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Risa Gans founded TransplantBuddies.com on February 12, 2000, having seen a need for support and communication with many transplant patients throughout the world. As a consequence of cystic Fibrosis, Risa had a double lung transplant January 21, 1996, at Loyola Medical Center, Illinois. She recently received a second, double-lung transplant on July 26, 2005, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida. E-mail .
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Following, alphabetized by first name, are some of our contributors and their families.
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Andrei Mihail lives in Bucharest and is the first (and the only) Romanian citizen to undergo a double lung transplant. (Performed in Vienna at AKH Wien on 22 August, 2001.) Andrei is a frequent contributor to TransplantBuddies.org, advocates organ donation and transplantation on the media in Romania, and has developed several websites. He married Simona on November 17, 2005. Andy now serves as youth pastor at the Grace Church in Bucharest.
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My name is Angie White, and I'm a college student from Michigan. My mom had end stage renal failure, and I was lucky enough to be a match, and a kidney donor for her. I had the hand-assist laparoscopic procedure on January 2, 2002. Donating to my mom was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, and I would love to talk with anyone heading down the same path. Feel free to email questions or concerns to me, and I will gladly help out in any way I can. God Bless! (Angie is co-director of the Living Organ Donors Forum on this site.) E-Mail .
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Bradley Thomas Moore, born 8/30/88
Donated Gifts of Life to Eight Others 3/26/02 |
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His mom, Melinda Sue, nicknamed Chuck, “My Sunshine” because that's what he was. "He my very own ray of sunshine that the Lord sent to me for a while. He was an amazing young man whose life was shortened by Cystic Fibrosis. You can visit his website; please take time to sign his guest book. It makes me feel as though My Sunshine is right here with me again, right by my side! God Bless You All!"
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Dave is Director of our Prayer and Inspiration Board.
His wife Lil received a kidney 2/22/98 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Her donor was 15 year old girl, Holly; Dave and Lil continue to communicate with her mom, who made a webpage at In Memory Of Holly Lea Nelson
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Donald Wong is director of the TransplantBuddies "Heart and Lung Transplant Forum". Don received a pacemaker November, 1993, a Left Ventricular Assist Device implant February, 1995, and a heart transplant July, 1996 at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York City. This picture page was originally Don's idea.
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Dottie received a lung transplant in October of 1994. She's a strong believer in the benefits of exercise and nutrition for a healthy lifestyle.
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Gloria donated a kidney to her brother in August of 2000. Although she lives in Pennsylvania, the surgery was done at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, her home town.
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Harvey received a kidney transplant 9/30/99, at the age of 61, having had cancer in the left kidney and chronic kidney disease in my right kidney. After a threat from Lymphoproliferative disease, his meds were changed and the kidney functions well. He participated in the 2000 US Games, 2001 World Games in Kobe, Japan and the 2002 US Games in Orlando. He is a solid believer in healthy eating and exercise to help keep the body healthy. E-Mail .
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I am Howard W. Smith. The 'W' stands for 'waiting.' as I await an acceptable
living donor or for my name to reach the top of the UNOS list. I live in
Hawaii..
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Jan received a living-donor kidney transplant on May 10, 2000 at Rochester Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota. Her son, Michael, was her donor. She is a mentor on the Kidney/Pancreas Forum. E-Mail .
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I’m Joanne Giglia, 31 years old, and I live in Jacksonville, Fl. I received my kidney/pancreas transplant on 08/31/04 at Mayo Clinic/St. Luke’s Hospital; after having Type 1 diabetes since the age of two. I feel great! I’ve had no complications or rejections to this point. I plan to finish nursing school, and then work with transplant patients and diabetics. Thank you to all the donors and the families who make the selfless decision to give people this second chance!
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My name is Jodi Phelan, I donated half of my liver to my daughter Mckayla January 5,2004. It was so awesome to be able to do that, to cure the Citrullinemia that was tearing down her body. For once in 6 years I didn't feel helpless anymore! E-Mail , McKayla's mom.
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Joe Keller was born on June 1, 1980. Joe died August 21, 1994, when he attempted to save a friend from drowning in a low-head dam on the Conewago Creek, in Dover, PA. He donated the gift of life to 4 people. He donated his heart to a retired nurse in Southern New York state, his one kidney to a teacher in the Philadelphia area, his other kidney to a clerk in the Central Pennsylvania area, and his liver to a Veteran in the Pittsburg area. His lungs were used for research. As a family it has been a blessing to know that Joe lives on by helping transplant recipients to live a longer healthier life. E-Mail , Joe's mom.
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J T Rhodes received a kidney transplant in 1992 and a bone tissue transplant in 1994. Three of his five sisters have also received transplants due to Polycystic kidney disease.
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Kathryn Flynn and daughter Sarah. Kathryn received a double lung transplant on March 25, 1996 at Duke University Medical Center. She works with hearing-impaired students and is the current President of Second Wind Lung Transplant Association.
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Kyle Curry and his mother, Shawn. Kyle had a living unrelated donor liver transplant 12/19/00 at the age of 15 months. The transplant was performed at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta, correcting liver failure due to Biliary Atresia. Their website is found at The Curry Family
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Max McLeod drowned in March of 2000. His donated organs helped three other individuals survive. Max will be deeply loved and missed by his family.
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Marichi "MiMi" Turner, a 23 year old Cystic Fibrosis patient, was preparing for a lung transplant in the near future by focusing on research, nutrition and exercise. She was a mentor on the this website for many years, before her death in the fall of 2003.
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Marisa McFate had a liver transplant in 1988 due to Biliary Atresia. Her webpage is Marisa's Miracle.
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Susy received a double lung transplant on November 23, 1999.
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Steve Ferkau lives in Chicago with his wife, Laura. Steve has cystic fibrosis and was transplanted four days before his 40th birthday in April, 2000. He established direct contact with his donor family a few years after his transplant. His donor was a beautiful 17-year-old girl from Iowa named Kari. Kari was healthy, but twice in the month before she passed she let her family know she felt strongly about organ donation. Steve now participates in building climbs like the Hustle up the Hancock with his team, "Kari's Klimbers". Steve regularly speaks for Gift of Hope ( Illinois) promoting organ donation. He maintains a tribute to Kari at: www.ClimbingForKari.org |
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Sylvia is a Cystic Fibrosis patient, and she received a double lung transplant at Jackson Memorial Hospital January of 2006. Her husband Bob is with her in this photo. |
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Tasha Knobel received a kidney transplant 12/10/99.
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Todd was born with Transposition of the 2 Great Arteries and had three open heart corrective surgeries by the age of 4. With these medical miracles, medication and the unparalleled care his doctors, Todd's own heart lasted until shortly after his 33rd birthday. At that point he received the most the most precious gift, a heart transplant. This allows Todd to spend more quality time with his wife and their 3 kids. Todd says that his wife "is truly my angel!"
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Vicki is a 33 year-old CF patient awaiting a double lung transplant at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She is married to Dan, and they share an 18 month-old son, Samuel and a 3 year-old pug named Pudge.
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Zachary Renwick, son of Jodi, received a liver transplant 08/27/01.
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