Hostess Rise
Board Administrator
Username: Rise
Post Number: 13576
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 - 03:23 pm: | 
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Transplant Foundation of South Florida E-News
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Dear Risa,
Transplant Foundation is asking all transplant recipients to reply with their name, type of transplant, and date of transplantation. Also, share your picture/experience at the clinic, pre or post surgery at the hospital, scars, etc. We would like to post these on upcoming Transplant Foundation newsletters and social media outlets.
Please feel free to ask your friends and family to become part of the Transplant Foundation family by requesting them to sign up to our e newsletter, become a Fan on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.
Chase Community Giving
Calling all Transplant Foundation friends: Chase is hosting an online contest, Chase Community Giving, to give away $20,000 to 200 charities and Transplant Foundation AND Transplant House Foundation are both in the running.
You're part of the Transplant Foundation family, so you know about our mission (patient services, education and funding research). This money would do so much good for the transplant community--help transplant families cover the cost of medicine, housing, transportation and emergency services. But first, we need for you to VOTE. If all of our members vote just once, we will win this funding. Please take a few moments and have a hand in granting us $20,000. There are 6 days left to vote.
You can vote online via Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving. You can only vote once per charity, but thankfully you have two charities to vote for... Let's work together to VOTE, spread the message and win the funding for transplant families and for our transplant community.
Transplant Anniversary: June/July
June 1, 2000, Lauren Quesada, liver transplant at 4 months old.
June 15, 2006, Brian Buckelew, liver transplant at JMH.
June 21, 1995, Rafael Diaz, liver transplant .
June 24, 2000, Gilbert Chediak, liver transplant at JMH 10 years ago when he was 10 months old.
June 29, 2007, Rey Yera, kidney transplant at JMH.
July 2, 2004, Tom Wenes, liver transplant at JMH by Dr. Tzakis.
July 4, 2004, Evelyn Raynshteyn, liver transplant
July 11, 2001, Wendy Brasecker, kidney transplant
July 14, 1997, Barbara Baker, kidney transplant at JMH by Dr. Miller
July 28, 2004, Christy Baralt, kidney transplant
Save the Date
Mixer: Wednesday, July 7 at Archie's
Come join the Transplant Foundation on Wednesday, July 7th from 6-8pm at Archie's in Mary Brickell Village (50 SW 10 St #46 Miami, 33130) and celebrate freedom, fun and the gift of life! $10 RSVP and $15 onsite. Donation includes one complimentary drink. To rsvp email Essence Anthony at eanthony@med.miami.edu or call 305-817-5645.
4th Back to School Bash: Sunday, July 25
Transplant Foundation, the Miami Science Museum and Walgreens have partnered together to offer school supplies to pediatric transplant patients. Sunday, July 25th from 11am-2pm kids can pick up their supplies, eat lunch and explore the Miami Science Museum (3280 South Miami Avenue Miami, Florida 33129).
Florida Marlins Day: Sunday August 8
Transplant Foundation is taking over at the Florida Marlins as a group of volunteers will sell 50/50 raffle tickets and distribute information on organ donation as the Marlins play the Cardinals. Support the cause by signing up to be an organ donor and purchasing raffle tickets.
Transplant Education Forum: Saturday, September 25
The 20th Annual Transplant Education Forum will be held at the Embassy Suites, Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 8am-2:30pm.
The Education Forum is free to Transplant Foundation members and $20 per person for non-members. An early registration fee is available and is $15 per person if made before 9/13/10. Call the foundation today at 305-817-5645 to register.
Miracle Walk/Run: Sunday, November 14
5th Annual Miracle Walk/Run
Miami Metro Zoo
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Back to School Bash
Help Supply a Transplant Child with Yearly School Supplies
Sponsor a child for $100 donation
Transplant Foundation's 4th Annual Back to School Bash is set for Sunday, July 25th at the Miami Science Museum. We are inviting pre and post transplant kids with their families for a day of fun and education at the museum, where they will also pick up backpack full of school supplies.
In the past three years, Transplant Foundation has provided 300 backpacks to pediatric transplant patients, and we are looking to give another 150 backpacks away this year...with your help.
Please consider sponsoring a transplant child. The $100 donation allows us to provide the day at Miami Science Museum with lunch for child/family, and their yearly school supplies. If you are interested, please call Essence at the Transplant Foundation office at 305.817.5645.
Any donation is greatly appreciated and will get us closer toward our goal to give these transplant families a helping hand for the new school year.
Transplant Story
Usually we all have an innate fear of the unknown, but in the case of kidney failure and dialysis, the naiveté and ignorance that accompany every new experience can be helpful in some ways. No one in my family had any knowledge of lupus, kidney failure or dialysis. No one knew about fistulas, overnight dialysis or having tubes sticking out of the soft spot in your shoulder. I walked along this path in oblivious innocence and it allowed me to trust in my doctors without question... putting one foot in front of the other to forge forward on this journey of the unknown.
It was 2005 and I had just returned from a trip to Mexico. The migraines I was experiencing had become more regular and disrupted my social activities, work and even sleep. I thought that a relaxing trip to the white powdery beaches of Cancun, Mexico would help to relieve some stress. Upon my return state-side, the headaches persisted so I finally gave in and went to my doctor. I'm not sure if it was the migraines or the recent travel, but in my doctor's infinite wisdom, he took blood and urine samples. A few days later and with results in-hand, I was rushing myself to the hospital with acronyms to share with the emergency room staff. Apparently ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease) is a powerful password that gives one immediate access past the dreaded waiting room of a hospital. Too bad it doesn't work as well at the hottest nightclubs on South Beach.
When not accompanied by severe pain, a speed-pass into the heart of an emergency room is extremely confusing. Without the stress and pain sensors in your body telling you that this is where you belong, it's hard to understand the depth and seriousness of ESRD. At this point, the only indication of being seriously ill was the countless test-tubes of blood being taken from my arm at regular intervals.
After about 2 weeks in the hospital, the mystery had been uncovered. Lupus had attacked my otherwise very healthy kidneys, causing an acute loss of function. By the end of my stay, I had been fitted with tubes wired straight to my heart with two ends sticking out just below my right collar bone. Likewise, some veins in my left arm had been tied together in the hopes that a 'super-vein - AV fistula' would be harvested in preparation for intravenous dialysis.
The hospital staff was keen on quickly pushing me out the door and into my new world of dialysis treatments. I was stubbornly lethargic in signing my release forms, however, until I received clear indications about which clinic and staff would be expecting me for treatment. Turns out the dialysis clinic was only 2 miles from my house which really helped when I transitioned to overnight Dialysis in order to maintain my employment. I needed to protect my job as the medical insurance it was providing was critical in maintaining my health. I quickly understood how blessed I was to have insurance as I witnessed various fellow patients struggle with mounting bills, stressful conversations with Medicaid and Medicare staff, and the building feeling of hopelessness that battles with the fullest of hearts.
In so many ways, I was one of the lucky ones because my visits to the treatment center were short-lived. After about 7 months I was strong enough to transition to night-time dialysis and at 9 months the testing for a donor match among family members began. The testing quickly stopped as my brother turned out to be the best match. My brother never hesitated at volunteering to be my donor. Being the older sibling, this insurmountable gift came with a deep bitter-sweetness that I struggle with even to this day. My brother's generosity does not go unobserved as I do my best daily to maintain my health and receive my blessings with a humble heart.
I never would have imagined that illness would strike my life in this way. For most of us, our full and busy days leave us with little room to appreciate the health we have - and maybe that's not such a bad thing. This blissfulness is a strength we leverage as we fill our time with wonderful memories and experiences to help us outweigh the fogginess of the unknown. I have re-transitioned into this bliss and am now friendlier with the unknown, albeit with a new-found level of respect at the surprises it may bring.
-Milagros Aspillaga
Sincerely,
Eli Compton
Executive Director
Transplant Foundation, Inc.
Cystic Fibrosis- dx at 2yrs. -2nd double lung tx-05 Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
Dr. Debra Fertel- Transplant Medical Director
CF consultant- Dr. Anas Hadeh, Cleveland Clinic, Weston Florida
Sharing Knowledge is an Invaluable Experience
Transplant Friends.com
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