January Patient of the Month: Sean Semon

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

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

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

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

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

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.

(Copyright ©2011 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

November Transplant Birthdays

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