Pancreas transplant saves diabetes patients

Organ Donation Provides Diabetes Patients With Sudden, Life-Changing Cure

By: Erin Billups NY1.com

Three diabetes patients were cured overnight this month after they received a new pancreas at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, showing how organ donations can help save lives. NY1's Health reporter Erin Billups filed the following report.

Both Leander Torres of Richmond Hill, Queens and Neal Bertron of Long Island have lived most of their lives with type 1 diabetes.

"You've got to take shots every night, maybe three to four times a day. It was a challenge," Torres says.

But after receiving new pancreata, they are now cured.

"It's a dramatic, immediate effect," says Dr. Lloyd Ratner, a transplant surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

The new pancreas restored their bodies' ability to control blood sugar levels, meaning no more insulin shots, or finger pricks.

"It’s freedom, complete freedom," says Bertron. "I'm trying to comprehend all of it."

Bertron and Torres are two of three patients that received pancreas transplants within a 36-hour period at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in February.

"There are only about 1,200 pancreas transplants performed in the United States a year, so it's very unusual to have three done in one institution in such a short period of time," Ratner says.

In New York, the odds are even worse.

"New York has amongst the lowest registration rates on drivers' licenses and through an online registry of virtually all the states. We also have some of the lowest donation rates," Ratner says.

At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, more than 70 people are waiting for pancreas transplants, hoping they too can get a new lease on life.

"They can live totally normal lives once they get out past the early period," Ratner says.

For Bertron, that means greater possibilities with his career.

"I don’t have to be in one location. I can go anywhere," Bertron says.

Torres admits the recovery has been hard, but is also excited about what's to come.

"Futuristic-wise? I don't think there's no stopping me," he says.

Ratner hopes as more people learn about how transformative transplants can be for those in need, they will be more willing to discuss the option with their loved ones, possibly turning one family's tragedy into another's miracle.

Read more at NY1.com

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Fundraiser to Benefit Youngster in Need of Liver Transplant

The benefit is scheduled March 22 at Studio J Salon & Spa., Tampa, Florida.

By D'Ann White, New Tampa Patch

    

Credit Felicia Isola

Residents are urged to help raise funds for a little boy in need of a liver transplant.

Jake Lebow was born with a rare pediatric liver disease called billiary atresia. 

At the age of 11 months, he underwent a kidney transplant at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. However, a year later the toddler contracted a virus. His doctors were forced to take him off his immune suppression medicine so he could fight off the virus. As a result, he partially rejected his new liver and it was damaged.

Now, at age 3, Jake is awaiting a second liver transplant, according to his mother, Felicia Isola.

To help pay for the transplant and related medical expenses, a nonprofit called Jake's Gift of Life Inc. has been established.

A fundraiser is scheduled Friday, March 22 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Studio J Salon & Spa, 14446 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa. Twenty percent of the cost of services including styling, dry cuts, wet cuts and brow waxing will go to the fund. In addition, residents can purchase raffle tickets to win salon services and products.

Those unable to attend the fundraiser can make a donation to Jake's Gift of Life Inc. throughYouCaring.com.

For more information, click here.

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UK girl, 8, urgently needs heart transplant

ITV.com


Katelyn McAleavy Photo: ITV News Border

The family of an eight year old girl from Whitehaven are asking people to sign up to the organ donor register as she desperately needs a heart transplant.

Katelyn McAleavy was born with a heart defect which required her to have the first of three major operations when she was just five days old.

Her family were told in November that the condition of her heart had deteriorated rapidly and a heart transplant was the only option they have left.

Katelyn has been on the donor list since November and her family worry her time will run out before she can have the operation.

Speaking to ITV Border today the One Direction fan said she hoped that she would get a new heart so she could be a nurse.

"I want to be a nurse when I grow up to help other boys and girls like me. I want to help them better."

– KATELYN MCALEAVY

Her family say their lives are on hold as the call from the hospital to say their is a donor organ waiting could happen at any time.

''We always knew one day that Katelyn would need a transplant but we believed it to be in her teen years, further down the line but unfortunately last November during a routine check up with the cardiologist the problems were detected and we've now got to the stage where transplant is now the only option.

"Basically at the moment life is on hold. We can't look forward to the future, it's just on hold, it has been an awful time since November is just constantly with us and it would just be great to have a good outcome and for her to get through this and receive the heart she needs and we can carry on and have a happy future together."

– STEVEN LAMB, GRANDFATHER

Her mother Amy says she understands that people may not want to think about what will happen to them when they die but one person could save the lives of eight people on a transplant list:

You can sign up to the Organ Donor Register here

Read more: ITV.com 

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Double-lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell dances on Ellen show

LOS ANGELES — The Canadian Press

The Toronto Globe & Mail

Helene Campbell is discovering that being Canada’s most high-profile organ donor advocate allows her to get up close with some celebrities and very personal with others.

Campbell appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show Tuesday nearly a year after undergoing a successful double-lung transplant.

The Ottawa native danced onto the stage to the chorus of Baby, a smash from teen pop idol Justin Bieber.

She then revealed that she’d met Bieber, toured his house and taken home a pair of his underwear.

DeGeneres volunteered to sign the white boxers, have Bieber do the same and auction them off to raise money for Campbell’s new charity.

Campbell said the Give2Live foundation will support organ transplant research and help patients and their families.

“It’s such a stressful time waiting for an organ. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” Campbell said on the show.

“Having received this awesome gift from a donor, I’m just so grateful ... They’ve given me life, and I’ve been through it, so I’m just able to express to people and tell them, ‘this is where it’s at and this is what we can do to help.“’

She said her ultimate goal is to raise enough money to provide housing to those who are awaiting organ transplants.

Campbell shot to international prominence on DeGeneres’s show nearly a year ago during a Skype interview from the apartment in Toronto where she was awaiting surgery.

She suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that could only be treated through a double transplant.

Campbell has provided regular updates on her condition since the surgery was performed in April, chronicling everything from the challenge of trying to write a book to the frustration of grappling with kidney trouble.

She told DeGeneres her lung function is nearly double what it was immediately after the surgery.

Campbell’s story has drawn attention to the issue of organ donation back home.

The social media campaign she launched before her operation prompted thousands to register as organ donors in her home province, and ultimately came to the attention of the federal health minister.

Last July, the federal health minister, Leona Aglukkaq announced $10 million in funding to support a national transplant research program.

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Hélène Campbell on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Tues. Feb 19, 2013

Hélène Campbell will appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today. Watch for it!

Follow Hélène on Twitter @alungstoory.

You may remember reading about Hélène's lung transplant and her reaching out to Justin Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres for their help in spreading the word for organ & tissue donation awareness. 

Hélène reported the following about her social media contacts.

"On Jan. 21, not only did Justin Bieber retweet the message, but he had a Twitter conversation with me (@alungstory). The impact was huge! Traffic on alungstory.ca skyrocketed to more than 30,000 page views from 122 countries in 24 hours.

A similar social media request was made to The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February, 2012. My Feb. 16 interview, by Skype, on Ellen’s show led to 720 donor registrations at beadonor.ca that day. (beadonor.ca is the organ donor campaign of Trillium Gift of Life Network in Ontario, Canada).

The celebrity impact was wonderful. But even simply motivating people to talk about organ donation had a positive effect. At no cost, the need was made obvious, and the request was simple – register as a donor.

Raising awareness of the importance of organ donation, through social media, led to increased registrations. That offers the possibility of more transplants, which can shorten the waiting list for recipients. In the end, we can reduce both the financial and the human cost."

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Brief Intermission

Due to a computer crash regular posts will resume ASAP.
Meanwhile please browse previous posts.
Thanks, Merv

Buy an Alex Pangman song for $2.00 and help lung research

I am very pleased to post this message from Alex Pangman. 

Hi Merv
Dont know if you or your blog readers pals would find this inspirational, but I hope so:

I just released a song called " breathe in ", and the $2 download benefits Ontario Lung Association research into lung health. 

The song is all about Hope.... I hope you'll visit the following page and tell all your friends!
http://www.on.lung.ca/breathein

Alex Pangman
DLTX Nov 2008

Alex received a double-lung transplant in November, 2008 and is a wonderful inspiration and an example of how an organ transplant can transform and enhance one's life. She was born with Cystic Fibrosis and grew up gifted with musical talent (vocalist, mandolin-player, pianist, guitarist) and, as she told me, a love of horses. 

In 2008 her deteriorating lungs were down to 27 percent capacity and donor lungs became available just in time. Following her transplant she was able to resume her singing career and ride her horse daily. She is now an avid advocate for organ and tissue donation awareness and lung research. 

Alex has her own band, Alleycats,  and according to The Wholenote is known as “Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing,” a title the Ontario, Canada  native has earned by remaining unflinchingly faithful to American popular music of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. 

Read more about Alex here

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I

ONTARIO, CANADA SEES RECORD NUMBER OF TRANSPLANTS IN 2012

In 2012, 95 people on the transplant wait list died. 196 families, in the absence of registered consent, declined to donate their loved ones’ organs. Had their family member been registered, an estimated 370 additional lifesaving transplants could have been performed.

A record-breaking 1,053 lifesaving organ transplants were performed in Ontario in 2012, an increase of 11 per cent over the previous year and the third year in a row the province has reported growth in the number of transplants performed. Over 253 deceased organ donors and their families gave the gift of life in 2012, an increase of 15 per cent over the previous year. Deceased Ontario donors contributed to 385 kidney transplants, 189 liver transplants, 104 lung transplants, 74 heart transplants, 23 kidney pancreas transplants, 20 pancreas transplants and one small bowel transplant.

Despite the increase in donors, according to Trillium Gift of Life Network, lives are still being lost because only 22 per cent of Ontarians have registered their consent to organ and tissue donation. What shocked me was the number of families who refused their consent to donate their loved one's organs for transplant. When promoting organ donation awareness we have to continue to encourage donors to talk to their families about their wishes and to emphasize the fact that one donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through the gift of tissue. Click here for list of organs and tissues that can be donated.

If I ever have the honor of meeting my donor family I would be sure to tell them that their loved one did not die in vain because they were still living within me and that our lives have merged and continue to lead a happy and rich life.,

Despite the increase in donors, lives are still being lost because only 22 per cent of Ontarians have registered their consent to organ and tissue donation.

In 2012, 95 people on the transplant wait list died. 196 families, in the absence of registered consent, declined to donate their loved ones’ organs. Had their family member been registered, an estimated 370 additional lifesaving transplants could have been performed.

“You Have the Power to Donate Life – Sign-up today! Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Donor Registration Links