i_korn's Xanga

Friday, October 30, 2009

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:21:28 GMT

After years of illness, and 3 years on dialysis, Jenna is doing great since her kidney transplant 2 1/2 years ago. Accompanying her to France was great, it left me feeling reassured that she will do fine. There is a posse of mom's there who will keep a silent watch over her and that has given me such peace.

Jenna is enjoying her intensive French classes and exploring the city. I hope she spends every day doing something new!
This photo is one of our last days together. She will be home for Christmas, hopefully with lots of stories to share!

Kidney Cake!

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:12:05 GMT

TWO YEAR KIDNEYVERSARY!

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:08:27 GMT

YAY!! Today is 2 years since Jenna's transplant. She is doing great! I spoke to her donor Patrice and she said if she didn't know Jenna and kept up with her progress, she might have forgotten she had donated, the surgery and recovery was so effortless.
The internet has been a remarkable source of hope and friendship for me the last few years as we dealt with Jenna's kidney failure, dialysis and search for a donor. The website www.ihatedialysis.com was a place I found real answers and encouragement as Jenna lived on dialysis for 3 years. The people there have been wonderful. Our caringbridge.org "cousins" have been a warm caring group of people, taking time out to check on us while dealing with their own challenges. I want to thank the NKF's listserve for all the support and information I got from donors and their experiences. I never would have imagined finding an altruistic donor if I hadn't heard other stories of hope! I also want to mention how grateful our family is for Living Donors Online. I went there looking for information to be a living donor, which sadly was not to be, but the support and friendship has been amazing. Patrice came looking for answers too, and she found Jenna's story. She offered to be tested, came to California from Ohio to donate, and gave Jenna 2 precious gifts, her kidney and her friendship. It still feels like a miracle that it all came together. We know how very lucky we have been.
We will celebrate later - and will make a kidney cake!
Here's a photo of Jenna and me in Dec. Life is good!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:19:41 GMT

Your holiday gift could save lives.

If you’re searching for the perfect gift this holiday season, you may not realize that you have the ability to give something for free that will touch the lives of countless others.

Find out how to become an organ, eye and tissue donor by visiting http://donatelife.net/CommitToDonation/

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:54:41 GMT

I recently wrote an article for KidneyTimes about meeting Patrice, Jenna's kidney donor.
You can read it here The Miracle Continues - thanks Lori Hartwell, for your encouragement.

I also wanted to add that Jenna still wears her necklace from Patrice, she only took it off for the transplant surgery.

Living donors are HEROES!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Tue, 27 May 2008 04:37:16 GMT

As you may remember, last year Jenna's donor Patrice ran the Boston Marathon 3 months to the day after donating her kidney. She came in the top 12%.
Well, she's kept up her training and she just ran the the 25th Annual Traverse City State Bank Bayshore Marathon in Michigan yesterday.
The results are.... FIRST PLACE in Females 45 to 49 -- and 199th overall out of 1280 runners!
What a woman! Congratulations Patrice!!

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:28:25 GMT

Regarding the ABC-TV news program about Organ Donations, if you want to see the whole program it’s shown in 8 segments here http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news&id=6030516
Here’s the video and the story that aired in Cleveland Ohio from Patrice, the donors perspective.: Click on http://www.newsnet5.com/health/15784042/detail.html - Video: Woman Donates Kidney To Teen

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:53:50 GMT

Here is the promo with Jenna and I - Gosh I am emotional! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-7KvgQDWpU

Jenna and I were interviewed for this program

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:18:28 GMT

EYEWITNESS NEWS

Critical need for organ donation in U.S.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | 5:56 PM

'Giving Life: The Story of Organ Donation' airs Saturday, Mar. 22 at 6:30 p.m.

By Phillip Palmer*

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It's hard to believe that it's been over a year since I donated a kidney to a friend of mine, Dale Davis.

Prior to becoming a living donor, I knew the procedure was possible and I knew many people had made the decision I ultimately would make, but there was a lot of mystery for me. There were questions about the disease that had attacked Dale's kidneys and questions about dialysis; and quite frankly, there were questions about how donating a kidney would affect my life.

Because of those questions, and because we thought it important to let our Eyewitness News viewers know where I was going to be, my journey through organ donation became a news story. I can't begin to explain how much it meant to me to know so many of you cared about my health, and about Dale. It also stunned me to see the need that is in our community... There are so many people who are our friends, and our neighbors who suffer in silence; in desperate need, but like Dale, they're uncomfortable asking for help.

On Saturday, we are taking the year anniversary of this amazing journey to re-visit what happened a year ago, while at the same time, shining a light on the critical need for organ donation across the nation, and across the street. Please join us Saturday night, Mar. 22, at 6:30 p.m. for "Giving Life: The Story of Organ Donation."

You will meet some amazing people and I hope you join us.

To register in California as an organ donor, visit Donate Life America (www.donatelife.net)

*Phillip Palmer co-anchors ABC Eyewitness News with Kathy Vara from 5 to 7am Monday through Friday.

For more information:

OneLegacy (www.onelegacy.org)
OneLegacy is the nonprofit, federally designated transplant donor network serving 18 million people in seven Southern California counties.
National Kidney Foundation of Southern California (www.kidneysocal.org)
The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation
National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org)
The National Kidney Foundation seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.
United Network for Organ Sharing (www.unos.org)
A non-profit, scientific and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (www.optn.org)
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is the unified transplant network established by the U.S. Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984.
MySpace page for Dale Davis (www.myspace.com/magicgift)
The MySpace Web page for kidney transplant recipient Dale Davis.
National Donor Memorial (www.donormemorial.org)
The National Donor Memorial located in Richmond, Virginia, pays homage to America's organ and tissue donors--people whose special generosity made new life possible for thousands of children and adults.
Transplant Living (www.transplantliving.org)
To learn more about living organ donation, visit the Transplant Living Web site.
Becoming a living kidney donor (PDF)
A question and answer pamphlet from the UCSF Medical Center Transplant Service.
IHateDialysis.com (www.ihatedialysis.com)
A Web site created by a patient for patients who have the unfortunate fate of having to live on dialysis.
National Transplant Assistance Fund (www.transplantfund.org)
National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF) has been a trusted resource in the transplant community for more than 24 years.
Living Donors Online (www.livingdonorsonline.com)
The online community for living donors, potential donors, their families, and the medical community.
LifeSharers (www.lifesharers.org)
LifeSharers is a non-profit national network of organ donors.
National Kidney Registry (www.kidneyregistry.org)
The mission of the National Kidney Registry is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure.
St. Vincent Medical Center (www.stvincentmedicalcenter.com)
The Multi-Organ Transplant Center at St. Vincent Medical Center performs both cadaveric and living donor kidney transplantation.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (www.csmc.edu)
Information about kidney transplant patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
UCLA Medical Center (www.uclahealth.org)
The UCLA transplant programs have maintained a remarkably cohesive surgical, medical and support staff, which forms an experienced and committed team to face the challenges of organ transplantation.
Renal Support Network http://www.rsnhope.org -- A nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides non-medical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Scripps (www.scripps.org)
As one of the nation's premier health care institutions, Scripps is committed to the highest possible quality of clinical care, medical education and clinical research.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:16:25 GMT

As you may know I am a moderator for a message forum for kidney patients. Over the years I have gotten to know the members quite well. We discuss illness and dialysis, but we also celebrate transplants, babies, pets and jobs -- good things. We had our first annual meeting in Las Vegas in October, and it was incredible to meet people from all over - it felt like a family reunion because we know each other's stories. I never would have imagined how close you can become to people over the internet, but it actually is just another form of community. Sadly though, when dealing with a forum of patients and caregivers, there are going to be losses. As I type this we are waiting for news of our admin, Susie. She is 40 years old and at the end of her life. Dialysis has kept her alive, but it isn't perfect, and due to an infection she is hospitalized and not expected to live through the night. Why am I posting this here? I need to scream, but I am typing instead. I am sad beyond sad. I don't want to let go of her. I spoke to her everyday, more than my own sisters. Selfishly I want her to stay, I will miss her so much. But she's been in pain, and I don't want her to endure anymore.
I will hug my kids and husband tighter today. Life is so fragile. I can't help but think of Jenna's donor, who gave Jenna a chance at a more normal life, free from dialysis. I am so grateful.
If you pray, please say an extra one for Susie. Thanks.

Karol