November 29, 2009
We are extra thankful
this week because Tim Goodrich was transplanted on
November 12th. His wife Susanna has been attending
the support group meetings for the last several
months, although Tim hasn't been able to. Tim has
been released from the hospital, so he must be doing
very well. Congratulations to you both.
Marge Hahn
October 6, 2009
We are happy to share
some good news with all of you. Nancy Rosenblatt received her transplant
on Sunday morning, October 4th. Her husband, Stan says that
she is in Room 410 (ICU) but that she is doing well.
Let us remember that
there are many good things happening at Mayo.
Congratulations, Nancy
to you and your family.
Marge Hahn
September 26, 2009
Some Good
News:
We’re happy to report that Russell Peterman received a
liver transplant on Sept. 9th and is doing very well.
Wife Tommy has been attending the Support Group meetings for several
months. We wish you both well.
July 29, 2009
Message from Marge Hahn:
Congratulations to Bob DeJong who received his transplant this
morning, July 27th. Bob and his wife Betty have been waiting
for quite a while. Just when you feel it is never going to
happen, the call comes. Betty says that Bob is doing well. We
are so happy for Bob and his family.
Just a
reminder:
This Thursday, July 30th, we will have a night out with
our support group friends at Seven Bridges Restaurant at 6:00.
Call Marge Hahn if you haven't already told Steve or Kristin
that you are attending.
July 6, 2009
The Fourth of July
fanfare has passed, but we have reason to keep on celebrating!
Two
of our support group members received transplants this weekend. The
Hortons, Carolyn and son Jonathan, are happy to share their good news,
that Ed got his transplant Sunday evening, July 5th. Everything went
well and he is in room 327.
Early
this morning we had a second friend transplanted. Annette Zimmerman
received a liver and a kidney.
Bill reports that she
is doing well and all the new "plumbing is working". Annette is in room
308.
Congratulations
to both of these group members and their families.
June 5, 2009
Message from
Steve Binder
Announcing the Second Chance Support Group
Facebook
page.
If you're on Facebook,
or would like to join, the
Second Chance group now has its own group page. The group is
open to anyone who has either had or is currently waiting for a liver,
kidney, or
pancreas transplant at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Caregivers,
friends, and family members are also welcome. You may ask questions,
post comments or updates, or announce upcoming events. We do ask that
you keep all comments or questions related to transplant issues and
respect each others’ privacy. As we say at the group meetings, what we
discuss in the group stays in the group. For that reason, our Facebook
group is a closed group so that people who are not members do not have
access to the group’s pages. It is totally private to the group’s
members.
Because the group is private, you can post personal updates or post
questions that will only be seen by our group members. You may also
post photos of group members and group events.
Since so many of us are scattered across the country (and beyond), I
think will be a great way for us to stay in touch.
If you’d like to join, please
logon to Facebook and
search for “Second Chance Support Group of Jacksonville .” On the group
page, click on “Request to Join Group.” If you have any questions or
are unable to join the group, please contact me at
stevenfla@comcast.net.
Thanks and hope to see you on
Facebook!
Steven Binder
May 9, 2009
Well, things are really busy in the
Liver Transplant community. Deb
Wolf, of our support group, received "The Call" and had her transplant on
May 7th. Deb is in room #319, next door to Tom Hill who was moved recently
from ICU.
Deb looks wonderful and has been up and walking. Deb
and her daughter are planning to move to Jacksonville permanently so if any
of you that live here in Jacksonville have any furniture or
household items that you could donate, they would be appreciated.
Tom Hill continues to do amazingly well and expects
to be released the first part of next week.
We are so happy for these new transplant folks.
Marge
May 2, 2009
Just when you think that things are at a lull, we
discover that that's not the case.
Last Saturday, April 25th, Laura Knickelbein, a
young lady from
Brooksville, Florida received her new liver. Laura and her
mother, Diane, have been attending the Support Group meetings for
several months. Congratulations, Laura!
Tom Hill, another member of our support group,
moved here last November (temporarily) from
Arcadia, Florida. He got his transplant yesterday, May 1st, and
is currently in ICU. When we stopped by to see Tom this morning
(Saturday), he was in his chair recuperating. Those Mayo folks don't let
you stay in bed very long. Congatulations to Tom also!
Marge Hahn
April 22, 2009
It's always a pleasure to share good news with the
transplant group when one of our members gets "the call". In this case, we
have word from Stamer and Donna that Stamer, Jr. has gotten his new liver
and is resting comfortably in ICU. The operation was this afternoon
(Sunday), and all went well. Congradulations to the Geminden
family, who have been waiting patiently for this day.
The "what about..." shirt strikes again!
Marge
April 5, 2009
With the arrival of Spring, more good news for
our transplant group: Susan Dichkewich received her Call" Sarurday night
and is currently resting comfortably with her new liver. She was
transplanted at 3:30 this morning (Sunday
5-5-09).
Susan's mother and father, Jean and David, and her
daughter Sarah (11 years old) drove up from
West Palm Beach yesterday to spend
Spring Break with Susan. The family had a two hour visit,
when she got "the call". How's that for timing!!! Her Son, Joshua, a
graduating student at UCF in Orlando, got here to see his mother before
she went into surgery.
Jean reported at
9:00 this morning that Susan would be going to ICU for a while
and later to Room 327.
Congratulations to Susan and her family from her
Jacksonville
Support Group Family.
March 20, 2009
Hi, Everyone,
It has been awhile since our last
communication. The following are newsworthy items for your
information.
Mark
your calendars!!
Informational Support
Group Meeting
Wed., April 8: Speaker will be Jane Hern. (Mayo Bldg., 3rd
floor, Rm. 002N at 11 am
Liver
Transplant AMG Study
A study is being conducted by doctors
at the
University of Iowa to assess patients who have had
liver transplants
and have age-related
macular degeneration (AMD). See attachment for additional
information.
Best wishes for good health to all.
Marilyn Bryce-Schanhals
Second Chance Support Group
February 24, 2009
Hello everyone.
For those of you I have not met, I am Phyllis' son,
Dennis. I am sending this to everyone that received Phyllis' email
regarding Don's progress as of last week. As you are all well aware, Don
and Phyllis have been through quite an ordeal. Thankfully, things seem to
be slowly improving since Don's second transplant three weeks ago. He's
still in the hospital, and has a long way to go, but hopefully he will be
discharged in the coming days.
While our hopes and prayers ask for a positive
outcome with his second transplant, it is clear that Don and my Mom
will have to remain in Jacksonville much longer than was hoped, and
likely several more months at the least, while the exceptional
doctors at the Mayo
Clinic work to get Don back on his feet.
Fourteen months away from home (and counting), coupled with COBRA
medical insurance premiums, a long list of prescription medication
co-pays, and other living expenses, have taken their financial toll. To
help offset these sizable ongoing costs related to the transplant,
several of Mom's and Don's friends, along with my brother, Dan, and I
are initiating another wave of fundraising efforts. A fundraising
campaign has been set up in Don's honor through the National Transplant
Assistance Fund (NTAF) for his uninsured medical expenses. The NTAF is
a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, and donations through the NTAF
are tax-deductible. For those of you who are able and would like to
contribute to this fund, your generosity is greatly appreciated and will
go a long way in helping my parents overcome this difficult challenge.
To contribute online, please go to the following link and click on
"contribute now":
http://www.transplantfund.org/restricted/patient-detail.cfm?pat_id=2503
If the direct link to Don's page doesn't work, go to www.transplantfund.org and
enter "chretien" in the "find a patient website" box.
To contribute by check, please make check payable to "NTAF Northeast
Liver Transplant Fund".
Also, please write in the memo section of check: "In Honor of Don
Chretien"
Please send to:
National Transplant Assistance Fund
150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120
Radnor, PA 19087
If you have any questions or would like more information, I hope to hear
from you. You can also contact the NTAF directly at www.transplantfund.org with
questions you may have. I have also attached the formal, more complete
fundraising letter (dated just prior to Don's second transplant) to this
email for your reference.
I sincerely appreciate any and all contributions -- especially given the
current economic climate. Please feel no obligations whatsoever. If
you have fund raising
ideas, please let me know, and please feel free to forward this
email and letter as you feel appropriate.
All the best,
-Dennis
Dennis Wassung
617-943-9857 (c)
Hello Everyone,
Today is finally a good day! I'm hoping it continues.
As you know, Don has had a very difficult time. He has been unable
to eat or drink for weeks. Yesterday, the feeding tube was removed
and he has been tolerating liquids. Now he has to eat or the feeding
tube will be put back in (he doesn't want that). He had a milkshake
this morning & soup, pudding & a piece of toast for lunch (so far so
good). He has alot of fluid retention making it very hard for him to
stand or walk, which he needs to be doing. His kidney function is
stable so they have started to give him lasix to help get rid of the
fluid. He is still having alot of abdominal pain (not sure why),
although the liver numbers are going in the right direction.
I'm hoping for an even better day tomorrow.
Thank you all again for your thoughts & prayers.
Love,
Phyllis
February 6, 2009
We have some good news today. Holly
Craig got her transplant early this morning. Her Dad, Ricky Murphy,
told me that she is doing well and is back in her room, #324. Her
Husband, two young children, her Grandparents, and other family
members are here to give her the support she needs for a quick recovery.
Our
Congratulations to Holly and her family!!!!!
A
recent transplant, Pat Morgan, is heading back home to
Winchester , VA now that her doctor has given his O.K.
Good Luck to you Pat and your wonderful
caregiver, Jim.
February 1, 2009
As many of our group members are aware, Don
Chretian has had some complications since his
liver transplant on November 24th of last year. His condition
over the last couple of weeks prompted Mayo doctors to re-list Don for a
second transplant last Monday. Since then, he has been waiting in ICU,
while Phyllis and family, and his friends have waited and hoped that a
liver would be available soon.
Last night (Saturday) the word arrived that
a liver had become available and he was given a 3:00 AM soft time.
The surgery was completed this morning, and Don is
back in ICU for recuperation as of 1:00
PM, Sunday.
Phyllis says "Thank You" everyone for your concern
and your prayers.
January 12, 2009
2009 has begun with a Bang!! To start off the new year, Richard
Friend's wait finally ended. He was the first
Mayo
liver transplant of 2009. Richard has
already been released from the hospital and
continues to do well. Good Show, Richard and
Jean!!!
Next, it was Pat Morgan's turn. She was the
second in our group to be transplanted in 2009,
and she is also doing well. You can find Pat
and Jim in Room 303. Way To Go, Pat!!!
Then
on Thursday, after the support group
meeting, which Kaye and Gary attended, Kaye
Perry got "The Call". The third time was the
charm and Kaye got her transplant
on Friday morning. Congratulations
Kaye!!! Kaye is already disconnected from the
IV pole and roaming the halls. Her room number
is 306.
The Thursday support group meeting was
full to capacity. It was nice getting
together again after the two week
holiday. There were many friends who
have returned for check-ups (and to get
away from the cold). Samantha Amason is
home from Ol' Miss on school break.
It's good to have the Pangans back from
the Cold North and among us once again,
and we were glad to see Paul Chenier
recovering so well, thanks to wife and
caregiver Lynda. There were some new
faces in the group and we look forward
to becoming acquainted in the next few
weeks.
On Saturday, about thirty of us
got together for lunch at
Bill Murray's "Caddy Shack"
Restaurant at the World Golf
Village. Some of the group brought
friends and two children came with their
parents (Nancy Rosenblatt and Liz
Kirkwood). It's nice to have the kids
there. And we finally found our old
buddy Sid, returned from Miami. Susan
Dichkewich also attended, and informed
us that she is being evaluated and
expects to soon be listed. Many of the
group saved room for the great desserts,
strawberry shortcake and sloppy
sundaes. It was a beautiful day and a
great time spent with friends.
A special "thank you" was given by Dr.
Pangan and the Group to Marilyn Bryce-Schanhals in
recognition of her efforts to keep us
all listed and informed. We all realize
that this is quite a job, and she does
it so well. Atta-girl, Marilyn!!
|
