NFT Patients Who Received Transplants in January

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
  

November Patient of the Month: Kourtney Najjar

Seven-year-old Kourtney has been sick since she was born. When she was only 14 months old, she was diagnosed with neurogenic pseudo obstruction, also known as intestinal failure. As a result of her illness, she has spent more time in the hospital than at home. Doctors say an intestinal/pancreas transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life. Kourtney is on the transplant waiting list at UCLA Medical Center.

Kourtney just wants to enjoy life and be a normal kid. She would like to be healthy enough to visit Disneyland and swim in the ocean. Kourtney looks forward to the lifesaving transplant that will allow her to enjoy time with her family and her service dog, Mikey. But she needs your help.

The cost of an intestinal/pancreas transplant can exceed $1 million. And that's only the beginning. Even with health coverage, Kourtney's family faces significant 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.

To make a donation to NFT in honor of Kourtney, click here. To learn more about NFT and the patients we serve, visit the NFT Web site.

Terri McCrae and Her Fight Against Diabetes

Terri has been battling diabetes since she was just 11 years old. She struggled with the illness for years and even went into a coma for a time when she was in high school. By the time Terri was in her late 20s, her kidney function had declined to the point where she needed dialysis. Once she began dialysis, her diabetes became uncontrollable. After she was found unresponsive in her home, Terri was admitted to a nursing home because she required constant care and observation.

In 1995, she finally received a kidney and pancreas transplant. After a year of rehabilitation, she was able to move into an apartment and regain her independence. Terri was grateful for her new lease on life and graduated from nursing school in 2000. For the next eight years, she worked as a nurse and loved her job very much. However, her diabetes once again became hard to control. She is now unable to work and has been hospitalized four times since January. Doctors say a second pancreas transplant is her only hope.

Despite her struggles, Terri has high hopes for the future, but she needs your help! A pancreas transplant costs approximately $275,000. Sadly, that's only the beginning of the soaring medical expenses. To learn more about Terri or to make a donation to NFT in her honor, please visit Terri McCrae's Web bio.