What Are Your Plans For the Holidays?

From Hugs from Heaven by G. A. Myers

There is one question that you will both ask and answer a multitude of times during the holidays. You'll hear it from friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors, and everyone who asks will genuinely want to know the answer. Perhaps more than any other question you'll hear in the months ahead is, "What are your plans for the holidays?" And the astonishing thing is that you will probably be able to answer the question with amazing detail, and those you ask will be able to do the same - even if Christmas is still some time away. There seems to be no other time when we plan our activities so carefully, prepare for events so competently, or chart our lives so completely. Go ahead, mark your calendar, make a detailed list, prepare for the parties, plan out the menus, and send out the invitations. But this year, add a note on your calendar that says: "Leave room for God's plans".

The most rewarding experiences of our lives can come during the holidays when we free our schedules and open our eyes to the unexpected surprises of a loving God. You might be on the way to the grocery store when you meet a hungry soul or on your way to visit a neighbor when you run into a lonely heart. You may go to a party and encounter a stranger who desperately needs a word of encouragement. These divine moments cannot be planned or charted; they just happen. And you don't want to miss a single one, because these unplanned encounters may just change history.

God planned it that way.

The Reason for the Season

Celebrating the "Gift of Life"

If we missed your anniversary, please e-mail, write or phone The United Organ Transplant Association. 2738 S. Cucamonga Ave. Ontario, CA (909) 923-7114 dmorgan@UOTA.org

The Basics of Hepatitis

From Health Central Newsletter

The liver, located in the upper right side of the abdomen, acts as a filter to remove toxins and waste products from the body and stores nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and iron. It also plays a role in managing levels of certain chemicals in the body, such as cholesterol, hormones, and sugars.

The liver produces bile, stored in the gallbladder, which helps digest food and break down toxins. Other important functions of the liver include processing hemoglobin and producing blood-clotting factors.

The liver can be damaged by a number of factors, including excessive alcohol intake, genetic liver disorders, or infections like hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus attacks cells found in the liver called hepatocytes.

When the body attempts to fight the virus, it sends leukocytes (a type of white blood cell) to the liver, which results in inflammation. This starts a chain of events in which fluid leaks out of the blood vessels and accumulates in the liver, causing swelling. Over time, this process, and the chemicals released by the leukocytes, can damage the liver cells.

When the liver cells are damaged, they cannot function well and die. Some of the cells may grow back, but if injury is severe, scar tissue will form. Scar tissue on the liver, called fibrosis, slows down the liver's ability to circulate blood and remove toxins.

This hardened scar tissue can replace large amounts of normal liver tissue. This condition, called cirrhosis, seriously impairs the liver's ability to function. As a result, blood that cannot pass freely through the liver may back up into the spleen. In addition, the liver may not be able to produce enough bile to process nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, and most fats.

There are some important steps you can take to keep your liver cells as healthy as possible:

• Avoid alcohol. When you drink alcohol, the liver treats it as a toxic substance and works to filter it out. Alcohol significantly increases damage to the liver.
• Eat healthy foods. When the liver is damaged, your body may not get all the nutrients it needs, and you may feel weak or tired. You may also lose your appetite. It is important, therefore, to meet your daily nutritional needs so you can maintain your weight and energy levels.
• Drink plenty of water. Water is a vital substance for all of the body's functions. It helps to remove toxins and process important nutrients. If you are being treated for hepatitis C with interferon-based therapy, it is especially important to drink extra fluids to help reduce side effects.
• Reduce salt in your diet. When liver disease is severe, signals are sent to the kidneys that cause them to retain both salt and water. The salt acts like a sponge, causing fluid to build up in the body. A low-sodium diet can help reduce fluid buildup.

A Strong Caregiver is A Caregiver of Strength

A strong caregiver exercises every day to keep their body in shape ... but a caregiver of strength builds relationships to keep their soul in shape.

• A strong caregiver is not afraid of anything ... but a caregiver of strength shows courage in the midst of their fear.
• A strong caregiver won't let anyone get the best of them ... but a caregiver of strength gives the best of themselves to everyone.
• A strong caregiver makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future ... but a caregiver of strength realizes that life's mistakes can also be unexpected blessings and capitalizes on them.
• A strong caregiver wears the look of confidence on their face ... but a caregiver of strength wears grace.
• A strong caregiver has faith that they are strong enough for the journey ... but a caregiver of strength has faith that it is through the journey that they will become strong.

How to Stay Young

From Valley News for Seniors

1. Disregard all nonessential numbers. These include age, height and your golf score.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably family members that fill the need.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain be idle.
4. Enjoy the simple things. Remember when you were young, that's all you could afford. When you were in college, that's all you could afford. When you're living on retirement, that's all you can afford!
5. Laugh often, long and hard. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked anywhere by your distinct laughter.
6. Tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Use the good china, have yourself a "good enough for company" meal, wear our favorite outfit, make or buy a bouquet for yourself. Stop saving your favorite things for occasions that may never come.
10. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country, but forget the guilt trips.

And always, at every opportunity, tell the people you love that you love them.

Facing the Future

Every journey begins 
with but a small step.
And every day is a chance 
for a new, small step
In the right direction.
Just follow your heartsong

Mattie Stepanek

What Is Happening To Medicare?

By HICAP Counselor

Whether you have assigned your Medicare to an HMO or have Medicare with a supplemental insurance policy, you are noticing the changes.

These are some of the changes for 2005:

Part A - Hospital Coverage

In-patient Hospital Deductible:

$912.00/ea stay

Skilled Nursing Facility Co-Pay:

21st through 100th day, $114.00/per day

Part B - Premiums and Deductibles

Monthly Premium:

$78.20

Annual Deductible:

$110/per year

Those of you in Medicare contracting HMO's may not be affected by these changes.. You will have to check your individual plan for details. Most HMO's do not cover brand name drugs, only generics. For more information call HICAP 1 (800) 434-0222

United Organ Transplant Association
Inland Empire Transplant Support Group

Support groups play an important role in empowering patients, their family and friends. The Inland Empire Transplant Support Group offers free group meetings once a month. Meetings provide a place for pre and post transplant patients (all organs), their caregivers, family and friends to meet and share their needs and experiences. Participants gain increased knowledge from guest speakers, printed materials, and Video presentations, on topics such as nutrition, diet, exercise, stress management, medication interactions, and a host of other topics relevant to the transplant community. All pre and post transplant patients of any organ and their families and friends are invited to attend.

Meeting Schedule

Sunday 4:00 to 5:30 pm
January -30th, February -27th, - March - 20th, 2005
For directions, call (909) 923-7114 or visit our website www.uota.org

Notice of Disclaimer- The United Organ Transplant Association, and the Inland Empire Transplant support group, their volunteer staff and sponsors do not engage in the practice of medicine and under no circumstances recommends a particular treatment for any illness, what-so-ever, and in all cases recommends that you consult with your physician and health care professionals before pursuing any course of treatment.

What is a Heartsong?

Mattie Stepanek, Poet, Peace Advocate & MDA National Goodwill Ambassador, recently passed away from complications of muscular dystrophy at age 13, he had been on a ventilator and in a motorized wheelchair most of his life. He has written poetry since he was 3 years old. "I write to express my thoughts and feelings," he explained. "Your Heartsong is your inner beauty," said Mattie. "It's the song in your heart that wants you to help make yourself a better person and to help other people do the same. Everybody has one."

Emotional Energy Crisis

From Oprah Magazine by Annie Gottlieb

Call it a personal energy crisis. You feel like you're running on empty, stretched thin, stressed out and drained.

Sound familiar? It's an epidemic as described by psychologist Mira Kitshenbaum's new book, The Emotional Energy Factor. "Why do I feel so blah?" is a common complaint. But some people seem to always be singing, hoping and dreaming. The person that cheers everyone around them and turns ideas into realities, not purely through talent or self-confidence but simply because their energy is stronger than any discouragement they encounter.

So where's the pump for this kind of fuel? Not in the gym or the health food store says Kirshenbaum. Yes, you need to get enough sleep, water, nutrients, and exercise. Fully 70 percent of our total energy is emotional - the kind of energy that manifests as hope, resilience, passion, fun, and enthusiasm.

The secret of high-energy, high voltage people is not that they have all the lucky genes or a happy childhood - but they invariably make it a priority to protect and replenish their emotional energy. The good news is that anyone can develop this skill. Learn to recognize what drains your energy - and take steps to avoid or minimize it. Second, you identify what fills your tank - pleasure, prayer, novelty, anticipation, fun - and give yourself more.

Making a Doctor Visit Count

National Health Council

Medical studies indicate most people suffer a 68% hearing loss when naked. When we visit the doctor we are understandably nervous and can easily not comprehend what the doctor is telling us, or once we are home from the doctor appointment, we can't remember everything that we were told.

To get the most out of a visit to the doctor's office:

• Take a friend, someone who will help you remember important information.
• Keep a medical journal, write down information you want to remember right there on the spot.
• Keep a medications list with you at all times, showing all the medications, dosages, and times per day that you take each medication. Give this list to your doctor to review each and every time.
• Educate yourself. Seek trustworthy information about particular illnesses or conditions that affect you.
• Be up-front. Tell your doctors everything, or they might miss something important.

You have to ask in order to receive. If you want answers, you have to ask questions.

Coping With Acid Reflux

From Glaxo Pharmaceuticals

If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from heartburn, the most common symptom of acid reflux, there are things you can do to improve your health and enhance the quality of life.

• Avoid spicy, acidic tomato-based, or fatty foods like chocolate, citrus fruits and fruit juices.
• Limit your intake of coffee, tea, alcohol and colas.
• Watch your weight. (being overweight increases intra-abdominal pressure, which can aggravate reflux.
• Don't gorge yourself at mealtime. Eat moderate amounts of food.
• Don't exercise too soon after eating.
• Avoid bedtime snacks and eat meals at least 3 to 4 hours before bed.
• Stop smoking.
• Elevate the head of your bed with blocks.
• See your physician if you are taking antacids 3 or more times a week.

What is MELD

From UNOS

What is MELD? How is it used?

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a numerical scale, ranging from 6 (less ill) to 40 (gravely ill), that is used for adult liver transplant candidates. It gives each individual a "score" (number) based on how urgently he or she needs a liver transplant within the next three months. The number is calculated by a formula using three routine lab tests results:

• Bilirubin, which measures how effectively the liver excretes bile INR (prothrombin time), which measures the liver's ability to make blood clotting factors
• Creatinine, which measures kidney function. (Impaired kidney function is often associated with severe liver disease.)

The MELD score replaced the previous Status 2A, 2B and 3 categories. The status 1 category (patients who have acute liver failure and a life expectancy of less than 7 days without a transplant) remains in place as the highest priority for receiving an organ and is not affected by the MELD system.

A patient's score may go up or down over time depending on the status of his or her liver disease. Many patients will have their MELD score assessed many times while they are on the waiting list. This will help ensure that donated livers go to the patients in greatest need at that moment.

What is PELD? How does it differ from MELD?

Candidates under the age of 18 are placed in categories according to the Pediatric End-state Liver Disease (PELD) scoring system.

PELD is similar to MELD but uses some different criteria to recognize the specific growth and development needs of children. PELD scores may also range higher or lower than the range of MELD scores. The measures used are as follows:

• Bilirubin, which measures how effectively the liver excretes bile.
• INR (prothrombin time), which measures the liver's ability to make blood clotting factors
• Albumin, which measures the liver's ability to maintain nutrition
• Growth failure
• Whether the child is less than one year old.

What led to the MELD/PELD system?

Patients needing liver transplants had been grouped into four medical urgency categories. The categories were based on a scoring system that included some laboratory test results (such as bilirubin, INR and albumin) and some symptoms of liver disease (such as ascites and encephalopathy).

One concern with using symptoms in scoring is that different doctors might interpret the severity of those symptoms in different ways. In addition, this scoring system could not easily identify which patients had more severe liver disease and were in greater need of a transplant.

Research showed that the MELD formula very accurately predicts most liver patients' short-term risk of death without a transplant. The accuracy of the formula did not improve when other factors were added, such as the cause of liver failure or observed symptoms. The MELD and PELD formulas are simple, objective and verifiable, and yield consistent results whenever the score is calculated.

You Can Make a Difference

Help transplant patients, their caregivers and families. Our organization provides educational, emotional and financial support, cash grants, support group meetings, donor awareness programs and this newsletter. Your generosity truly makes a difference to those in need of these valuable services. Any size gift is greatly apprciated.

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