Hello; this page is dedicated to my husband and to the many persons who have either had an organ transplant or who are waiting to receive one, to their families, and to their friends...

I want to use this space to provide organ recipients and their families with a place where they can tell their stories... or, if they have a homepage already dedicated to sharing this experience, to provide a place to link to it... so that all of our stories can be shared. There are many people who are waiting for a transplant. I know, from experience, that the waiting is very hard. No one can adequately prepare an individual for the experience... or prepare their families and friends for it. Some of these stories will be full of success. Some people won't have any significant problems on the way to recovery. It may even seem like the experience was easy. But many of the stories will include difficult times; struggles that are life-threatening. And, I won't refuse to pass along any stories that end in trajedy. That is because organ transplantation is not a guarantee of full recovery; the lives of the recipient and his or her family are changed, often radically; and making it (surviving) until the surgery, through the sugery, and home from the hospital are, in some ways, the "easy part."

Most importantly, though, the personal stories, comments, opinions, and feelings which any transplant recipient, or recipient's family members/friends, choose to share will come from their hearts... I hope that any visitors who are not, themselves, experiencing the impact of organ transplant on their lives will understand the importance of organ donation better after meeting some of the people whose lives have been changed by this. I hope that persons who are waiting for their transplant, and their families, will be helped by reading other's stories and by having the chance to talk about what they are going through. And I hope that persons who have received their transplants will be helped in their recovery, and in the rebuilding of their lives, by the opportunity to talk and to "network" with others.

On these pages, persons who know about transplantation are invited to participate, by sharing their experiences; passing on advice or referral to information sources which are of help or interest to them; offering their own E-mail addresses for communication purposes; asking questions, which can/will be answered by anyone who chooses to offer advice; or simply expressing their hopes, fears, frustrations, or inspirations... or any combinations of the above! Eventually, I would like to see some form of on-line "support group" develop from this.

This is a good Website for general information about organ transplants:

http://www.transweb.org/

The following book was written by Scott McCartney, a well-respected journalist who has written for The Wall Street Journal, won a Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association & a Special Citation from the Associated Press Managing Editors for a series of articles on guardianship of the elderly, & twice been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, among other things. His sister-in-law had a liver, kidney, & pancres transplant. He did extensive research at Baylor Medical Center, which provided the basis for a book about transplantation. The book is excellent; well-written, not too technical yet very thorough & informative. Some medical advances probably have occured since its printing in 1994, but the majority of the information is, I'm sure, very relavant. This is the infromation that you would need if you want to locate this book:

Title: Defying the Gods, Author: Scott McCartney Publishing date: 1994    Macmillam Publishing Company    866 Third Avenue    New York, New York  10022

The following comes from a free service that I subscribe to: Those who have lived to age 85 & beyond are considered master survivors. Although they offer different suggestions as to what helps them live a long life, here are seven of the most frequently mentioned survival secrets: 1. Talk with friends or family every day 2. Face change without fear. 3. Stay involved. 4. Strive to recover quickly from challenges such as job loss, disability, or death of loved ones. 5. Maintain a generally positive outlook on life. 6. Take maximum control of your life. 7. Get regular exercise. source: The Big Book of Health If you would like to learn more about the free service which sent such a gem of wisdom, click on the following html:

CyberTip4theDay: webmaster@cybertip.net

I suppose that I should start by telling you about my husband. The easiest way to begin that would be to refere you to the page that was written to introduce him...

*use this link--- CLICK HERE--- to go to his my husband's page*

When we can get a scanner and I have the time, I want to put an album on-line which chronicles my husband's experiences at Baylor Medical Center, in Dallas, Tx., where he had his transplant done. As the time neared for us to return to Abilene, Tx., I bought a disposable camera. I took it around with us while he went to his last clinics, physical therapy, and doctor's visits. The album is something that we have looked at again and again since his transplant, on April 17, 1994. And in the meantime, click on the link below to read read our transplant story. I also will talk more about the time before he was called to his transplant, at a later date. This is, I believe, a very important topic to look at and to open to general comments. He was dying before he was called to come in for his surgery. A long, painful death. This was a difficult thing for everyone involved; and something which is typical for families who are waiting on a transplant list. It is also something that I have not heard much about, in any literature. Talking about it, constructively, is the key to making it through this period without losing your mind! I also believe that the "right kind" of communication about what is happening during this time is one way to help the person who is waiting to build the inner-strength and commitment to survival which could easily be needed in order to cope successfully with the challenges of transplant... especially if any problems arise.

CLICK HERE to read about how we found out that he was sick; and about the time before we received the call to tell us to come to the hospital for the transplant;

If you would like to go straight to the story of my husband's transplant, then click on the link below:

CLICK HERE to read Our Transplant Story...

This will link you to Claire's page. She received a kidney from a living donor... her mother. Claire is in her first year after her transplant, and she has experienced some setbacks--- or challenges--- during these months, as a result of rejection. She explains about her medical problem which led to the need for a transplant as well as the slow decline of her medical health and what she and her family went through during those years until she had her transplant. Claire updates her page regularly and writes about the changes in her life.

claire.stafford@virgin.net

There are several support groups available over the Internet, for persons who have had or who are waiting for an organ transplant. Most of them appear to be open to people who need/have any type of transplant; but some are focused on a particular type. Most appear to be open to both the recipient & their family/friends; but at least one that I have heard of is focused on the families. If you would like to explore the possibilities, a good place to start looking is through "Onelist." It would take up too much space here to try to explain all of the benefits of joining a support group, so I will not try. I will, however, stress that the group I belong to if "free" (as I believe most or all are) and that it is simple to un-subscribe if you feel that the particular group you have joined is not meeting your needs.

http://www.onelist.com/

One thing is certain: when a person has had the transplant, successfully, the need for support and for the sharing of advice and encouragement does not end. If this issue touches your life, make use of the resources. Share your strengths and knowledge with others. Let the changes which have happened in your life direct you to new understandings; new relationships with others; and to direct you to develop new skills, insights, knowledge, & strengths.

CLICK HERE to go to page 2...