise awareness of organ donation: to summit the highest mountain peaks on each of the world’s seven continents.

“It’s a dream I’ve always had,” he said. “I want to be the first transplant [recipient] to do all of the ‘Seven Summits.’”

This week included the launch party for the sixth annual Summit For Life, a nighttime race up Aspen Mountain and fundraising event for the Klug Foundation, scheduled for Dec. 10. Last year, the event raised $115,000.

November Patient of the Month: Diana Green

2011-11-03T14:35:00.002-05:00

Diana and her granddaughters

In May of 2011, doctors discovered a small tumor on Diana Green's liver, and she was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of liver cancer. In only three months, the tumor had quadrupled in size; soon after, she underwent two rounds of a localized form of chemotherapy that cut off the blood supply to the tumor. These procedures were difficult for Diana to endure, and she spent days recovering and regaining her strength after each one. Doctors now say a liver transplant is essential to her survival.

This mother of three and grandmother of two is determined to overcome this health challenge. She loves animals and has a passion for gardening. As the head grower at a local hospital's greenhouse, she is blessed to have a career in something she loves so much. After receiving her diagnosis, she followed her doctor's advice and began following a strict organic diet and eliminating nearly all the chemicals from her home. Diana has cut sugar out of her diet and is doing everything possible to slow down--or even reverse--the cancer that is attacking her body. More than anything, she wants to spend many more years watching her young granddaughters grow up. But she needs your help.

To read more about Diana or to make a donation to NFT to help with her expenses, visit her web page on the NFT site.

October Transplant Birthdays

2011-11-02T15:01:00.001-05:00

Happy new birthday to our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month!

Blake Adams (kidney) at Florida Hospital
Charlie Giles (heart) at Shands at the University of Florida
Paul Green (liver) at University of North Carolina Hospital
Christine Hilton (heart) at Emory Transplant Center
Joe LaPera (liver) at Hospital of University of Pennsylvania
Janet McCrary (kidney) at Florida Hospital
Arlo Tejada (stem cell) at LDS Hospital

The 5th Quarter

2011-10-31T15:56:00.000-05:00

We are excited to tell you about an upcoming movie on the GMC Network, which features an incredible story about organ donation. Be sure to tune in or set your DVRs for the amazing story.

The 5th Quarter, starring Aidan Quinn, Andie MacDowell and Ryan Merriman premiers on Sunday, November 14 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST. It tells the touching and tragic true story of the Abbate family, as their lives are drastically changed when their son, Luke, a 15-year-old talented linebacker is killed in a reckless driving accident. Devastated, the close-knit family strives to rebuild their lives without him, including making the difficult decision to fulfill his wish to help others by donating his organs to save the lives of five people.

Great Start for NFT Patient and Her Volunteers

2011-10-28T14:06:00.000-05:00

When Ruth Culler Frenden's volunteers said they wanted to hit the ground running, they really meant it! They held their first event--a successful garage sale that raised $650--on October 1, and since then they've held two more garage sales, a bunco party and sold 50 NFT cookbooks!

This group is off to a great start, and we're thrilled they're doing so well.

100 Million Registered Organ Donors

2011-10-24T15:57:00.000-05:00

Today,we celebrate a great achievement--100 million people are now registered asorgan, eye and tissue donors in state donor registries in the United States.The NFT staff is thankful for these generous donors, and you can be one, too.

Aswe celebrate this milestone, we remember that throughout the nation, more than112,000 men, women and children await lifesaving or life-enhancing transplants.The only solution is for more people to register as donors in their state donorregistries. Each registered donor provides hope to those in need and has thepotential of saving or enhancing more than 50 lives.

Toregister as an organ, eye and tissue donor or to get more information, visit www.donatelife.net.

Successful Garage Sale for NFT Patient

2011-10-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

We are so excited for Truitt Tabe r's fundraising campaign! His dedicated volunteers planned a successful garage sale that raised more than $2,600 in his honor! Although it was a lot of hard work, everyone says it was well worth the effort.

The group collected home decor, books, antiques, furniture, and even sold raffle tickets for an Arkansas Razorbacks quilt and a gift card to Academy Sports & Outdoors.

Next up for the group is a chili supper next month and brainstorming sessions for a spring fling country music fest! Truitt's family, friends and volunteers are doing a great job of planning events early so there's time to make each fundraiser as successful as possible.

Keep Voting for the Redbirds and NFT!

2011-10-18T14:10:00.000-05:00

As you may recall, NFT partnered with the Memphis Redbirds for Organ Donor Night at AutoZone Park in August. The team wore organ-themed jerseys, and NFT staff members were on hand to register organ donors.

Now, you have the chance to help Organ Donor Night win the MiLB award for Best Promo of the Year! You helped us win the race for Best Theme Night of the Year, which landed us as a finalist for the overall award, but we still need your help!

Click here to vote!

Voting ends Thursday, October 20, and you can vote up to 25 times per computer. Please vote to help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Spread the word!

Clothing Line for Chemotherapy and Dialysis Patients

2011-10-10T09:34:00.001-05:00

We love finding new things that could be useful for our patients! Libre Clothing offers a variety of clothing options with access to the chest, arms andlegs for chemotherapy or dialysis treatments.

The company began after its founders saw how difficult it could be for their family members to find something to wear duringroutine dialysis and chemo treatments. Patients are often cold during treatments because their legs or arms are exposed for possible hours at a time.

A portion of sales is donated to charities who aidthe kidney and cancer communities.

Below are some testimonials from Libre Clothing customers:

"I wanted to let you know that I really enjoy my two sweaters I bought for dialysis. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I make sure I don't leave home without one of them! I even have other dialysis patients ask me if I made it myself or where I got it.” - Julia H., Patient, Michigan

“Love your company! This clothing idea is great. In addition to keeping the patients warm this provides safety. Dialysis patients should keep their access in view so caregivers can observe for bleeding or needle dislodgement. This will be a win for all.” - Dottie, RN, Dialysis

"I recently purchased a Stephen shirt for my father. I like that you carry products for specific need, it shows you care and think about the difficulties patients and their families go through. The clothing has really helped my dad stay warm and be more comfortable. I have had many people take interest since they've seen his.” – Cindy L., Daughter of Dialysis Patient, Hilliard, PA

For more information visit www.LibreClothing.com.

October Patient of the Month: Ralph Guy

2011-10-06T14:51:00.001-05:00

In 2003, Ralph was diagnosed with chronic lymphoma leukemia. He began treatment in 2007, and his cancer was in remission by the following year. Sadly, the disease returned last year, and doctors say a stem cell transplant is critical to his survival. Ralph's family knows the devastating effects of cancer all too well, as two of his siblings are also afflicted by forms of leukemia. Some of Ralph's siblings are currently being tested to see if they could be a donor match for his lifesaving transplant.

His three adult daughters and young granddaughter can't help but worry about his health, and he looks forward to returning to his old self so he can spend many more years with his family. This Vietnam veteran loves to cook, travel and fish when his health allows, and he is proud to have worked for the U.S. Federal Government for more than 40 years. He is determined to overcome this health battle and enjoy his retirement years. But he needs your help.

To learn more about Ralph or to make a donation to NFT in his honor, please visit his web bio on the NFT site.

September Transplant Birthdays

2011-10-05T13:56:00.001-05:00

Happy new birthday to our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month! We're so excited and wish them all a speedy recovery.

Carol Bordeaux (kidney) at Duke University Medical Center
Cindy Flynn (islet cell) at University of Minnesota Medical Center
Sherlean Hatchett (stem cell) at Froedtert Hospital
Larry Joiner (liver) at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute
Frank Maldonado (kidney) at Loma Linda University Medical Center
Gloria Sasser (liver) Tampa General Hospital
Butch Webb (liver) University of North Carolina Hospital
Marika Woltil (kidney) Loma Linda University Medical Center
Natalie Zamora (lung) at Duke University Medical Center

Top 5 Most Important Kidney Health Numbers

2011-10-04T11:26:00.001-05:00

From the National Kidney Foundation's website:

If you've gone for your annual physical recently, you're staring at a report that may as well have been written in a foreign language. Which numbers are especially important in predicting kidney health—and what's in the normal range?

Estimated GFR number --Measures kidney function, over 60 is normal, under 60, talk to your doctor. GFR, or glomerular filtration rate, tells you how well your kidneys are doing their job of filtering the blood.
Blood Pressure Reading --High blood pressure leads to kidney disease. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If the upper number is over 140 and the lower number is above 90, your blood pressure is too high.
Albumin to Creatinine Ratio --Estimates the amount of protein found in your urine in a day. Protein in the urine is one of the earliest signs of kidney disease. Less than 30 is normal, over 30, talk to your doctor.
Total Cholesterol --Over 200, you may be at risk for heart disease.
Blood Glucose Check --Checks for diabetes, the leading cause of kidney failure. While fasting: over 125 and after eating: over 200 indicates diabetes.

Vote for Organ Donor Night in the 2011 MiLB Awards!

2011-09-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Last month, NFT partnered with the Memphis Redbirds for Organ Donor Night at AutoZone Park! The team wore organ-themed jerseys, and NFT staff members were on hand to register organ donors. It was a great evening, complete with a fireworks show after the game!

Now, you have the chance to help Organ Donor Night win the MiLB award in the Best Theme Night Category. Voting ends Thursday, October 13, and you can vote up to 25 times a day. Please vote every day to help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

Click here to vote!

September is Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Awareness Month

2011-09-20T10:06:00.002-05:00

From the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website:

Remarkable progress has been made in treating patients with blood cancers, with survival rates for many having doubled or tripled, and in some cases quadrupled, since The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was founded in 1949.

"I have personally seen the progress in cure rates and treatments from when I experienced leukemia in 1994," says survivor Nikki Henshaw. "These changes have dramatically improved the quality of life for those who are battling cancer."

Survival rates for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer, have risen over the past 40 years from 3% to approximately 90% today; Hodgkin lymphoma patient survival rates have doubled to 86% since the 1960s, and the five-year survival rate has increased from 25% in the mid-seventies to 41% for all myeloma patients, and patients diagnosed in the last decade had a 50% improvement in overall survival.

Yet, more than 1 million North Americans are fighting blood cancers, the third leading cause of cancer death. Every four minutes someone in North America is diagnosed with a blood a cancer, and every ten minutes someone dies.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a beacon of help and guidance to those touched by blood cancer and each September LLS observes Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month, to shed light on these diseases and let the public know that there are resources available for blood cancer patients and their families.

"Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase the public's understanding of blood cancers and encourage people to support the funding of research to find cures and education programs to help patients have the best possible outcomes throughout their cancer experience," said LLS President and CEO John Walter.

For more information, visit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's website.

OSU Medical Center Accomplishes 6-Way Kidney Transplant

2011-09-19T11:37:00.008-05:00

A synchronized chain of six kidney transplants resulted in an ideal match for three women and three men at The Ohio State University Medical Center last week. The swap of kidneys between the 12 patients required two days to complete and more than two months to orchestrate. The six-way, single-institution transplant is the first and largest to date in Ohio and one of only a handful that have taken place in the United States.

The chain of transplants began with an altruistic donor who stepped forward to donate a kidney to a recipient who was a part of one of the incompatible pairs. That recipient’s intended donor then provided a kidney to the recipient in the second pair and the swaps continued through to the sixth recipient. The sixth recipient did not have an intended donor and had been waiting for a cadaveric kidney to become available.

Multiple transplants, such as a six-way transplant, are uncommon due to the logistics involved in screening pairs of incompatible donors and recipients in hopes of finding matches that can benefit each person. However, when there is success in the matching process, the manner in which the donors fall into alignment with compatible recipients in succession gives the procedures the nickname of domino transplants.

Transplant surgeon Ronald Pelletier, who led the series of transplants, says Ohio State University Medical Center and other transplant centers around the country constantly look for ways to maximize the limited pool of donors.

“We have many more people on the waiting lists for organ transplants than we have people willing to donate,” said Pelletier. “Frequently we face issues of incompatibility between candidates and potential donors where tissue and antigens aren’t necessarily the correct match and a transplant would not be safe.” Pelletier said this series of transplants took months to pull together.

“We’ve performed smaller ‘swaps’ in the past, but there is real satisfaction in pulling together six transplants that initially seemed like they would never occur.”

The Medical Center’s efforts to arrange the six-way transplant began in a laboratory where the tedious task to match the donors with potential recipients was conducted. Nicholas DiPaola, assistant director of the histocompatibility lab at Ohio State, says searching the donor and candidate lists to create a chain of compatible donors and recipients takes time and patience.

“We have computer software that is designed exclusively for this purpose, but double-checking and communicating to the patients and donors about the options of a 6-way donation took some time.”The recipients of the six-way transplant initially did not know the identity of their actual donors and the donors did not know to whom their kidney was transplanted, but that changed Thursday when the patients had the opportunity to be united with their match.

“This extraordinary effort by staff at our Medical Center demonstrates the power of the altruistic donor selflessness and the collective good of organ donation and transplantation," added Dr. Robert Higgins, director of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Transplant Center. For nearly four decades, the OSU Comprehensive Transplant Center has been a national leader in the field of transplantation.

Ohio State performs kidney, liver, kidney/pancreas, pancreas and heart transplants.Approximately 100 medical professionals including doctors, nurses and support personnel took part in the 12 surgeries that lasted an average of 2-3 hours each. Surgeons assisting Pelletier were Drs. Ginny Bumgardner, Elmahdi Elkhammas, Amer Rajab and Mitchell Henry, chief of the division of transplantation.

From Media-Newswire.com.

NFT Patient in Florida Awaiting Lifesaving Kidney Transplant

2011-09-15T09:54:00.002-05:00

September Patient of the Month: Ashley Dias

2011-09-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

In 1985, Ashley Dias was born with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that also afflicts her older sister. In 2001 during her freshmen year of high school, her lungs began failing, and she underwent a double-lung transplant. Thankfully, the surgery went well, but due to complications, she became diabetic. During her freshmen year of college, she began to feel very ill and knew something wasn't right. Her instincts were right, and as a result of CF and anti-rejection medicines, her kidneys started failing, and she was in a dire need of a kidney transplant. Thankfully, in 2005, she was granted that opportunity and the operation was successful.

She is extremely grateful that the prior surgeries have allowed her to live these 10 extra years, and without them that wouldn't have been possible. Sadly her new lungs are now experiencing rejection. Doctors say yet another double-lung transplant is critical for her to survive.

Despite these challenges, Ashley has been able to live a relatively normal life. After her first transplant she was able to participate in activities she never imagined throughout high school, such as joining her school's gymnastics team, getting her driver's license and graduating. In college, she was a cheerleader and active in a sorority. After graduating from college, she found a job she loved with a great company, but she had to stop working when her health began to decline. Ashley has an amazing support system behind her at all times, keeping her continuously determined to overcome her health battles once again.

To learn more about Ashley or to make a donation in her honor, visit her web bio on the NFT site.

August Transplant Birthdays

2011-09-06T16:20:00.000-05:00

We are thrilled for our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month!

Bradley Bryant (heart) at University of Mississippi Medical Center
Karen Darling-Duleck (kidney) at Emory Transplant Center
Matt Graumann (liver) at Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute
Maureen Gullickson (stem cell) at Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center
Samantha Rick (lung) at UCSF Medical Center
Scott Robinson (pancreas) at University of Chicago Medical Center
Allen Sharpe (lung) at Duke University Medical Center
Stan Skiver (lung) at Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute
Cindy Thomas (bone marrow) at Stanford Hospital

Ice Cream Social a Great Success!

2011-09-01T10:04:00.004-05:00

Friends, family and supporters of Gary Neltner had a great time at a recent ice cream social in his honor!

Many church friends were there to support his fundraising campaign, as well as several emergency medical services (EMS) workers. Gary loved his job as a paramedic and hopes he can return after receiving his transplant.

Gary's volunteers worked hard to plan this event, and it raised $1,500 for his fundraising campaign!

Looks like everyone had a blast!

FSU Football Players Take Part in Bone Marrow Drive

2011-08-30T09:14:00.003-05:00

The following article is from WCTV News in Tallahassee, FL.

A few weeks ago, Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi asked that everyone sign up to be bone marrow donors. Friday his players signed up.

The Florida State Football team kick off the 2011 football season in 8 days, but they have a bigger battle to fight.

Bert Reed is a wide receiver for the Seminoles. He said,"When you talk about family, and being able to help somebody that's in need. It always puts things in perspective for me."

Coach Fisher's son, Ethan, has Fanconi anemia, and will need a bone marrow transplant. Friday morning the football team swabbed their cheeks to see if they are a match.

For every 38,000 people tested, one could be the match. They say if they aren't a match for Ethan, they can still help someone.

"Whatever we can do to help Coach Fisher, and help some other people out that would need a transplant. We'll do that," said Quarterback EJ Manuel.

The players said filling out the form is the hardest part of seeing if they can be a match. If they do match up, they say if they can take a hit, surely they can give some bone marrow.

The process is not as painful as it used to be. Now they can do it like you would to give blood, and if they do it on your hip, you are put to sleep.

Shawn Powell, FSU Punter, said, "It doesn't really matter what the procedure is, because we know the long term goal of the process."

More than 100 people signed up to give back, hoping to do their part to help the more than 10,000 people who need a transplant.

In addition to Friday's drive , the school has events planned for both home games against Miami on November 12, and Virginia on November 19.

Atlanta Falcons' Stephen Nicholas Counting His Blessings

2011-08-22T12:41:00.003-05:00

The following article is from The Florida Times-Union:

Stephen Nicholas' life is filled with blessings these days.

The Atlanta linebacker, who will be playing in his hometown when his Atlanta Falcons play the Jaguars Friday night, has a starting job and a new five-year, $17.5 million deal he signed when the lockout ended.

A fourth-round pick out of South Florida in 2007 and the sixth brother in a family of eight boys, the former Robert E. Lee High School standout has started 25 games over the past two years and played in 65 games in his career. One of his brothers, Ivan, is a safety at Ole Miss.

But the best thing in Stephen's life now is watching his 3-year-old son running around like a typical toddler.

Stephen Nicholas Jr. was born on Jan. 6, 2008, and it quickly became apparent he was suffering from some type of illness. He didn't eat much and slept all the time.

"Holding him in my arms, I knew he wasn't functioning like a regular little baby," said Stephen's father Lebon Nicholas, a bishop at Victory Tabernacle Church in Jacksonville.

Doctors determined that Stephen Jr. had a heart problem, and he was airlifted to Atlanta with the help of Stephanie Blank, the wife of Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who is on the board of Children's Hospital in Atlanta.

The diagnosis was that Stephen Jr. had cardiomyopathy, a condition that keeps the heart from being able to pump blood throughout the body. The only solution was a heart transplant.

The baby and Nicholas' wife, Irene, went to Children's Hospital in Boston to wait and see if a heart transplant would become available. Meanwhile, Stephen Nicholas went to training camp.

"There was a lot of prayer, man," Nicholas said. "My wife was very strong during the situation and held it down while I was practicing two-a-days. It was very tough, a hard time."

His father said he even called on affiliated churches to join in the prayers.

"We did a lot of praying, asking God to help us," Lebon Nicholas said.

Mike Smith, the former Jaguars defensive coordinator who was in his first season as the Falcons' coach, allowed Nicholas to fly to Boston each Sunday night after the Falcons played. He didn't have to return until Wednesday in time for practice.

"We were very cognizant of what was going on and we wanted to make sure he was able to get to Boston as often as possible," Smith said to ESPN.com. "We wanted him to be with his wife and baby because this was a very trying situation."

They also had to deal with the stark reality that the only way their baby would be saved would be for another family to go through the tragedy of losing theirs.

"It broke my heart to know that if he got a heart, another baby had to die. That thought went through my mind all the time," Lebon Nicholas said. "I don't know who it was and how it came about, but I still pray to heal the wounds that were inflicted there."

Their baby underwent the heart transplant on Oct. 17, 2008. The Nicholas' have since had a second child, Sarai, who will be two in October, and she's healthy.

To read the full article, visit Jacksonville.com.

Successful Auction Raises More Than $12,000!

2011-08-16T13:01:00.005-05:00

Friends and family of Michelle Barnes, who recently received a kidney transplant, planned an auction to assist with Michelle's medical expenses. Everyone had a great time, and the event was a huge success!

Miss Minnesota not only sold tickets, but also attended the event to lend her support. Some of the big ticket auction items included an iPad2 and a diamond necklace, which Mrs. Minnesota wore during the event. Even some of the Vikings cheerleaders came to cheer on the crowd while they bid on items such as Twins/Yankees tickets and a vacation getaway! It was a great night and brought in more than $12,000 in honor of Michelle's fundraising campaign!

A Great Night at AutoZone Park!

2011-08-16T12:46:00.004-05:00

We had a great time at the Memphis Redbirds' Organ Donor Night last Saturday! NFT staff members, patients and supporters were able to meet new friends and spread the word about organ donation with so many Redbirds fans. Here are few pictures from the evening, but you can see many more on our Facebook page.

Portland Jazz Pianist Needs Lifesaving Transplant

2011-08-10T15:48:00.001-05:00

August Patient of the Month: Kevin Clancy

2011-08-04T10:04:00.005-05:00

In 2007, Kevin Clancy went to the emergency room thinking he had a really bad cold. After undergoing multiple tests, he received the shocking diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and was hospitalized for 10 days. During his hospitalization, he received 13 blood transfusions and learned a bone marrow transplant was critical to his survival. Because Kevin has a rare tissue type, doctors said it would be highly unlikely to find a donor match.

Thankfully a match was found, and he received his lifesaving transplant on May 26, 2011!

Kevin and his wife, Jeni, have two beautiful daughters who mean the world to them. His girls have been his inspiration in his fight against cancer, as he is determined to give his daughters the one thing he never had--a father. A San Francisco resident, he loves hiking, traveling, going to the beach and playing around the city with his family.

To read more about Kevin or to make a donation in his honor, please visit his web bio on the NT site.

July Transplant Birthdays

2011-08-03T11:55:00.007-05:00

We are so excited for our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month!

Kristen Adams (kidney) at Massachusetts General Hospital
Al Barbour (heart) at University of North Carolina Hospital
Jamaal Farris (kidney) at Scott & White Clinic
William James (kidney) at VCU Medical Center
Gerald Jeremiah (liver) at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute
Jane Milligan (kidney) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Waiting for a Second Chance at Life

2011-07-27T09:49:00.006-05:00

NFT patient Donna Boudreau is awaiting a lifesaving lung transplant. The video below was made by her friends and family who desperately want to see her well again. To learn more about Donna, visit her web bio on Transplants.org.

Organ Donor Night at AutoZone Park

2011-07-25T11:41:00.004-05:00

Cheer on the Memphis Redbirds while supporting the National Foundation for Transplants August 13 at AutoZone Park!

The Redbirds will wear organ-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game to benefit the RBI & STRIPES programs. NFT will register organ donors during the game, which begins at 6:05 p.m. Attendees who register or who are already registered donors will be entered to win a keyboard organ from AMRO music, a team autographed jersey or a heart-healthy basket from U.S. FoodService. Those who register will receive an NFT Transplant Challenge shirt (while supplies last).

A silent auction will take place during the game on the concourse for fans to bid on the organ-themed jerseys. A transplant recipient will throw out the first pitch, and post-game fireworks sponsored by Thomas & Betts will round out the night.

NFT is selling outfield tickets for $11, with $4 going directly to the charity. For tickets, please contact Mandy Stockton at 901-684-1697 or mstockton@transplants.org.

To learn more about NFT and organ donation, visit www.transplants.org.

NFT Receives Four Star Charity Rating

2011-07-21T10:51:00.006-05:00

We are thrilled to announce that NFT has been given a four star rating from Charity Navigator, which means we exceed the standards and outperform most charities in our industry.

At NFT, we strive to go above and beyond for our patients who are facing tremendous transplant-related costs. We are honored to receive this rating, as we aim to meet our own high expectations every day.

Swim: A Memoir of Survival by Bill Coon

2011-07-20T09:37:00.011-05:00

In 1989, Bill Coon was born with a congenital heart defect. That year, he received the fourth infant heart transplant in the Midwest and the eighth in the nation. At the age of 20, his transplanted heart began to fail, and due to a lifetime of medications, his kidneys failed as well.

After he was diagnosed with heart and kidney failure, Bill unknowingly began writing his first book on July 5, 2009 when he began journaling his thoughts. These thoughts would later become a story of a young man's physical, mental and spiritual journey as he fought the clock, awaiting a double transplant and another chance at life.

Swim: A Memoir of Survival was written to provide support for individuals who find themselves faced with a life-threatening or life-altering illness. Swim was written so readers would no longer feel alone in their journey. They are given the inspiration of knowing any obstacle can be overcome.

With this idea in mind, Bill developed the Give Back Program, which donates a percentage of book sales to organizations devoted to providing support for patients battling illnesses. By combining efforts, both the organization and BillCoonBooks.com can accomplish their mutually beneficial objective--helping the greater good.

You can purchase a copy of Bill's book and help NFT at the same time! When placing your order, enter the code: NFT in the coupon code field (on the last page before submitting the order) and 20% of the proceeds will benefit NFT.

Man Climbs Mt. Rainier Thanks to Wife's Lifesaving Gift

2011-07-18T12:55:00.006-05:00

July is Cord Blood Awareness Month

2011-07-14T08:30:00.003-05:00

From the Cord Blood Registry:

Cord Blood Awareness Month is sponsored by a society of the American Hospital Association and strives to empower expectant parents to make an informed choice regarding their options to save their newborn's cord blood stem cells.

Each year more than 35,000 Americans with life threatening illnesses find themselves in need of a stem cell transplant. Cord blood stem cells have been playing an increasing role in filling that need and have been offering potential treatment options for many conditions that have no cure today. Cord blood has been used in more than 14,000 transplants worldwide during the last 20 years to treat many life-threatening diseases, such as leukemia and other cancers. Today, cord blood is showing great promise for use in regenerative medicine applications, including treatment for juvenile diabetes, brain injury, cerebral palsy, and hearing loss.

It is important for expectant parents to be aware of the potential value of cord blood stem cells and their options for saving it. Cord blood can only be collected immediately following birth, so parents should understand their choices and make a decision before their due date.

Family Banking: Parents have guaranteed access to a child's genetically-unique stem cells for future use within the family, including the child, siblings, parents or extended family members. Click here to learn more.

Free Program for Acute Family Need: CBR's Designated Treatment Program® provides free processing and storage to qualifying families with a member suffering from a disease treatable with cord blood stem cells. Click here to learn more.

Public Donation: If eligible, expectant parents can donate cord blood stem cells for public use or research. Click here to learn more about cord blood stem cells for public use.

Medical Waste: The cord blood stem cells are discarded after delivery at the hospital.

July Patient of the Month: Kristen Adams

2011-07-08T14:43:00.005-05:00

When she was 11, Kristen Adams was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a hereditary illness that also afflicted Kristen's mother until she received a kidney transplant in 2006. Kristen was fortunate to have 30 years without the disease greatly affecting her life, but her kidneys began to fail last year. Doctors now say a kidney transplant is critical to her survival.

Thankfully, a living donor has been found, and the surgery is scheduled for July. Kristen's donor, David, works for the same company as Kristen, but in a different state. While visiting her office in Massachusetts, David heard of her need and decided to be tested to see if he was a match. Kristen will be forever grateful for his selfless gift, as it will dramatically improve the quality of her life.

Her health battle is difficult at times, but Kristen strongly believes in the power of positive thinking and is determined to beat PKD. She loves spending as much time as possible with her young son, Blake, and her fiance, whether they're camping, boating or fishing. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, and exercising as often as she can. Because of her declining health, Kristen and her fiance had to postpone their wedding plans; they are anxious to start planning again so they can begin spending the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

To read more about Kristen or to make a donation in her honor, visit Transplants.org.

June Transplant Birthdays

2011-07-06T14:48:00.004-05:00

We are so excited for our patients who received lifesaving transplants last month! Many people don’t realize the long-term financial challenges related to transplantation. At NFT, we’re dedicated to helping patients fundraise so they can focus on their health without worrying about their medical expenses.

Irma Arroyo (lung) at New York Presbyterian Hospital
Michelle Barnes (kidney) at Hennepin County Medical Center
Tim Dobratz (bone marrow) at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
Dale Shaylor (liver) at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute
Lucanus Ware (kidney & pancreas) Shands at the University of Florida

July is African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month

2011-07-05T16:12:00.003-05:00

Actress and singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins (of TLC) is lending her famous voice to help others fight life-threatening diseases. Tionne, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease as a child, is partnering with Be The Match to encourage more African Americans to join the Be The Match Registry as committed members.

Thousands of patients with leukemia, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening diseases need a marrow transplant. Most have no matching donor in their family and turn to the Be The Match Registry to find someone who can give them hope for a cure. While the number of African American patients receiving transplants has doubled since 2004, more committed African Americans are needed to step up so every patient has hope for a cure.

July is African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month. So this month in particular, we’re asking you to step up to save lives.

Learn more and get involved at Be the Match: Step Up!

A Hitter Digs in: Drew Denson Fights Rare Blood Disease

2011-06-30T14:21:00.003-05:00

Drew Denson moves in a way most other 45-year-old men don't, which is to say slowly and stiffly.

Twenty-seven years ago he was among the toasts of the Major League Baseball draft, a first-round selection by the Atlanta Braves and the 19th pick overall. The robust 6-foot-5 Purcell Marian star was on the verge of a 12-year pro career that largely played out in the minor leagues.

Now he's battling a rare blood disease that has ravaged his athletic frame and robbed him of physical comforts. Denson has amyloidosis, a condition in which abnormal protein deposits cause his organs and tissues to deteriorate.

While there is no cure, there are treatments. Denson has had two bouts with chemotherapy: One lasted 13 months and lowered his protein levels, and another ended after two weeks when his kidneys failed.

The Springfield Township resident hears that a stem cell transplant could be his best defense. He's willing to undergo the procedure - which requires a five-week hospital stay - if it means he'll be able to see his son, 14-year-old Moeller sophomore-to-be Andre Denson, graduate.

He's willing to ride a scooter at ballparks too taxing to navigate by foot if it means he'll be able to see Andre play baseball.

Denson's days now are filled with dialysis, rest and research. The cruel twist of fate is not lost on a man once known for his peak physical condition.

"It's been very tough. A few of my friends have said, 'Oh man, I can't believe this is happening to Superman,' " Denson said. "I'm like, 'Don't take anything for granted. Appreciate everything. Things like going up the stairs, depending on how good of a day I'm having, might be a struggle.' "

To read the full article visit, Cincinnati.com.

Good Samaritans and the Meaning of Altruism

2011-06-22T11:25:00.005-05:00

Katrina A. Bramstedt, Ph.D. and Rena Brown have collaborated to write The Organ Donor Experience, which will release later this year.

A note from Katrina from the Good Samaritans and the Meaning of Altruism blog:

Nearly two years of work has resulted in a new and unique book about Good Samaritan organ donation. Good Samaritans are living donors who give a kidney, lung lobe, liver tissue, pancreas tissue or intestinal segment to a stranger. The recipient is not a friend, co-worker, spouse or relative, but a stranger. Often the donor never even meets the organ recipient. Yes, there is great kindness and compassion in the world. Read the book and learn more about these everyday people who self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. My co-author and I are grateful to the 22 donors interviewed in the book, as well as our publisher, Rowman & Littlefield. Mark your calendar for the October 2011 book release.

Visit Amazon.com to pre-order your copy today!

Washington University Surgeons Successfully Use Artificial Lung in Toddler

2011-06-21T16:13:00.003-05:00

From Media-Newswire.com:

Two-year-old Owen Stark came to St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the summer of 2010 near death from heart failure and dangerously high blood pressure in his lungs.

Washington University physicians and surgeons at St. Louis Children’s Hospital knew they had to act fast to save his life. They collaborated to make several strategic and innovative decisions that led to the first successful use of an artificial lung in a toddler.

Their efforts are reported in the June 2011 issue of The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

The artificial lung, made by Novalung of Germany, “breathes” outside the patient’s body to add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. It is approved only for adults and has been used to treat severe pulmonary infections or as a bridge to lung transplantation. The lung works without a pump, using the body’s natural heartbeat to circulate blood.

Owen was transported to St. Louis Children’s Hospital in full heart failure from abnormally high blood pressure in the lung’s arteries. In this rare condition, called pulmonary hypertension, blood is prevented from entering the lungs because the arteries are too narrow. This causes the right side of the heart, which pumps blood through the lungs, to work harder than normal and become enlarged, which leads to heart failure.

Avihu Z. Gazit, MD, a Washington University pediatric critical care physician, was the first to treat Owen at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Initial tests showed that the right ventricle of Owen’s heart was extremely large, compressing the left side of his heart and creating severe high blood pressure in the lungs, an often fatal condition with no known cause.

Typically, pulmonary hypertension is first treated with medication, Gazit says. However, Owen’s condition was so severe that in addition to medication, he was placed on a ventilator in an attempt to force oxygen into his lungs. Physicians thought Owen may eventually need a lung transplant.

“We hoped the ventilator would allow us to get him well enough that he wouldn’t need to be put on a heart-lung machine,” Gazit says. “But 24 hours later, we knew that wouldn’t be the case, and we had to make the decision to go forward with the heart-lung machine called ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ). We knew that his chances of survival were getting smaller and smaller.”

ECMO gives the heart and lungs time to recover and respond to medical treatment prior to a lung transplant. However, it comes with a high rate of complications, including bleeding, blood clots, infection and stroke, and carries a high mortality rate in patients who go on to have a lung transplant. Complications become more severe the longer a patient is on the machine, especially after 10-14 days, Gazit says.

After 16 days on ECMO, Owen’s heart had recovered but his lungs had not. Since there were no lungs available for transplant, Owen’s physicians knew they didn’t have a lot of time. So the team, led by Charles B. Huddleston, MD, professor of surgery and a cardiovascular surgeon at St. Louis Children’s Hospital; Stuart C. Sweet, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and a lung transplant surgeon; Gazit; and R. Mark Grady, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the pediatric pulmonary hypertension program, decided to put Owen on the artificial lung, even though it had never been used on a child so young.

After getting emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and from Washington University’s Institutional Review Board, Huddleston moved Owen from ECMO to the artificial lung in an innovative procedure without the need for a cardiopulmonary bypass.

The Novalung artificial lung is a small box about the size of a lunchbox that is attached through a shunt created between the main pulmonary artery and the left atrium of the heart.

“This case was very interesting and challenging from a physiological standpoint,” Gazit says. “We had to determine what to do with Owen’s lungs – do we support him and wait for a lung transplant or do we work to improve the lungs to get him off of the artificial lung? We had to think about this every step of the way to form an approach.”

Occasionally Owen had to be taken off of the artificial lung to have parts of the circuit changed. Initially his blood pressure and oxygen levels dropped significantly, but over time, his ability to sustain adequate oxygen levels improved. Another indicator for improvement was the increased blood flow through Owen’s lungs rather than through the device.

Owen was on the artificial lung for 23 days when he accidentally kicked off one of the device’s connectors. This resulted in Owen having a stroke and required swift action. However, when Owen was taken to the operating room to reconnect the device, Huddleston found that Owen's lungs had healed enough to allow adequate blood flow on their own.

“Owen was able to come off of the artificial lung,” Gazit says. “We had no idea that we’d be able to get him off of the device before a transplant. It showed us that everything we did was the right thing."

“It is important to mention that our success is the result of a major collaborative effort,” Gazit says. “Owen survived because of the dedication and hard work of our nursing staff, respiratory therapists and perfusionists.”

A year later, Owen continues to take medication for pulmonary hypertension and so far has been able to avoid a lung transplant, says Stuart C. Sweet, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Lung Transplant Program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

This experience with the artificial lung gives the medical community an option to manage young children with similar illnesses and support them prior to a transplant, Gazit says.

“We would like to be a part of or lead a trial,” he says. “It requires a multi-institutional effort and we really hope that all of the large lung transplant centers will join us in this effort.”

Off-Camera, My Mom’s Fight With Cancer

2011-06-14T12:53:00.004-05:00

Jennette McCurdy, 18, co-stars with Miranda Cosgrove in the hit Nickelodeon series “iCarly.”

The following essay by Jennette appeared on the Wall Street Journal Online.

There are people who believe that young actors on a TV series have it easy and that they never have a tough moment in their lives – not a single trial or obstacle. I don’t blame the people who think this because we, as young actors, spend our days making families laugh and using smiley face emoticons in nearly every tweet we send. Underneath the carefree façade, you may be surprised to know that some of us actually do have to face some tribulations.

In March 1995, my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV mammary ductal cell carcinoma, also known as breast cancer, and required a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, breast surgery and many radiation sessions. While my mother was in isolation, the doctors told her to call her family because they didn’t expect her to be there the next day. My mom has told me that one of her worst fears upon hearing this news was that her younger children wouldn’t remember her – I was 2 years old at the time and my brothers were 5, 7, and 11.

Miraculously, my mother made it through.

Her doctors said it defied their understanding of medicine. Of course, our entire family was relieved and grateful beyond measure. However, as any cancer survivor knows, every check-up after recovery is a nerve-racking experience. Every time the results came back clear, a sense of reprieve washed over us all.

When she finally reached the 15 year cancer-free mark, I doubt it crossed any of our minds that her cancer would return. But it did.

In February 2010, my mother had sinus surgery and her doctors found breast cancer cells in her sinuses. After several scans, they also found cancer in her skull, lymph nodes, ribs, sternum, thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvis.

And just a few weeks ago, they found cancer in my mother’s brain and she has started another round of chemotherapy for the cancer in the rest of her body.

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for my mother to tolerate all she has gone through and continues to go through – the pain, the worry and the battle. She wakes up every day hurting and goes to sleep hurting even more. My mother, the constant optimist and effervescent, sprightly woman I know her to be, is caged along with this hideous beast they call cancer.

Cancer takes its toll on the patient’s whole family. I went into a state of shock when I learned her cancer had returned. Of course, I grew up knowing her medical history but I was so young when she was first diagnosed that my age had protected me from really knowing what this meant. But not this time.

When the shock faded, all I felt was anger. I was irritable and easily agitated. I was mad that my mother had to go through such a terrible thing again. I was confused as to how it could come back after 15 years of living cancer-free and perplexed that the doctors hadn’t found it sooner.

When I’m around my mom, I try to act like nothing’s wrong. She does a great job of that herself. She can barely stand, yet she gets up before me in the morning so that she can make me a mug of hot chocolate. I don’t know how she does it, but she claims it’s what makes her happy.

The protective wall I’ve created for myself does come down sometimes. I have so many questions, but I’m scared of the answers, so I tend to avoid them. I feel like if I don’t know the answers, then they somehow aren’t real.

I am thankful that I’ve recently been able to discuss my mother’s cancer with her more openly. Though the conversation may be difficult, I understand how important it is to have that opportunity to discuss this with her because it provides a better sense of understanding and compassion.

If you are a young person struggling with a parent’s cancer, I recommend talking to them as much or as little as they are able. You don’t want to make your parent uncomfortable, but give them the chance to say everything they feel they need to say. Sometimes, parents can have a difficult time judging just how much information you may or may not want to know. After all, you are their child, and parents always put their children’s emotions before their own.

If you’re reading this and you were one of those people who thought, “young actors have perfect lives,” I hope that you will think differently now. We do have challenges. We do cry. We are experiencing difficult things. But we will continue to smile and crack jokes because, as entertainers, even if we’re privately struggling with painful trials, our job is to make others forget theirs.

May Transplant Birthdays

2011-06-13T11:16:00.007-05:00

We are so excited for the NFT patients who received their lifesaving transplants last month!

Richard Calm (liver) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Jason Hafelein (lung) at University of Michigan Hospital
Peggy Johnson (kidney) at Emory Transplant Center
Boyce Kerns (kidney and pancreas) at Medical University of South Carolina
Taka Maeda (kidney) at University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
Steve Nelson (lung) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Amie Rogers (kidney) at Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Pandora Monk-Taylor (heart) at UNC Hospital
Alyssa Witter (kidney) at Hennepin County Medical Center
Amanda Wolff (liver) at Mayo Clinic in Arizona

June Patient of the Month: Blake Adams

2011-06-09T15:40:00.006-05:00

Before he was even born, doctors knew Blake's kidneys were failing and diagnosed him with chronic kidney dysplasia. In an effort to save some renal function, he was delivered via emergency c-section 10 weeks early, and doctors discovered he had only one functioning kidney, as his right one never developed. Soon after birth, Blake underwent surgery to have a tube implanted to drain his blocked kidney, and five weeks later he endured a second surgery. After spending seven weeks in the NICU, Blake was able to go home with his parents.

Because of his kidney disease and a bit of reflux, Blake was not growing like he should, so he was hospitalized again a couple months after turning 1. A tube was inserted so he could receive additional nutrients during the night, which has been very beneficial for Blake's growth. In 2008, he began receiving daily hormone shots to further assist his growth, and he has now almost reached a normal height for his age. Earlier this year he underwent a procedure to connect his kidneys to his bladder; and although it was successful, the small amount of kidney function that he had plummeted. Doctors say a kidney transplant is essential to his survival, and he was added to the transplant waiting list in May.

Blake is such a happy, active inquisitive little boy! His parents want him to have a normal life, without limitations because of his illness. He spends as much time as possible running, jumping, playing t-ball and swimming, like any other boy his age.

To learn more about Blake or to make a donation in his honor, visit his web bio on the NFT site.

Brother Gives Gift of Life Thanks to Transplant

2011-06-07T10:52:00.002-05:00

Video courtesy of WTHITV.com.

National Cancer Survivors Day

2011-06-06T11:47:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was National Cancer Survivors Day®, an annual worldwide celebration of life held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful and productive.

Did you celebrate someone special on Cancer Survivors Day? If so, we would love to hear your story.

Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor to Bike 1,800 Miles for Cancer Research

2011-05-26T11:37:00.003-05:00

In February 2009 Bob Falkenberg’s life changed—first for the worse, then for the better. A visit to the Emory Johns Creek Hospital emergency room to check a high spike in his blood pressure led to an unusually early diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rapidly progressing blood cancer.

“The prognosis was not good,” says Falkenberg, who had never faced serious illness before. He was referred to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, where he learned that, with just weeks to live, he had to immediately start chemotherapy. Falkenberg started an aggressive course of treatment and during the next six months received eight rounds of chemotherapy.

In July of that year, the search for a bone marrow transplant donor began. Many cancer patients cannot find a match for this risky process. Luckily, several unrelated individuals in the donor pool were a good match for Falkenberg. The transplant process involved a high dose of chemotherapy and whole-body radiation to completely kill his marrow, followed by an infusion of donor bone marrow stem cells in October 2009. Falkenberg credits Winship Cancer Institute and Emory University Hospital for his successful outcome.

Now 54, Falkenberg is cancer free and in better shape than before his diagnosis. To show his gratitude and to help other cancer survivors and their caregivers recognize that there can be life after a cancer diagnosis, Falkenberg has organized the Lifeblood Ride, an 1,800-mile bicycle ride from Beverly Farms, Mass., to Key West, Fla. Funds collected through donations to LifeBlood will go to the Winship Cancer Institute.

Joining Falkenberg on his journey are his daughter, Katie, and his longtime friend, Carl Kooyoomjian. The trio will leave from their starting point north of Boston on June 2 and hope to finish the ride in Key West on June 30. They expect to average about 70 miles per day, rain or shine, and will be carrying all of their equipment on their bikes.

“I knew my treatment was going to be difficult, but I was determined not to let it beat me down. I set goals for myself to keep my strength up throughout my treatment,” says Falkenberg. Between chemotherapy treatments, he was able to attend the wedding of his son and daughter in-law, Brian and Elizabeth, in April 2009, and he walked the Peachtree Road Race in July 2009 with his wife, Karen. “I set goals both small and large that I wanted to accomplish even as I was in my chemo treatments,” he says.

A few months after his bone marrow transplant, Falkenberg convinced Kooyoomjian to train for a 100-mile bike ride in Savannah, Ga., in September 2010. The friends successfully completed that ride, and the idea for the fundraising ride surfaced in January 2011.

“We had discussions a long time ago about a bike ride across the country but were never able to work it out. We were skiing together in January and decided if not now, when?” Falkenberg says.

Falkenberg asked his daughter to put together a website and coordinate social media coverage for the ride. Katie Falkenberg jumped at the opportunity to support her father, both as a participant and as the brains behind the technology to blog from the road during the journey. Falkenberg mapped out the day-to-day route that would take them down the East Coast.

“I feel a strong pull toward doing something to help out the cause. Part of my motivation is to get my life back and part is to provide hope to others going through something similar,” says Falkenberg, who also volunteers with Winship’s Peer Partner Program and assists with fundraising efforts for the Friends of Winship volunteer organization. “I want to show that there is indeed life after cancer. It is not about how long you live, it is about living every day. After having cancer there is always a black cloud hanging around, and for some it can be overwhelming.”

Along the ride, the trio will be joined at different points by family, friends and Winship staff, including oncologist Amy Langston, who is Falkenberg’s doctor; Jessica Thomas; and Hannah Collins.

Falkenberg says Lifeblood was conceived as a way to pay forward to help others and hopes it will be an inspiration to those facing similar circumstances.

“Winship and Emory Hospital have an amazing team. It is truly incredible how many people get involved in your treatment. The process was seamless between the many members of my treatment team, from the doctors, PAs, nurses, and techs to every member of the support team,” he says. “I just can’t say enough about the people involved. The nurses were incredible and always took the time to talk about any issue. I was a person, not a case, and the whole group of health care professionals was focused on more than just taking care of the medical problems. I trusted them completely and never had any doubts whatsoever that I was in the best of hands.”

For more information on the Lifeblood Ride, to follow the daily blog, or to make a donation, please visit www.LifeBloodRide.org. Click here for more information about the Winship Cancer Institute.

Source: Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University

NFT is Part of the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance

2011-05-25T13:17:00.004-05:00

We are honored to have met the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accreditation standards. According to the BBB, this accreditation shows the National Foundation for Transplants meets their high standards in terms of governance, finances, fundraising practices, website disclosures and donor privacy.

We strive to go above and beyond for our patients who are facing devastating costs related to transplantation. We are thrilled to receive this recognition, as we aim to meet our own high expectations every day.

To access more information about this seal program, and to view reports on additional accredited national charities, go to give.org. To see a list of the charities that also received this honor, click here.

Milestone for Mayo Clinic in Arizona

2011-05-24T10:34:00.002-05:00

Mayo Clinic in Arizona has performed its 100th heart transplant since the program opened in the fall of 2005 — a significant milestone, given that Mayo Clinic is the only medical center doing adult heart transplants in Maricopa County.

The 100th heart transplant patient, a 46-year-old man from Glendale, Ariz., is recuperating following the 10-hour hour surgery on Wednesday, May 18. The surgery was performed by Francisco Arabia, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical director of Mayo's Heart Transplant and Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program.

Mayo Clinic in Arizona is a leader in mechanical circulatory support devices, including VADs and the total artificial heart. Such devices are implanted into patients with severe heart failure to support the human heart until a transplant can take place — or, in a number of VAD cases, as life-long cardiac support.

A VAD does not replace the native heart, but uses pumps to assist the heart in pumping blood to the body. With the total artificial heart, both the left and right ventricles of the human heart are removed, and the artificial heart works to restore blood flow.

The first heart transplant patient, a then 58-year-old Scottsdale woman, is doing well today following her transplant in October 2005 and is active in volunteer work in the Valley.

Prior to her transplant, that first patient, because of sudden cardiac failure, was placed on a VAD while she waited. Coincidentally, the 100th patient, who also experienced heart failure, required an artificial heart while he awaited transplantation. Both patients were able to be stabilized enough to be transplanted because of high-tech mechanical support devices.

In the case of the 100th transplant patient, technology has advanced to the point where he was able to wait at home until his donor heart became available, connected to a much smaller, backpack version of the total artificial heart that weighs just over 13 pounds. Previously, patients on the artificial heart had to remain hospitalized because the device was powered by a 400-pound driver that prohibited mobility.

Following are statistics about the use of mechanical circulatory support devices at Mayo:

* Forty-one of the 100 heart transplants were patients on a mechanical device.
* Mayo's first heart transplant was a device patient.
* Mayo's 100th transplant was a device patient.
* Twenty-four of the patients were supported by an artificial heart.
* One of Mayo's artificial heart patients made international news when he was the first in the U.S. to be discharged from the hospital on the smaller, portable version of the artificial heart to await transplantation.

In 26 cases, Mayo's unique "transport team," sometimes referred to as its "Swat" team, was able to make emergency runs to referring Valley hospitals to help stabilize patients and transport them to Mayo Clinic for further care. In some cases, a mechanical support device was implanted at the referring hospital because of the severity of their cardiac condition. This transplant system is one of the few in the U.S.

"We are proud of this 100th heart transplant milestone," says Dr. Arabia. "It is especially rewarding that the growth of the program means we can continue to serve patients in the Valley and beyond." Dr. Arabia credits the work of Donor Network of Arizona for its commitment to bringing awareness to the need for organ donation so that more organs can be available to help others in need.

"It is a privilege to be in a position to treat heart failure and help patients resume their healthy and productive lives," Dr. Arabia added.

Source: Mayo Clinic in Arizona website

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month

2011-05-17T14:53:00.013-05:00

Astellas' Transplant Experience website offers the following information about the risks of skin cancer:

It's not always easy keeping track of everything you need to consider post-transplant. Did you know, for instance, that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in transplant recipients? Learning your risk factors for skin cancer early and understanding ways to effectively reduce your risk are important for protecting your long-term health.

What are my risks of developing skin cancer?
The anti-rejection medications vital to the success of your transplant also suppress the natural immune defenses in your skin, putting you at higher risk for skin cancer. Be sure to discuss your risk factors for skin cancer with your transplant team. If you haven't done so already, ask them for assistance in developing a plan for skin cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

Although your anti-rejection medications can increase your risk for skin cancer, remember that taking them as intended is critical to your health and that of your transplant. If you have concerns about the risks of long-term immunosuppression, talk to your transplant team.

Do not change or stop any of your medications, unless directed to do so by your doctor.

What can I do to help prevent skin cancer?
The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer:

Wear a waterproof, broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, even when it's cloudy or rainy out. Consider making this part of your daily routine, maybe by applying it immediately after brushing your teeth each morning
Make sure sunscreen is applied liberally to all parts of your body, especially areas of high sun exposure, such as the back of your neck, tops of your ears, and back of your hands.
Wear tightly-woven, protective clothing, such as long sleeves, pants, and hats.
Limit your exposure by avoiding outside activity between 10 AM and 4 PM, when sunlight is most intense

Because skin cancer develops slowly over time, these steps are only as effective as your daily commitment to them. And like all other aspects of your transplant health, it's critical that you schedule regular skin evaluations with your doctor—every 12 months, or, if you are at higher risk, every 3-6 months.

What are the signs of skin cancer?
In addition to regular skin evaluations, monthly self-monitoring is highly recommended. Look for the following changes to your skin:

New, changing, or scaly growth
Pink patches or spots
Bleeding spots
Changing moles

Fortunately, about 95% of transplant-associated cases of skin cancer are forms of non-melanoma, which are usually curable if caught early enough. The other 5% are cases of melanoma, characterized by asymmetry, border irregularity, color variability, diameter, and evolving growth—known as the ABCDEs of melanoma.

For helpful pictures and additional descriptions of the types of skin cancer, visit the Healthy Body section of TransplantExperience.com.

Skin cancer can be serious, but by learning the signs of skin cancer now, you can seek the early evaluation and treatment key to avoiding long-term complications. Learn more at www.at-risc.org.

May Patient of the Month: Janet McCrary

2011-05-13T12:47:00.010-05:00

At 16, Janet McCrary was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and the illness quickly took over her life. She began using an insulin pump and seemed to have her diabetes under control when she went away for college, but she became very ill and lapsed into a diabetic coma. Since then, she's developed several different conditions, including renal failure and gastroparesis, a condition that reduces her stomach's ability to digest food. Her kidneys have stopped working, and she now requires dialysis treatments to manage her diabetes. Doctors say a kidney/pancreas transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life.

Bill Hahn received a kidney/pancreas transplant in 2009 and became involved with Donate Life America and the National Kidney Foundation to spread the word about organ donation. Bill recently met Janet and featured an interview with her in the video below. To read more about Janet or to make a donation in her honor, visit her web bio on the NFT site.

Mom Gives Her Child Life--A Second Time

2011-05-10T10:18:00.002-05:00

The following article is from the UAB News website:

This year, Mother’s Day has extra special meaning for Jennifer McCombs and her 15-year-old son, Chase Waters. Jennifer has given Chase life again — this time in the form of a life-saving kidney transplant.

“Chase was born with something called posterior urethra valve, and there was a blockage we learned about when I was pregnant that damaged his kidneys in utero,” says McCombs, 42, of Hoover. “Chase’s doctors told us that he would need a kidney transplant one day; we just didn’t know at the time when that day would be.”

One day came about a year ago when it became evident medication no longer could keep Chase's kidneys working; he needed a transplant. Jennifer was ecstatic when tests showed her kidney was a match for Chase.

“For 14 years I hoped and prayed I would be the one to give him a kidney,” McCombs says. “I just really wanted to be the one to do it.”

Chase has had few limitations during the past years. He is an accomplished catcher for his high-school freshman baseball team and has even been scouted by some pro teams. He wanted to play until time for his transplant, but his baseball career was put on hold after the first game this spring. His condition deteriorated to the point he was too exhausted to play.

“This year it’s been hard to practice, because the next day I wasn’t able to get out of bed because I was so fatigued,” Chase says.

UAB transplant surgeons Steve Bynon and Michael Hanaway performed Chase’s transplant April 21. Jennifer’s left kidney was removed laproscopically and transplanted into Chase. The procedure, which took most of the day, was a success. Jennifer was discharged the next day and Chase about a week later.

Chase is recovering, and Jennifer is celebrating this Mother’s Day knowing her son has a new lease on life. She’s also looking forward to his eventual return to the baseball diamond.

“I cannot wait to see him go out there and play and feel good,” she says. “I’ve watched him play and feel bad, and that’s been hard, but I cannot wait to get out there and scream for him.”

And Chase — he is grateful for the sacrifice his mother made for him.
“It amazes me that she would give up one of her organs so that I can live and live a better life, and it makes me happy that I have a mom like that,” he says.

April Transplant Birthdays

2011-05-09T10:57:00.006-05:00

We are thrilled for the patients who received lifesaving transplants last month, and we wish them the best in their recoveries! NFT will continue assisting these patients as they fundraise for the vital medications and follow-up care they'll need for the rest of their lives.

Randy Fraga (heart) at Scott & White Hospital & Clinic
Arnold Graves (heart) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Cindy Joyes (lung) at Jackson Memorial Hospital
Dean Young (heart) at Seton Medical Center

Donnie Wahlberg Tweet Helps Fan Find a Kidney Donor

2011-04-27T09:48:00.006-05:00

The information below is from the Associated Press.

Donnie Wahlberg's Twitter skills have helped find a kidney for an ailing fan from Nashville, Tenn.

One of the New Kids on the Block singer's 183,000 followers on Twitter tweeted a link to a blog about a fan who desperately needed a kidney transplant. Donnie retweeted the plea in December and asked his fans to help Bobbette Miller.

The Boston Herald reports the request prompted a slew of calls to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and one of the callers was a match. Bobbette now is scheduled for a June transplant.

Donnie calls the success a team effort, saying it proves how valuable Twitter can be.

April is Donate Life Month

2011-04-25T14:29:00.003-05:00

National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was instituted by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003 with the support of then Secretary of HHS, Tommy Thompson. Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

An outgrowth of the celebratory month is the Flags Across America initiative that began in 2009. It honors and celebrates the hundreds of thousands of donors and recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation. The initiative rallies every donor hospital and transplant center, as well as all recovery agencies, to collectively fly the Donate Life flag during April.

April is a great time to spread the word about organ donation and encourage others register as organ donors! For more information about the NDLM initiative, visit Donate Life America.

To register to become an organ donor, visit the Transplant Challenge page on our site.

April Patient of the Month: Dale Shaylor

2011-04-11T11:04:00.007-05:00

Dale Shaylor grew up in the remote parts of the Amazon in Venezuela, where his parents were missionaries. When he was only 13, Dale and his family were shocked to learn he had contracted hepatitis B and D while living in the jungle. He lost both his grandfather and aunt after they also contracted hepatitis from their time in the Amazon. His condition has worsened to cirrhosis, requiring his family to return to the U.S. for medical care. Doctors say a liver transplant is his only hope for a second chance at life.

Dale and his wife, Katie, have three children: Joel, Amber and Jemual. He enjoys reading, taking bike rides with Katie and spending time with their children. He loves his job as a bush pilot in Venezuela, but Dale's illness does not allow him to work or participate in many activities.

Although he has gone through many challenges, Dale relies heavily on his faith to guide him through life's obstacles. He is eager to return to his normal life, spend more time with his family and exercise. More than anything, he longs for the day he will be able to continue sharing his faith with others in Venezuela. But he needs your help. To learn more about Dale or to make a donation in his honor, click here.

Linking Hands for Life

2011-04-06T11:25:00.012-05:00

The Mid-South Transplant Foundation, an organ procurement organization based in Memphis, is hosting Linking Hands for Life on Sunday, April 17. The organization invites donor families, transplant recipients, hospital partners and other organ donation advocates to come together and link hands, forming a symbolic chain representing the circle of life. Biodegradable balloons will be released in memory of those who have given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. What a wonderful event to raise awareness about the important need for organ donation! We hope you can be there!

Linking Hands for Life

Sunday, April 17 2:00 p.m.

Levitt Shell at Overton Park

For more information, click here.

March Transplant Birthdays

2011-04-05T14:25:00.006-05:00

We are so happy for our patients who received their lifesaving transplants last month!

Many people don't realize that transplant recipients face a lifetime of medical expenses related to essential medications, follow-up care and the surgery itself. NFT is dedicated to helping these patients continue to raise funds so they can return to a normal life without worrying about the expenses.

Julie Camara (double-lung) at Methodist Transplant Center
Robert Daughtrey (heart) at University of North Carolina Hospital
Stan Flower (lung) at UCLA Medical Center
Jan Johansson (heart) at University of North Carolina Hospital
Holly Julian (lung) at University Hospital, San Antonio
Gustavo Pinedo (kidney) at Baylor University Medical Center
John Rigolizzo (kidney) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Harold Seate (liver) at University of North Carolina Hospital
Kevin Spencer (heart) at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

A Parent's Love

2011-03-24T14:07:00.002-05:00

Most children like to think of their fathers as heroes. But for Tristan Theerman, it’s the real deal. His dad, Jeremy, literally saved Tristan’s life.

Little Tristan was born with biliary atresia, a disease that destroys the liver’s bile ducts. Tristan was in bad shape. They waited three months to see if a donor organ might become available, but the chances are slim with an infant. So Jeremy decided he would donate a portion of his own liver to save his child. And it worked. To read more about Jeremy’s heroic act, click here.

This article reminded us of a similar story involving an NFT patient. Courtney Williams was born with a genetic disease that severely damaged her liver. As an infant, she was diagnosed with cirrhosis, and a transplant was her only hope.

At that time, very few liver transplants had been performed using a living donor. Courtney’s mother didn’t hesitate to give a piece of herself to save Courtney’s life.

The family had to raise $150,000 before Courtney could be transplanted, so they turned to NFT for help. In just five months, they raised the entire amount, and Courtney received her transplant in May 1990. Today, she’s 21 and hopes to become a nurse. To read more about Courtney’s transplant journey, click here.

Click here to view our video, which features Courtney and two other NFT patients.

March Patient of the Month: Paul Adkins

2011-03-16T16:28:00.005-05:00

In 2001, after years of struggling for every breath, Paul received a lifesaving lung transplant. His doctor compared the transplant to a marriage, saying "when you find the perfect mate, it's for life." Paul's new lung has survived a heart attack, quadruple bypass, back surgery and pneumonia.

But now Paul's health is failing, and he was recently diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an illness that causes scar tissue to build up in the kidneys. His immune system is heavily suppressed from his essential anti-rejection medications, eliminating dialysis as a treatment option. Doctors say a kidney transplant is critical for his survival.

Paul considers himself blessed to have two perfect marriages: Shirley, his wife of 45 years, and his lung transplant. His children and grandchildren want nothing more than to see him healthy again. The shortage of organ donors has created difficult odds for Paul to find a match, but his granddaughter, Sarah, is being evaluated to donate one of her kidneys for a paired kidney exchange program. She's not a compatible match for Paul, but she'll donate her kidney to another patient in exchange for someone else donating to save her grandfather's life. His family hopes this will give Paul a better chance of finding a donor match soon.

Dinner raises $11,000 for heart recipient!

2011-03-11T12:02:00.006-06:00

Julie Bacon's family and friends know how to throw a great party. They held a dinner/auction fundraiser in February that raised more than $11,000 to help Julie with her transplant expenses.

The sold-out event -- appropriately called "Heart Dat!" to represent Julie's heart transplant and their New Orleans pride -- included food donated by four local restaurants. Guests bid on more than 50 auction items, including hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, original art, jewelry and sports tickets.

February marked the 6-month anniversary of Julie's heart transplant and the beginning of her new life.

The past five years have been incredibly difficult for Julie and her family. In 2005, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began chemotherapy. Several months later, she learned the chemo had permanently damaged her heart, causing cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Doctors said a transplant was essential, and she waited for two years before receiving her lifesaving transplant in July 2010.

Just one month after Julie's heart failure diagnosis, Hurricane Katrina hit, causing further stress for the Bacon family.They had to leave their home for a month while damages were repaired. Her husband, Barry, owned a printing business, and the flooding destroyed all his equipment.

We’re thrilled that things have finally turned around for Julie and her family – and we congratulate her campaign volunteers on such a successful event!

300 guests attended to show their support for Julie.

Julie and her daughter Stephanie.

These wonderful ladies donated desserts.

Dedicated volunteers!

Children enjoyed a special crafts room.

Happy new birthday to you!

2011-03-04T15:41:00.007-06:00

We are so happy for our patients who recently received their lifesaving transplants! Many people are unaware of the lifetime of expenses related to transplants and the essential medications and follow-up care. NFT is dedicated to helping these patients continue to raise funds so they can return to a normal life without worrying about the expenses.

Kerry Baumann (lung/liver/pancreas) at Duke Univ. Medical Center

Ellen Broner (stem cell) at Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

John Cusimano (kidney) at Mayo Clinic in Florida

Anthony Hollaway (double-lung) at Univ. of Texas in San Antonio

Lolita Lee (kidney) at Medical University of South Carolina

Scott McCoy (heart) at Emory Transplant Center

Miguel Nunez (liver) at Tampa General Hospital

Clara Woolley (liver) at Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Brother, can you spare a kidney?

2011-03-02T12:59:00.004-06:00

About 80% of the people on the transplant waiting list need a new kidney. Living kidney donors are true heroes, and we need more of them. Last year, we had the privilege of meeting Cindi Love, a living donor who saved NFT patient Tom Wirt's life. Tom and Cindi had never met and lived in different areas of the country. They found each other on matchingdonors.com, and Cindi gave Tom the best Valentine's gift imaginable: a brand-new kidney.

We featured Cindi and Tom in our spring 2010 newsletter. To read more about their inspirational story, click here.

African-American donors needed!

2011-02-22T17:05:00.004-06:00

At this moment, there are 110,461 people on the national waiting list for organ transplants. That number will probably change many more times today; in fact, a new name is added about every 11 minutes. It’s no secret – we have a huge shortage of available organs in the U.S.

This is a particularly big problem for African-Americans, who face increased risks for diabetes and kidney disease. There are 32,343 black patients currently listed for transplants, and 93% of those individuals need a kidney transplant. This group makes up nearly 30% of the national waiting list, but in 2010, only 14% of donors were black.

Transplant success rates dramatically increase when the donor and recipient are members of the same race, so it’s critical to register more African-Americans with their state donor registries.

As we celebrate Black History Month and recognize the wonderful leaders who have changed our society for the better, please take a moment to consider becoming an organ donor.

It’s easy! Visit our Transplant Challenge page to sign up with your state donor registry today.

Auction and Hog Roast Fundraiser Raises Nearly $20,000!

2011-02-15T14:19:00.007-06:00

Last month, an auction and hog roast in honor of NFT patient Barbara Igney was a huge success! This was the first event ever planned by chairperson Bonnie Warstler, and she was thrilled with the result.

The fundraiser, which included an auction, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, hog roast and entertainment by the band Blessed Engine raised nearly $20,000 in honor of Barbara! We are so excited for the success of this campaign.

Barbara and Bonnie at the end of the event.

Barbara being presented with a lifetime membership to the American Legion.

Upcoming Workshops from the Living Kidney Donor Network

2011-02-11T11:17:00.007-06:00

The Living Kidney Donor Network (LKDN) is offering you the opportunity to attend their informative educational workshop that will help you pursue a successful living kidney transplant.

The workshop is not your traditional classroom lecture - but an interactive program offering personal attention, interactions and practice time for the participants. Everyone quickly realizes that they have a lot in common and can learn from one another.

This workshop educates people who need, or will need a kidney transplant so they understand the facts about living donation and will have the skills to effectively communicate the information to others. The benefits of a kidney from a living donor are indisputable. If you are apprehensive about talking to others about your situation, or would like to learn more about pursuing a living donor kidney transplant, the LKDN Workshop is for you!

Three LKDN Workshops have been scheduled for:

February 22, 2011 – March 21, 2011 – April 26, 2011
6:00 – 8:30 PM

155 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago
(Northeast corner of Wacker Dr. and Randolph St.)
2nd Floor Conference Center

FREE Parking will be provided

Class size is limited - so please register by calling 312-473-3772 or e-mailing: workshop@LKDN.org.

For more information, please visit LKDN.org.

A New You: Kelly Bradley

2011-02-08T10:00:00.011-06:00

This week, The Commercial Appeal featured NFT patient Kelly Bradley in their weekly makeover section! We were so excited for Kelly to have this exciting opportunity. Doesn't she look great?

The following information is from The Commercial Appeal.

Who: Kelly Bradley, 51, a retired legal secretary, lives in Bartlett and has one grown son. Bradley's liver transplant gave her a new life, but she was at a loss on how to create a new image.

Issues: In January she turned 51 and celebrated both her birthday and the one-year anniversary of her liver transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. After three years of coping with liver disease and then with the transplant, she has gone from a size 8 to 18 and back to a size 10. Confused about how to shop for her body shape, she felt panic attacks just walking into stores.

Hair fix: Bradley's hair, thinned and dulled by medication, presented a challenge for Cindy Farr Hester, American Board of Certified Haircolorists Colorist/Stylist, at Gould's Day Spa & Salon in Olive Branch. Farr Hester gave Bradley easy-care hair starting with a soft, warm brown base color close to her natural shade so she can easily replicate it at home. She added golden highlights that would blend with her new hair growth. She cleaned her hair with thickening shampoo and cut it in layers to create an airy look with more volume. She used gel, a blow dryer and round brush to style it, finger-shaped it with styling wax and set it with Bumble & Bumble Hairspray.

Beauty fix: Lisa Byrd, makeup artist and hair stylist with Gould's, used Mirabella makeup, starting with 1 Warm for her foundation. She waxed Bradley's brows and filled them in with medium brown powder. She used a matte cream shadow all over the eye, nutmeg brown along the outer edges and crease, and a soft gold along the lash line and the center of the lid. She used dark brown liner, black mascara and bronzer instead of a blush to compliment her "warm golden" skin tone. She softened brick red lipstick with a nude lip gloss.

Fashion fix: Carolyn Bendall, image consultant and president of Fashion Academy, took Bradley to Kohl's in Cordova to create a foundation for a new wardrobe. A "warm golden's" basic neutral colors are brown, instead of black, and cream, instead of white. Bendall chose brown slacks, a brown "fly away" sweater by AB Studio, and a cream turtleneck sweater by Access. To add more color, she chose a brown and gold sequined scarf by Candies, a multistrand peach and gold necklace, orange gem bracelet, and drop off-white pearl earrings by Apt. 9.

Score card: "I had the time of my life and still feel like one of the pretty people," Bradley said. "My own mother, brother, friends didn't even recognize me. It's such a great experience."

Kohl's gave Bradley a $200 gift card with which she bought the entire outfit with about $30 left over. Draper's Catering of Memphis provided a sandwich platter, fruit and dessert platter, and bottled water for all at the salon, and Gould's gave Bradley a gift basket that contained Pure Fiji body and hair care products and other goodies. Fashion Academy gave Bradley free admission to its color, personality and body line shopping classes at Brow Gal in East Memphis.

If you'd like to know more about Bradley's story, check out transplants.org/donate/kellybradley.

Altruistic Donors Boost Hopes for Those Waiting for Kidney Transplant

2011-02-07T10:51:00.005-06:00

The following article is from the Daily Herald.

Their stories amaze.

Brenda Bogue, a 44-year-old physical therapist and marathon runner who lives in Schaumburg, was inspired to donate one of her kidneys by a story she read last summer in the Daily Herald.

It was about a man in St. Charles who donated a kidney, inspired by the example of his daughter, who had signed up as an organ donor before she died at age 17 in a car accident.

Before reading the story, Bogue hadn’t realized being a living donor was an option.

“To me, it was kind of like, why wouldn’t I?” Bogue said as she was preparing to return to work a week after the laparoscopic surgery Dec. 30. She’s also signed up to run another marathon in September.

While the decision to give up a kidney might seem overwhelming, people who have done it say it really isn’t that hard and it’s incredibly rewarding.

Bogue’s donation completed the missing link in a set of matched pairs that allowed three people, including Donald Fradkin, 76, of Deerfield, and Adriane Price, 43, of Wadsworth, to get new kidneys.

For donor Scott Kalkis, 28, a casual conversation at a company Christmas party led to a donation.

Kalkis, who manages the Firestone Complete Auto Care at the Fox Valley Shopping Center in Aurora, ran into the manager of another Firestone store at the party in 2009 and thought he looked unwell.

“I didn’t know how sick he was, but you could tell he wasn’t right.”

Carlos Cerda, 57, who now manages the Batavia store, told Kalkis he needed a kidney transplant, but he thought one of his two daughters would be able to supply it.

Kalkis volunteered to step in if needed. “It was actually real easy,” he said of making his promise.

Months later, with minor health issues making his daughters ineligible as donors, Cerda recalled Kalkis’ comment and, with trepidation, asked if he was serious.

Kalkis, of Plainfield, said he was. It wasn’t until Cerda, of Lockport, brought over a stack of paperwork, though, that he realized the enormity of his promise. He didn’t waiver.

To read the full article, click here.

February Patient of the Month: Troy Golden

2011-02-03T09:43:00.005-06:00

When he was just 15 years old, Troy was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, meaning the valve separating the upper and lower chambers of his heart was not closing properly. Even with this condition, he had no real issues until he was in his late 20s. In 2000, doctors implanted an artificial mitral valve, but it had to be replaced in 2006, along with an aortic valve.

He now suffers from Marfan's syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting his heart's connective tissue. His brother battled the same illness and required a heart transplant 15 years ago. Troy has also been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and cardiomegaly. Doctors say a heart transplant is critical to his survival.

Troy is participating in a clinical study and was the first person to receive a total artificial heart in his region of the country. He is only the second person in the United States to go home with the device implanted. Although his artificial heart is helping him regain his strength, it requires him to be with someone at all times, in case the device malfunctions. His new heart does not allow him to live a normal life and forces him to rely on others for every heartbeat.

To read more about Troy or to make a donation in his honor, please visit his bio on the NFT website.

Celebrate Black History Month with Nordstrom

2011-02-02T09:57:00.008-06:00

Many people are fighting life-threatening diseases like leukemia and sickle cell anemia, and they need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Donor matches are critical, especially among minority groups. Only 7% of the 9 million Be The Match Registry® members are African-American. In honor of Black History Month, Nordstrom is helping raise awareness about the need for black donors.

For every person who joins the Be The Match Registry® through nordstrom.com/bhm from February 1–28, Nordstrom will support the cost of adding a new member to the registry, up to $75,000.

For more information or to learn how to register, visit Be the Match. Donor registration information will not be shared with Nordstrom.

NFT Patients Who Received Transplants in January

2011-02-01T10:52:00.008-06:00

We are so happy for our patients who received their lifesaving transplants last month! Many people are unaware of the lifetime of expenses related to transplants and the essential medications and follow-up care. NFT is dedicated to helping these patients continue to raise funds so they can return to a normal life without worrying about the expenses.

Sofia Lumi Bentos (liver) at Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jeffrey Hanna (lung) at Mayo Clinic in Florida
Pamela Locke (kidney) at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Lauran Martin (pancreas) at Duke University Medical Center
Barbara Priester (liver) at Cleveland Clinic
Grover Strickland (kidney) at UAB Hospital
Joseph Tomarazzo (liver) at Florida Hospital

Beans for Better Life

2011-01-26T11:29:00.005-06:00

Beans for Better Life provides a unique opportunity for your fundraising campaign. Sales of this coffee will not only support your campaign, but also the needs of farming communities around the world--that's an awesome proposition! Beans for Better Life only provides Fair Trade Certified ™ coffees.

Each case contains 24 bags of coffee (12 oz.), and both regular and decaffeinated options are available. By selling regular coffee for $10/bag and decaffeinated coffee for $12/bag, you could make a profit of $58.20 per case.

Please contact your fundraising consultant for more information and to place your orders.

Philadelphia Doctor a Pioneer of Bloodless Treatment

2011-01-24T15:46:00.006-06:00

Jock Davis smiled and sat up on his bed at Pennsylvania Hospital [...], looking more like a guy on vacation than on high-dose chemotherapy for a blood cancer called multiple myeloma.

He had come all the way from Rochester, N.Y., for a stem cell transplant because Patricia Ford, the doctor directing his care, was willing to withhold a standard part of the multi-week treatment: a blood transfusion.

As a Jehovah's Witness, Davis, 48, has religious objections to receiving blood, including his own. Ford, director of the hospital's Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, performed the world's first no-transfusion stem cell transplant more than 15 years ago.

While most centers still consider it too risky to attempt, Ford keeps making history. Davis was her 100th "bloodless" transplant patient, an unprecedented milestone.

"People think I'm doing something mystical or magical," said Ford, a blood and cancer specialist. "It's not."

And bloodless therapy is not just for Jehovah's Witnesses.

Although Ford's strategies - many surprisingly low-tech and commonsense - were developed to enable Witnesses to undergo major elective surgeries, they have become standard throughout Pennsylvania Hospital. The bloody truth is that avoiding transfusions reduces complications, costs, and recovery time for patients in general.

"It's amazing," said Ford, "how much blood is collected and wasted and given unnecessarily in this country."

The primary components of blood seem a bit magical, even if Ford's methods aren't. If red blood cells stop ferrying oxygen throughout the body, vital organs die within minutes. White blood cells are the immune system's army, fighting invaders. Platelets regulate clotting, instantly sensing when blood is leaking. These cells all float in the watery plasma.

The blood also contains more than a thousand minor components, including the stem cells that give rise to all of it.

Jehovah's Witnesses - with more than a million members in the United States - reject transfusions because they broadly interpret a Bible passage that bans the "eating" of blood. However, as science has revealed the fluid's complexity, that interpretation has evolved to apply only to the four primary blood components, not to stem cells.

"I don't need a doctor who shares my beliefs," Davis said. "I just need one who respects them."

In the 1990s, Ford developed a reputation among Witnesses for doing exactly that.

To read the full story, visit Philly.com.

Tennessee’s First Berlin Heart Infant Receives Heart Transplant

2011-01-19T10:02:00.009-06:00

The following article is from HealthCanal.com.

NASHVILLE, TN – Nathan Roberts, an 18-month-old patient from Snead, Ala., whose heart has been operating with the help of a mechanical assistance device called the Berlin Heart since May 27, 2010, received a donor heart early yesterday morning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Doctors say the transplant surgery went well, and Nathan is recovering as planned. Nathan is the first infant in Tennessee to receive the Berlin Heart, a device which has been manually pumping the left ventricle of his damaged heart for more than seven months while he waited for a donor organ. Nathan’s transplant began around 8 p.m., Wednesday night, and doctors finished shortly before 4 a.m., Thursday morning. Nathan’s cardiologist, Debra Dodd, M.D., director of Pediatric Heart Transplant, and her team continue to closely monitor his progress.

“Overall, the operation was a big success,” says Karla Christian, M.D., the lead pediatric heart surgeon who performed the surgery. “The new heart looked very happy inside Nathan’s chest and it was working very well. It’s a great heart and we hope it will last him a long time.”

Christian says the transplant was essential for Nathan, who was on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) for two weeks before Children’s Hospital got the go-ahead from a federal review board last May to use the experimental Berlin Heart. The device, a smaller version of other left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) used in adults, is the only one of its kind for small infants and children, and it is not yet approved for widespread use by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

“We’re thankful we had the Berlin device available,” says Christian. “He wouldn’t have survived without it. At this point, we are hoping he will have a long, happy life.”

Nathan’s mother, Amanda, has been by her son’s side throughout his eight-month stay at Children’s Hospital, and was all smiles Wednesday night when her family finally received news that a donor heart was available. She says “Bernie,” the family’s playful nickname for the Berlin Heart device, has served them well.

“He has saved Nathan’s life. He has served his purpose, but we are more than happy to trade it in and bring Nathan home,” she says.

Each year, more than 35,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects, and about 5,000 of them die, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Christian says Nathan’s success illustrates the fact that the Berlin Heart can be a very effective option for children with heart defects, depending on the circumstance.

“The Berlin Heart is essential to the survival of infants and young children who need long-term mechanical support prior to implantation,” says Christian.

MyMedSchedule.com

2011-01-18T09:46:00.007-06:00

MyMedSchedule.com offers a convenient way for patients to stay up-to-date on their vital medications. Visit the website to watch a video demo of this free service.

Testimonials from patients and their loved ones:

"Since my husband's kidney transplant three months ago, I have been happy to use MyMedSchedule.com. It gave us support and safety in the middle of the stress that a transplant is. And now it allows us to update my husband's medication after each visit to the doctor."

Francine Godet, Psy.D.
New York, NY

"We went through a successful kidney transplant in November 2007, and were introduced to MyMedSchedule through the transplant hospital (University of California, San Diego Medical Center). We love it because it enables us to keep up-to-date medication lists--thanks for this handy program that we can't do without!"

Debbie and Kevin Clark
Lakeside, CA

“Following a liver transplant at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., I had a daily regimen of 19 different medications. If I did not have MyMedSchedule I would have had problems. All the doctors and nurses in my transplant experience have sincerely helped me, and MyMedSchedule is no exception. Thanks so much.”

Nicholas Marino
Philadelphia, PA

City of Hope Reaches Historic Treatment Milestone with 10,000th Bone Marrow Transplant

2011-01-14T16:14:00.003-06:00

City of Hope, which helped pioneer bone marrow transplantation three and a half decades ago, performed its 10,000th transplant on Jan. 13, becoming one of the first institutions in the world to reach this milestone. Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation -- collectively known as hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) -- is a complex, often lifesaving procedure in which stem cells are used to help cure patients of their cancer. It is most often used for patients battling diseases like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

“Reaching 10,000, you think about the many people -- children and adults -- who have benefited from City of Hope’s care and research -- the many wonderful people who have come here trusting us to care for them, hoping for a cure.”

“Day to day, our work is all about a single life at stake that we’re trying to save,” said Stephen J. Forman, M.D., Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and chair of the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. “Reaching 10,000, you think about the many people -- children and adults -- who have benefited from City of Hope’s care and research -- the many wonderful people who have come here trusting us to care for them, hoping for a cure.”

In the nearly 35 years since City of Hope physicians performed one of the nation’s first successful bone marrow transplants, the institution has helped transplantation evolve into a gold standard treatment for several diseases.

On Jan. 13, 2011, City of Hope performed its 10,000th transplant on a patient with advanced leukemia who received stem cells from an unrelated volunteer donor who was a compatible match.

City of Hope performed its first successful bone marrow transplant in 1976 on a young college student from Indiana who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. His physician told him he should prepare himself for inevitable death. But his cousin, a physician in Los Angeles, knew that City of Hope was launching a bone marrow transplant program. The young student went to City of Hope to undergo a bone marrow transplant, and he has remained in remission for 35 years.

Each year, he and thousands of other survivors, their families and hospital staff attend City of Hope’s Bone Marrow Transplant Reunion, a rite of spring held on the Duarte, Calif. campus.

City of Hope currently performs nearly 500 bone marrow transplant procedures each year. During transplant, patients typically undergo high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation that help eradicate the cancer cells but also destroy their bone marrow and immune systems. Patients then receive stem cells from one of several sources which then rebuild their blood and immune systems. Different sources of stem cells can be utilized depending on the disease and the availability of stem cell donors. Autologous transplants isolate and use the patient’s own healthy stem cells. Related donor allogeneic transplants use donor stem cells from a compatible relative or sibling, while unrelated donor allogeneic transplants use cells from altruistic volunteers who registered themselves as potential bone marrow donors. Umbilical cord blood stem cells also can be used. City of Hope recently was recognized by the National Marrow Donor Program registry as the only center in 2010 to achieve above average survival rates in unrelated transplants for five consecutive years.

“All of our research and treatment efforts reflect our commitment to patients and their families -- recognizing each of them as a dignified human being with a story to tell and a life to live,” said Forman. “They also are our partners in developing new therapies for those who will come to us tomorrow for care. There are a significant number of people who are alive today because they were and are a part of something we did at City of Hope that was both bold and new.”

To read the full story, click here.

January Patient of the Month: Sofia Lumi Bentos

2011-01-06T09:15:00.003-06:00

Even though she's still a toddler, Sofia has faced more obstacles than most people can imagine. When she was only 2 months old, she was diagnosed with biliary atresia. Since then she has battled several illness, including tuberculosis. Now, she relies on 10 medications and two constant IVs to keep her liver functioning. Doctors say a liver transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life, and she was added to the transplant list in August 2010.

Sofia is a bright, creative and fun little girl. She speaks three languages: English, Spanish and Finnish and enjoys playing the piano, singing, dancing, reading and going on walks.

Unfortunately, her condition and frequent hospital visits do not allow her to enjoy many of her favorite activities.

To learn more about Sofia or to make a donation in her honor, visit her web bio on the NFT site.

NFT Patients Who Received Transplants in December

2011-01-03T13:21:00.007-06:00

Congratulations to the NFT patients who received their lifesaving transplants last month! We wish them all a healthy recovery.

Denny Bradford (lung) at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Jennifer Jacques (heart) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Oral Semore (liver) at Integris Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute

Linda Sisk (kidney) at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute

Tracy Morgan Undergoes Successful Kidney Transplant

2010-12-21T09:21:00.003-06:00

TODAY news services: Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan is recovering from a kidney transplant undergone earlier this month, his publicist said in a statement on Monday.

Morgan, 42, will miss at least two episodes of the television show, "30 Rock", in which he co-stars with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin and plays a caricature of his own days on "Saturday Night Live." According to E! Online, his character's absence will be explained by some "happy news."

His successful transplant occurred around Dec. 10.

"Tracy is doing well and taking some much needed time to recover after the surgery," said the statement. "He is looking forward to going back to work after the holidays."

Morgan was diagnosed with diabetes nearly 15 years ago, but said in his first "30 Rock" season he did not take the disease seriously. The episodes Morgan will miss are due to air in March.

As E! Online pointed out, Morgan is the second member of "30 Rock" to have a transplant this year. Grizz Chapman, who was suffering from end-stage renal disease, also received a new kidney.

Reuters and E! Online contributed to this report.

Successful Event Raises More than $17,000!

2010-12-17T14:03:00.008-06:00

NFT patient Kenny Cox is a regular on the Florida music scene. When his friends and community members heard of his need for a kidney transplant, they wanted to help. Volunteers held "Blow Out to Go Out," last month in Kenny's honor.

On November 20, the Rock for Hair and Nails salon donated proceeds from hair and nail appointments while several bands, including the Kapo Kings and Chasing Sparrows, played throughout the area. When the day was over, more than $17,000 had been raised in honor of Kenny!

To see more photos from this event, visit NFT on Facebook.

NFT Patients Held More Than 200 Fundraisers in 2010

2010-12-14T15:25:00.005-06:00

Congratulations to the countless volunteers who held successful fundraisers in honor of NFT patients in 2010! This year, more than 200 events were held across the country to raise funds in honor of our transplant patients.

Thank you to the volunteers, friends, family members and community supporters who made this possible! If you were involved in an NFT fundraiser, please feel free to send your event details and photos to info@transplants.org. We love to hear about them!

Counting Her Blessings

2010-12-13T15:31:00.007-06:00

The following article is from The Courier of Montgomery County.

After 14 years of common law marriage, Esmerelda and Jose Luis Miranda officially tied the knot, walking the aisle as friends and family smiled through tears at the La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa Sunday.

Recently as seven months ago, however, this scene would have seemed impossible to the bride.

“This is very, very special. A dream come true for us,” said Miranda, who resides in the Houston area. “I never thought this was gonna happen.”

More than 109,000 people are currently awaiting an organ transplant in the United States, according to LifeGift, a non-profit organization that recovers organs for people needing transplants. Less than a year ago, Miranda was one of them, awaiting a heart at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston.

Born with a heart murmur, doctors have told Miranda that she would be able to live with the irregular heartbeat. However, she had gone through three open heart surgeries before collapsing in the street in her hometown of Weslaco in 2009 with a hole in her heart “the size of a silver dollar,” said Elvia Valdez, public relations coordinator for LifeGift.

On May 18, Miranda received a transplant after almost a year on the waiting list at St. Luke’s, which she referred as “one of many blessings” she’s experienced recently. The second blessing came from the Wish Upon a Wedding organization, which granted her a dream wedding at the resort, free of charge.

Heather Sims, president of the Houston chapter of the organization, said it was founded in January, and this is the first wedding put on by the Houston branch. Sims spoke with Miranda initially at a presentation at the St. Luke’s hospital several months ago, and Miranda’s story set her apart.

“It was the journey they had gone through to get to where they are,” Sims said.

The organization partnered with Wish Centers to provide the dress, rings, food and location for the wedding. Sims said “a lot of people came together to pull this off” and praised La Torretta for their help, “going above and beyond.”

“It’s a dream come true for all of us,” said husband Jose Luis Miranda. “We’re really appreciative for what they’ve done for us.”

Miranda said the wedding was especially important for her maid of honor, her 14-year-old daughter Josephine Marie Miranda.

“She’s so proud of her father,” Miranda said. “She told me she’s proud of how he’s stood by me through this. She has friends whose parents split up over less.”

Although family were in attendance, several invited guests were friends she has met through St. Luke’s Hospital. Linda Roberts, LVN, and Melissa Roberts, PCA, attended the wedding and said they have grown close to Miranda during her stay at the hospital, as they witnessed her highs and lows.

“We were there to see her when she had given up, so to see her at the wedding is amazing,” Carroll said. “You know you’ve come this close (to patients) when you go to their weddings.”

Randy Creech, of Kingwood, met Miranda through the hospital’s Heart Exchange Volunteer program, of which she also is a member. The group, made up of heart recipients, meets with people awaiting heart transplants and explains the process to them. Creech has seen more than 1,000 possible heart recipients in his 20 years with the program.

He said he was glad to attend the wedding and believes Miranda will continue to feel better with her new heart.

Miranda also volunteers with LifeGift’s Vital Volunteer program, and said her participation is important.

“Because somebody was there for me and explained to me what it’s going to be like,” she said. “I’m just giving back what was given to me.

“I was given a second chance at life. That’s the best gift you can give someone.”

Sofia Perches, outreach coordinator with St. Luke’s, said about 60 heart transplants are done every year at St. Luke’s Cooley Transplant Center and about 2,000 are performed across the country. According to LifeGift, although 10,000 Texans are currently awaiting organs, Texas is last in the country in registered number of donors.

Successful Chicken Barbecue Fundraiser for Transplant Patient

2010-12-10T14:01:00.005-06:00

NFT patient Barbara Igney suffers from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic condition that replaces healthy kidney tissue with cysts, causing the kidneys to stop functioning properly. Doctors say a kidney transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life.

A kidney transplant costs approximately $250,000, and that's only the beginning. Even with health coverage, she faces considerable medical expenses related to her transplant. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Volunteers held a chicken barbecue fundraiser in her honor last week to assist with her medical expenses. Even though it was a cold day, they raised more than $1,700!

NFT Patient Gets Law License One Year After Near-Death Coma

2010-12-07T12:43:00.005-06:00

The following article is from The Daily Citizen in Dalton, GA:

A year ago [...], Nancy Burnett was lying in a coma at Hamilton Medical Center, her life hanging in the balance as her damaged liver continued to poison her body.

Last month, Burnett, a liver transplant recipient, was alert and being sworn in as a member of the Georgia Bar Association as about 20 family members and friends gathered to watch at the Whitfield County Courthouse.

What a difference a year can make.

A member of the bar associations in both Tennessee and New York, Burnett has been a practicing attorney since 1990. In October 2008, however, she was forced to move back in with her family in Dalton after she became extremely ill with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease of the liver prevalent in obese individuals.

Years of problems had gone undiagnosed as doctor after doctor failed to understand what caused her legs to leak clear fluid, her mind to become slow and confused and her body to begin shutting down. When Burnett was finally diagnosed, she was shocked, she said. As her condition grew progressively worse, Burnett developed hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that clouds the brain as the body becomes unable to rid itself of the ammonia it produces through normal eating.

Burnett moved in with her brother, Mark, and mother, Pat in Dalton. By then, she could no longer add, subtract or sign her name, let alone practice law.

After Burnett recovered from her coma at Hamilton, she was able to return home only to be hospitalized again at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga within a week of being released. Burnett said she was sent to Memorial because of her insurance and later went to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta for tests and eventually for a liver transplant in January.

“I had to lose weight to get the surgery,” she said. “From my heaviest to my thinnest, I’ve lost 150 pounds. I’ve gained some of that back. I’m about a hundred pounds lighter than I was.”

Burnett described liver disease as “a silent killer,” explaining the doctor who diagnosed her estimated she’d had problems for 15 to 20 years. Burnett, who has been listed as an organ donor for most of her adult life, said she did not notice anything was wrong until about 2003 or 2004.

Kathleen Tancrede of Tunnel Hill, one of Burnett’s sisters, said Burnett spent the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays as well as her birthday last year in the hospital. Burnett turns 48 on Monday and will celebrate by opening her law office at 217 W. Crawford St. where she plans to be a general practitioner.

“I’ll be doing divorce for sure because I did that for 12 years up in New York,” she said. “I’ve done a lot of bankruptcy in New York, so I’ll probably pick that up.”

Burnett was sworn in before Superior Court Judge Jack Partain on Friday along with law interns Robert Mikell and Kevin Morris, both of whom are completing year-long internships in the superior court system. Burnett has volunteered her time as a clerk at the office since July.

Judge Robert Adams said he has observed “a high standard” in Burnett and that she often took care of problems before he was even aware they were there.

Mark Burnett said seeing his sister be sworn in to practice law in Georgia was like watching a family member get a gold medal in the Olympics. In addition to her brother and sister, her mother, Pat, her father Reg and her stepmother Jean as well as several other family members and friends were all present.

Family members said several community members had donated money to her to help her cover her more than $100,000 in medical bills, and local churches had prayed for Burnett to get better. Burnett said she awoke from her coma at Hamilton on a Sunday shortly after morning church services released.

“There were at least three or four local churches praying for me,” she said. “It just really confirmed my belief (in the power of prayer).”

“I’m just so grateful to the community for all the support that they’ve given me and for the (50-year-old female) donor that she elected when she was alive to be a donor when she died,” she said.

Burnett graduated from Dalton High School in 1981 and was the STAR Student that year in recognition of having the highest SAT score at the school, she said. As a reward, she and other STAR students across Georgia received a tour of the state and were able to briefly meet Jimmy Carter.

Burnett graduated from Georgia State University, changing her major a few times as her interests swung between computer programming, international studies and accounting. Finally, her parents suggested she pursue a career in law.

“I fell absolutely in love with the study of law,” she said. “It absolutely captivated me. The study of law is very elegant.”

Burnett attended law school at Georgia State University for her first year then graduated in 1989 from Albany Law School in New York. She practiced in New York for 12 years and since 2003 in Tennessee.

December Patient of the Month: Patrice Martin

2010-12-03T15:18:00.007-06:00

In 2009, Patrice was diagnosed with chronic renal failure, which also afflicts her father and aunt. Soon after her diagnosis, she began enduring regular dialysis treatments, which take a toll on her quality of life. Doctors have said a kidney transplant is critical to her survival. Although she has not found a donor match yet, several family members and friends are being tested to see if they could donate a kidney to save Patrice's life.

This devoted mother of two is determined to beat this disease so she can spend many more years with her children. Patrice says her children are her motivation to stay positive on a daily basis. After receiving her transplant, she looks forward to going back to work, taking walks and traveling. Because her illness leaves her so exhausted, her activities are greatly limited. More than anything, Patrice is anxious to have energy and resume her normal activities. But she needs your help.

To learn more about Patrice or to make a donation in her honor, please visit her web bio.

Myths and Facts about Bone Marrow Donation

2010-12-02T14:52:00.008-06:00

Every year, more than 10,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases such as leukemia or lymphoma, and their best or only hope of a cure is a transplant from an unrelated donor or cord blood unit. The need for transplants is increasing. Medical advances are making transplants a treatment option for more patients of all ages than ever before.

Below is information from Be the Match to clear up some common myths about bone marrow donation. To learn more about joining the Be the Match bone marrow registry, visit their website.

MYTH: Marrow donation is painful.
FACT: General or regional anesthesia is always used for this procedure. Donors feel no needle injections and no pain during the marrow donation process. Afterward, most donors feel some pain in the lower back for a few days or longer.

MYTH: All marrow donations involve surgery.
FACT: There are two ways to donate. The majority of donations do not involve surgery. The patient’s doctor most commonly requests a peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation, which is non-surgical and outpatient. If the patient’s doctor requests marrow, marrow donation is a surgical procedure, usually outpatient.

MYTH: Pieces of bone are removed from the donor.
FACT: Pieces of bone are not removed from the donor. In marrow donation, only the liquid marrow found inside the bones is collected. In a PBSC donation, cells are collected from the bloodstream in a process similar to donating plasma.

MYTH: Donating marrow is dangerous and weakens the donor.
FACT: Though no medical procedure is without risk, there are rarely any long-term effects from donating. Only five percent or less of a donor’s marrow is needed to save a life. After donation, the body replaces the donated marrow within four to six weeks. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which operates the Be The Match Registry, screens all donors carefully before they donate to ensure they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them. The NMDP also educates donors, answers questions every step of the way, and follows up with donors after donation.

MYTH: Marrow donation involves a lengthy recovery process.
FACT: PBSC donors take the drug filgrastim for five days leading up to donation and may have symptoms such as headache, bone or muscle pain, nausea, insomnia or fatigue during this time. These symptoms nearly always disappear one or two days after donating, and the donor is back to normal. Marrow donors can expect to feel fatigue, some soreness or pressure in their lower back and perhaps some discomfort walking. Marrow donors can expect to be back to work, school and other activities within one to seven days. The average time for all symptoms to disappear is 21 days.

MYTH: Donors have to pay for the donation procedure.
FACT: Donors never pay for donating and are never paid to donate. All medical costs are paid by the patient’s medical insurance or by the patient, sometimes with assistance from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The NMDP, which operates the Be The Match Registry, reimburses donors for travel costs, and may reimburse other costs on a case-by-case basis. Although a donor never pays to donate, many people do pay the tissue-typing cost when they join the registry.

NFT Patients Who Received Transplants in November

2010-12-01T09:26:00.007-06:00

We are so happy for our patients who received their transplants last month, and we wish them all the best during recovery!

Terri deBruin (lung) at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Joe Erickson (heart) at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Dee Hueske (liver) at Memorial Hermann Transplant Center

Sara Medina (kidney) at Methodist Transplant Center

JingLung Situ (heart) at UCLA Medical Center

Robert L. Webb, Sr. (double-lung) at Cleveland Clinic

NFT Christmas Angel

2010-11-29T10:20:00.000-06:00

Transplant patients are dealing with very difficult physical, emotional and financial situations. As you might imagine, the financial burdens associated with transplantation often make celebrating the holidays impossible for families. For the past three years, generous families and groups have reached out to NFT asking if they could play Santa for a transplant patient and their family.

In 2008, NFT patient Wess Holston and his family were overwhelmed by the generosity of an anonymous donor family.

“May God bless the Denver family,” said Katrina, Wess’ wife. “There will be tears of joy this Christmas, not tears of guilt. There are no words to describe how much this means to us, and we thank this family and NFT for their help. Our children are going to have a great Christmas this year.”

If you would like to surprise an NFT patient by supporting them during the holiday season, please contact us at info@transplants.org.

A Country Wedding Fundraiser

2010-11-17T10:46:00.010-06:00

NFT patient Karen Ettinger needs a double-lung transplant to survive. Her twin brother, Kevin, wanted a way to help her raise funds for the lifesaving treatment. He owns a collection of antique wedding dresses and invited people to his home to see the collection, while raising funds in honor of NFT.

They raised nearly $6,000, and the event was such a huge success that they may hold a second one in the spring! A portion of the funds raised came from a raffle in which lucky winners received items such as a christening gown and a gift certificate from designer Alfred Angelo.