Celebrating "the Gift of Life"

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UCI Medical Center Liver Transplant Program recently closed.

OneLegacy wants to assure everyone that:

• All transplant candidates deserve the highest quality care throughout the pre- and post-transplant process, and we support any efforts to ensure standards for such care are met at all times.
• We are hopeful that each of the UCI patients will be re-listed at another transplant center as soon as possible. Because donated livers are allocated by region, patients' positions on the waiting list will not be affected by the transfer of patients to other programs. Patients will maintain their priority unless they have a significant change in their medical condition.
• OneLegacy makes all organ offers, including livers, prior to actual organ recovery so that we can then offer these organs to the next recipients and centers on the list. All organs that have been generously donated by families and are medically suitable for transplantation have been and will continue to save the lives of desperately ill people.
• While many of the organs offered to UCI were declined, in all cases the organs were subsequently offered to other programs for their patients, ensuring that the organs given by donors and their families achieved the purpose of saving the lives of people in need.
• OneLegacy is the non-profit, federally-designated OPO serving the seven-county Greater Los Angeles area. Like all 58 OPOs across the country, we serve as the bridge between organ donors and recipients.
• The national organ transplant waiting list is maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), established by the U.S. Congress in 1984.

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Baked Apple & Pear Compote

Granny Smith Says:

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Hugs from Heaven

By G. A. Myers

Here is a question for you. You may be inspired to answer immediately, or you may want to contemplate it awhile. Feel free to take as much time as you need. Are you ready? Have you ever experienced a hug from heaven? Have you ever felt the brush of an angel wing that changed your course, sensed a small voice that sent you on an unplanned mission, or experienced a warm embrace of assurance from an unexpected source? Has a much needed parcel been received just when it could help the most, or has a divine message arrived that filled your drained heart to overflowing with the God's love?

If so, you have most certainly experienced a hug from heaven. And what exactly do these experiences mean? The same thing that God has been trying to tell us since he sent a great big hug from heaven in the form of an infant laying in a manger, surrounded by a proud mom and dad and some very surprised shepherds. Hugs from heaven remind you that you are not alone and that God knows what you need.

So what do you do with these hugs from heaven? Let the warmth of their truth live in your heart every day, not just during Christmas, so that when the cold winds of doubt or fear blow on your life (and they will), you can rest assured that there is a strong and caring hand leading you home.

Oh, and don't be surprised if someday, somewhere, you find yourself delivering a hug from heaven to someone else. You'll probably look just as surprised as the shepherds.

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Taking Care of Everyone

The story of my husband's kidney transplant

By Mary

My Journal

I started this journal five years ago when my husband was waiting for a kidney transplant. Although we were so excited and hopeful, I was still feeling kind of nervous and a little overwhelmed. So, I decided I'd just write down my thoughts, or things that happen.

Everything's fine now, and the journal helped me to put things in perspective by getting my feelings out. I see now how important it is to stay positive and do what the doctors and nurses recommend. And I learned that to take care of others, you've got to take care of yourself, too.

Waiting for a kidney

My husband, John, has kidney disease. He's on dialysis now and we're waiting for a kidney. It's tough. Everybody always asks how John is doing, and that's only fair. He's the one who's really sick. But nobody - well nobody except my sister - has asked how I'm doing. And I'm just as stressed out as he is... maybe more. Because he's exhausted most of the time and I'm running around worrying and trying to take care of everything.

But I found an answer. If I can't find anyone else to talk to, then I talk to Chips the dog. Chips is a good listener. Probably because he knows he'll get a snack afterward.

Sometimes I wish that I were the one who was sick. Then again, I'm glad I'm not. I feel guilty for thinking that I'm glad it's not me.

Ups and downs

Sometimes people get a kidney that is donated by a family member who's in good health and whose blood and tissue are a close match. That isn't the case for us. So we're waiting for a kidney from someone who dies. The hospital explained that hoping for a transplant doesn't mean we're hoping for someone to die. It just means we're hoping that when there's a death, there will be a decision made to donate.

Doing what I can

I've always felt very capable. So when John got sick, I tried to fix everything and make him well. But I finally realized that this is not something I can fix. This is something that just is the way it is. I think the only way someone can deal with this is to realize that it's out of your control. Otherwise, you'll go crazy.

Helping John by helping me

John's condition has really taken over our lives. But I realized I needed to do some thing on my own... to have my own life, too.

So I took up jogging. Well maybe not exactly jogging. More like energetic walking. But it's great - a terrific stress outlet. And I've also taken up ceramics. It's fun and it recharges me just to get away from everything and get something fresh and new into my life.

When the phone rings, we think "Is This It?"

Anytime the phone rings, we wonder if this is it. Especially if it's in the middle of the night - which always turns out to be a wrong number, like somebody trying to order pizza! We try not to think about the phone all the time. We try to just wait for the call to come in its own time.

Sometimes it seems like we're on a string. We're afraid to go anywhere for fear they'll call and we won't get back in time. Before, we used to take little trips, just the two of us. But after John started dialysis, we stopped.

Then last month we decided we have to live life now. John's brother invited us to visit and we said yes. We had our dialysis center make arrangements for dialysis near John's brother's house. And it was a great trip. We both felt excited just going someplace. And the transplant facility took our number so they could reach us if a kidney became available.

Talking about it helps

The transplant center has been very good about giving us advice and information. And they explained how we could get more information online. They also told us about a support group we could go to. Some of the other people in the group where waiting for a transplant, and some have already had the operation. It's nice to talk to others who've gone through this. You don't feel so alone anymore. John and I are glad we went and were encouraged by everyone there.

The kidney is here!

We got the call early one evening. We were both nervous. The operation was long but it went fine and John is in ICU now, sitting up in bed.

The hospital routine

John dozes on and off all day and ends up getting a lot of sleep. The nurses come in about 5:30am to update the charts, the doctors usually come in around 7:00am. I like to be there then with John because four ears listening to the doctor are better than two.

I write down everything

I also decided to write down the doctor's comments so I wouldn't forget or confuse information. And after the doctor's visits, if John has questions - or if I have questions - I write them down so we can ask the doctor or nurse at the next opportunity. Sometimes John is tired, so I have to be the strong one, the one who knows, the one who asks. I'm not used to being this way. So it helps me to have the information written down. Getting answers is very important. Otherwise, we worry. And usually for no good reason. But when we have the facts, both of us feel better.

Back home

John is back at home now recuperating. I took some time off when he was in the hospital, but I'm back at work again now. I feel torn between my job and taking care of John. I feel guilty every morning when I go out the door. On the other hand, he's probably relieved to see me leave - since he must feel I'm a bit of a nag about making sure he takes his medications.

Pills, pills and more pills

He has to take a lot of pills every day - at certain times of the day - and he'll have to take them for the rest of his life. I remind him that any day on pills is better than a day on dialysis. And it's important to take every single one.

To make it easier, we sort them all out at the beginning of the week. We use one large sandwich bag for each day of the week, and then we group the pills inside smaller bags that go inside the large sandwich bag. Each of the smaller bags is labeled with the time of day he is supposed to take those pills. This way, John picks up one sandwich bag each day and he's all set.

The medications are very expensive, so I'm glad the hospital helped us figure out how to pay for them. I can see how some people might be tempted to stop - especially as they start feeling better. But John knows that if he stops taking them, his body will reject the kidney. And that would mean he went through all this for nothing. The doctor also told us the pills can have some side effects.

Just say no to candy bars

John fells stronger every day and he looks good, although his face is getting sort of round and he's starting to put on weight. Puffiness, they say, is a side effect of the medications. Hunger is another - because the medications also increase your appetite. Besides that, John is so happy not to be on the severely restricted diet he had during dialysis that now he wants to eat everything! Since he's home during the day, I put things like apples and grapes and little baggies of cup-up carrots sticks and celery on the top shelf where he'll see them right away. And I really watch what we have for dinner now and what we keep on hand for snacks. John knows he'll have to watch his weight more carefully now.

Couch potatoes no more

Something great has happened. Instead of coming home and sitting on the couch, John and I are exercising together. I feel so much closer to him than when we just would sit there and stare at the TV. I taught John how to "energetically walk," and now we go all around town with Chips running behind us. We talked to the doctor and he said that exercise was a great thing for the health of John's new kidney. John took our old bikes down from the attic and is fixing them up so we can ride when the weather gets warmer.

Coping with Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde

John has always been so even-tempered. But now if he's having a bad day, he's REALLY out-of-sorts and demanding. I know he's tired of being sick. I understand that. But I still feel hurt. They say the people who are the closest get it the most. Sooooo I just take a deep breath and silently count to 10. If that doesn't work, then I just say I need to get a cup of coffee and I'll be back in 20 minutes. Usually, we're both better when I return.

I wasn't prepared for the mood swings

As a result of the steroids he takes, John is incredibly happy one minute - singing and laughing - and the next minute, he's crying. The doctor said this happens to lots of patients, and not to take it personally. Knowing this helped. So, I have to remind myself it's only temporary, and to stay positive like I did before. Bad days and bad times are not permanent.

A true friend laughs at your stories
even when they're not so good.

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Prayer to our Caregivers

By Margaret Cessna

You have the power to donate life.
Please consider giving the "Gift of Life"
Become an organ and/or tissue donor online at Donate Life California

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Understanding Type II Diabetes

From Diabeteslife.com

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Can You See the Angel?

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God's Gift

By Ruth Vincent

 'Tis the season 
We have reason
To be aware of God's gift
The prince of peace 
Gives life new lease
Born to redeem our soul
Let us not be remiss
In celebrating this
And ask for peace on earth
God gives his son
For everyone

Let us rejoice
In the gift he gave to us
We have been told
Since days of old
Peace comes through love and forgiveness

Show family and friends we care
Let not hugs and kisses be rare
In remembrance of why this babe was born
Let us employ
Lots of gifts of love and joy
'Til the day of his return

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Comedian George Lopez to Help Fight Kidney Disease

National Kidney Foundation

The co-creator and star of the hit ABC sit com "George Lopez" and his wife, Ann, have been named national spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Lopez’s wife donated a kidney to him last April. Lopez suffered from a genetic condition that caused his kidneys to deteriorate, and needed the transplant in order to survive. Now he plans to spread the word about the need for early detection of kidney disease and the critical shortage of donated organs for transplantation.

"If laughter is the best medicine, I promise to continue to make you laugh as my wife and I work together with the National Kidney Foundation to save lives," says Lopez.

"One in nine American adults has chronic kidney disease and most don’t even know it," says Fred Brown, the foundation’s Chairman. "We’re committed to reaching those at risk and know that George Lopez’s popularity, humor and personal experience with kidney disease will help us reach out to help more people."

Ann and George Lopez will serve as Honorary Chairmen of the foundation's Kidney Walk Program, a series of nearly 100 walks held every year in cities across the country. He's also looking forward to the Transplant Games, an Olympic-style event for recipients of every type of life-saving organ transplant, to be held in Louisville, Kentucky next June. Lopez will be going for the gold in his favorite sport-golf. More than 2,000 athletes who have received transplants of kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and bone marrow, will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in a dozen events, including track and field, swimming, cycling, racquetball and basketball.

Lopez was recently cited by Time magazine as "one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America." With a population of some 41.3 million, Hispanics now comprise the nation's largest ethnic minority. "Latinos are a group that is at high risk for kidney disease. My wife and I look forward to helping the NKF raise public awareness about the importance of screening and early detection in the fight against kidney disease," says Lopez.

Lopez has been selling Donate Life charity bracelets on his web site to benefit the National Kidney Foundation.

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. For more information, log on to:

• The National Kidney Foundation's Website,
• George Lopez .com,
• or the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California.

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Organ Swap for Kidneys

From Associated Press

"It's quite a gift," said one man of receiving a kidney from a donor in a reciprocal trade.

Kidney transplant specialists have suggested a national organ swap program that they said could be lifesaving for thousands of ailing patients on waiting lists for kidney transplants.

The swap, done at about 30 U.S. hospitals, would involve patients who need transplants and have relatives or friends willing to donate but whose kidneys aren't a match. Each patient-donor pair would be matched with another pair to allow reciprocal transplants.

"It's quite a gift," said Ron Lazar of North Canton, Ohio, who received a kidney transplant at the Cleveland Clinic after his doctors found a couple in the same predicament.

Lazar's wife, Kathy, had the wrong blood type but her kidney was a match for Debbie Pratt, who like Lazar, had life-threatening kidney disease. And Pratt's husband, Gary turned out to be a match for Ron Lazar.

Creating a national "paired kidney exchange" would allow transplants for about half the 6,000 U.S. patients yearly who have a willing donor with incompatible kidneys because of different blood types.

United Organ Transplant Association
Inland Empire Transplant Support Group

Please join us for our Holiday Party

We're having a pot luck party. A-E desserts, F-K main dish, L-N salads & O-Z appetizers. UOTA will provide beverages, plates & utensils, door prizes, good tidings and more!

Meeting Schedule

4:00 to 5:30 pm
The third Sunday of each month
Chino Valley Medical Center - 5451 Walnut Avenue, Chino, California
January 15^th- February 19^th March 19^th 2006
For directions, call (909) 923-7114 or visit the support group page.

The Inland Empire Transplant Support Group offers free group meetings on the third Sunday of each month. All pre and post transplant patients of any organ and their families and friends are invited to attend. Participants gain increased knowledge from guest speakers, printed materials, video presentations and group discussions. Our group meetings provide a safe environment for patients and families to deal with the impact of organ transplant. Come share your needs and experiences.

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.

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Give Thanks and Make a Difference

Please send a Holiday Gift to 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 the valuable services we provide.

All Contributions are Tax Deductible

United Organ Transplant Association
Is a 501(c)3 Public Benefit, Non-Profit, Charitable Corporation
Federal ID#33-0693906
Save this receipt for tax preparation - Amount of contribution $________________

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