October - December2008

The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only, and it is not nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your own physician or healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Future Hope Chest News Events

The following are the events, conferences and seminars of possible interest to Hope Chest News patients in the next few months

U of M Lung Transplant Support Group meeting– 7PM – 8:30PMJanuary 5, 2009

Speakers from the Palliative Care department

Monthly meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsJanuary 19, 2009

Hope Chest News Bake Sale – Outside Clinic 2A – 9AM –2PMFebruary 8, 2009

Monthly meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsFebruary 16, 2009

Herberger’s Coupon Book Fund RaiserFebruary 28,2009

Monthly meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsMarch 16, 2009

Eagles Breakfast - 8:30-12:30 – Litchfield, MNApril 19, 2009

Monthly meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsApril 20, 2009

Monthly Meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsMay 18, 2009

3rd Annual Marie Anderson Golf Scramble – detail laterJuly 29, 2009

Monthly Meeting of the Hope Chest News Board of DirectorsJune 15, 2009

2008 Transplants

As of 12/16/2008 there have been 25 Lungand 25 Heart transplants.

Lung Transplants / Heart Transplants
Name / Type / # / Date / Name / # / Date
D/L / 203 / 01/05/08 / 639 / 01/07/08
Mary Paquette / D/L / 204 / 01/10/08 / 640 / 01/12/08
Mary Carhill / S/L / 358 / 01/30/08 / 641 / 01/15/08
Jennifer Rousseau / D/L / 205 / 01/31/08 / 642 / 01/30/08
Ralph Loftus / D/L / 206 / 02/09/08 / 643 / 02/08/08
Shelle Goodwin / D/L / 207 / 02/18/08 / 644 / 02/16/08
S/L / 359 / 03/26/08 / 645 / 03/05/08
S/L / 360 / 04/02/08 / 646 / 04/08/08
Viola Poeschl / S/L / 361 / 05/02/08 / 647 / 04/15/08
S/L / 362 / 05/02/08 / 648 / 04/30/08
Allen Jarnot / S/L / 363 / 06/05/08 / 649 / 05/21/08
Gloria Heideman / S/L / 364 / 06/25/08 / 650 / 05/29/08
ReneeHolzapfel / S/L / 365 / 06/25/08 / 651 / 06/25/08
S/L / 366 / 06/28/08 / 652 / 07/22/08
Fred Amrhein / S/L / 367 / 07/09/08 / 653 / 07/25/08
D/L / 208 / 07/17/08 / 654 / 08/02/08
S/L / 368 / 07/26/08 / 655 / 08/05/08
S/L / 369 / 08/02/08 / 656 / 08/13/08
Jane Mathison / S/L / 370 / 08/08/08 / 657 / 08/14/08
S/L / 371 / 08/28/08 / 658 / 08/28/08
S/L / 372 / 08/28/08 / 659 / 10/18/08
S/L / 373 / 10/18/08 / 660 / 11/06/08
D/L / 209 / 11/17/08 / 661 / 11/08/08
S/L / 374 / 11/25/08 / 662 / 11/14/08
D/L / 210 / 12/07/08 / 663 / 11/19/08

Due to HIPPA rules,Marget Schmidtke needs permission from patients to release their name, transplant number and date. Contact her for your transplant information. If any of the people transplanted this year would like to have their name printed in the newsletter, please E-Mail or you can call Ed Aubitz at 952-457-8281. If you let us know the date of your transplant and your transplant number, we can also make a button for you.

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October

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292Ann AlexanderDL10/28/07

82Arlen AndersonDL10/24/98

307Ed AubitzSL10/17/05

61Roger BeckSL10/25/93

59Jo BrouwerSL10/22/93

305Judy CannonSL10/09/05

14Mack Croyle. SrHL10/04/89

100Harold EzzoneDL10/25/00

Sharon FlatequalSL10/07/03

30Mathew GouldDL10/16/94

33David GravesHL10/11/94

34Ricky GustafsonHL10/27/94

147Gina HansonDL10/06/04

220Jane HarmonSL10/29/01

333Ross HouseSL10/26/06

306Shirley IrwinSL10/09/05

218Valdamar JacobsonSL10/25/01

152Judy JohnsonSL10/14/98

44Terry JuezkHL10/12/98

356Janet KleinSL10/31/07

Pamela KrakeSL10/01/02

129Vern KuehnlDL10/05/02

304Doris OmanSL10/05/05

1Heather PenickLL10/05/00

101Kathy RabbittDL10/27/00

58Norman RathbunSL10/19/93

81Sally ReaganDL10/21/98

4Allen SorensonLL10/10/01

51David SwansonDL10/01/96

Melissa ThomasonDL10/30/05

43Gaye TrckaDL10/29/95

52Ellen VarneyDL10/26/96

244Dennis J. WeilandSL10/11/02

116Hal WenaasDL10/07/01

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November

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153Barbara BeckSL11/18/98

Ron BergersonSL11/17/03

173Mary CordesSL11/01/99

164Lisa DekowskiDL11/01/05

174Richard Fitzgerald SL11/01/99

310Colleen GoodinSL11/04/05

16Cherry HamlinSL11/05/90

177Lester HansonSL11/17/99

312Robert HowdenSL11/26/05

224Emma Jean KnopikSL11/25/01

335Brad KnutsonSL11/03/06

336Hugh McDonaldSL11/03/06

175Gordon OlsonSL11/02/99

141Delores OpatzSL11/09/97

311Roger RemerSL11/17/05

334Darlene ReynoldsSL11/03/06

310Sandra SazamaSL11/04/05

Diane Sydnes11/26/01

63Sandra WhiteSL11/15/93

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December

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Pat Chmieleiwski12/01/00

117Pete ConwellDL12/20/01

166Pam CullenDL12/07/05

Linda CurranDL12/25/02

227Dennis DahlSL12/16/01

313Ron DailySL12/12/05

427Gary HarrisH12/15/01

Tom HovorkaH12/01/03

182Bob KozieckSL12/17/99

Diana LarsonSL12/12/07

87James LaserSL12/08/94

28Joan LongmuirSL12/06/91

106Sandra MajeskiSL12/19/95

314Rose OtterstetterSL12/27/05

James PrattDL12/19/02

Don RussellH12/12/06

183Pat SwirtzSL12/31/99

181Frank VermeulenSL12/03/99

67William WayDL12/20/97

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Important Numbers:

The following chart will help if you need assistance in one of the listed areas.

Purpose / Who to Contact / Phone Number / E-Mail Address
Address or E-Mail Change / Ed Aubitz / 952-457-8281 /
In the Hospital / Any Board member / See list elsewhere /
Financial Assistance / MargetSchmidtke, Thoracic Transplant Social Worker / 612-273-5796 or
1-800-478-5864
Heart\Lung Status Change / Ed Aubitz / 952-457-8281 /
Mentorship Program / Eileen Vierow / 651-483-3146 /
Obtain your Transplant Number / MargetSchmidtke / 612-273-5796 or
1-800-478-5864
Heart Buttons / Mary Paquette / 651-450-9767 /

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We don’t want to miss you…

Marget has short-term parking passes for the group meetings. So come to group and if you need one, just ask Marget. We don’t want anyone to stay away from meetings because of financial concerns.

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We have lost more of ourlung buddies:

Dave AmatoLL – Transplanted 02/25/04Passed away 10/23/08

Barbara StuartD/L - Transplanted 09/16/97Passed away 10/18/08

Charlie Irwin, husband of patient Shirley IrwinPassed away 11/26/08

Donna Hagenah, wife of patient ChuckHagenahPassed away 12/07/08

Our prayers go out to their families and for any others who have passed away that we are not aware of.

Memorials

In Memory of Marie Anderson
Wayne Anderson / In Memory of Ross Bourgeois
Allen & Maureen Arbeiter
Diane Caldwell Bourgeois
Gary & BarbBroberg
Julie Caron
Paul & Kathleen Ditter
Steven Fitch
Rosemarie Gleason
Kathy Greising
Steven & RitaHumble
Richard & Sharon Hyrkas
Steven & Karen Hyser
Mary Johnson
JulieLarsen
Steven & Amy Larson
Joy McConnell
NancyMeyer
Mark Nyman
Gordon Olson
Thomas & WendyOpine
Kip BarbPeterson
Edward & Emily Pouliot
D.J. & Y. M. Schivone
Mike & Velora Schoenberger
Paul & ColleenTheis
Cheryl & Richard Thurn
Mary Ellen Vetter
Eileen Vierow
In Memory of Carol Deichert
Dennis Deichert
In Memory of Nicholas Jolly
Kathy Jolly
In Memory of Ralph Loftus’ donor
Ralph Loftus
In Memory ofYvonna Maxwell
Sharon Flatequal
In Memory ofLarry McKeever
Duane & Diane Lokken
In Memory of Steve Messner
Jan Messner
In Memory ofPete Nieman &Tony Johnson
Judy Spray
In Memory ofJoyce Richwine
Lisa & Scott Olson
In Memory ofBarbara Stuart
Beth Karjola

Donations

Thank you to the following peopleorganizationsfor their generousdonations

Eagles AERIE NO 3424 / JonathanDahl
Richard Fitzgerald / JoAnn Miller
RobertSmith / Bridget Shaffer
Candice & Mark Spout

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HCN Newsletter & Database topics

  • The Newsletter is also available online at Click on the Newsletter tab on the left hand side of the page. Once there, you can view the newsletter or download a copy to your PC. We will provide E-Mail notification to you when the latest issue is available online. To request this service please send an E-Mail to
  • If you would like to share a personal story about your transplant experience, if you have questions or information you would like to share with other lung or heart transplant patients, please contact Ed Aubitz by calling 952-457-8281 or via E-Mail to .
  • We would also like to hear of any patients who have passed away. If a caregiver or family member could drop us a note it would be appreciated.
  • If you no longer wish to receive the Hope Chest News please initial and date the following statement and send it to the address below:

I do not wish to receive the Hope Chest News newsletter ______(Initial)

Name:______

If your residence, home phone, cell phone or E-Mail address has changed since you registered as a Hope Chest News member, please provide your new information below:

Name: ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______ZIP: ______

Home Phone: ______Cell Phone: ______

E-Mail Address: ______

Due to HIPPA rules, Marget Schmidtke(1-800-478-5864)needs permission from patients to release their name, transplant number and dateto Hope Chest News.

Tx Date: ______Tx#: ______Tx Type: ______(Single\Double Lung, Heart or Heart\Lung)

Fill in the information needing updating and send this page to:

Hope Chest News

C\O Ed Aubitz

161 East 105th Street Circle

Bloomington, MN 55420

Or you can E-Mail the information to

News from the HCN Board of Directors

Kip Peterson, President (2010) / 952-431-8442 /
Ed Aubitz, Vice President (2009) / 952-457-8281 /
JudyVermeulen, Treasurer (2011) / 952-445-2497 /
Kathy Greising, Secretary (2009) / 651-738-2954 /
Julie Caron, Director (2010) /
Brenda Daml, Director (2011) / 763-753-4169 /
Ramona Foore, Director (2011) / 952-431-2884 /
Vern Jackson (2011) / 651 696-2962 /
Hinda Litman, Director (2011) / 952-935-1687 /
Ralph Loftus (2009) / 763-639-3937 /
Mary Paquette (2009) / 651-450-9767 /
Eileen Vierow, Director (2009) / 651-483-3146 /
Harriette Wock, Director (2010) / 651-439-1808 /

Thevacancy on the Board created when Ross Bourgeois passed away was filled by Ralph Loftus at the November17,2008 Board Meeting

President’s Review

With the Holiday season we often spend time with family and friends and reflect on our blessings.

Those of us that have received a life saving organ transplant are truly thankful for this extension of our life.

We are also very thankful for our donor’s and their families. We hope for their continued healing and peace as they spend another holiday season missing their loved one.

We are truly blessed to have each of our caregivers and the support system they provide for us. In some ways I feel that their journey may be more difficult than that ofours as recipients.

We would like to send positive thoughts for all of the people still waiting for their transplant and hope that they remain as healthy as they can and that their time on the list will be short.

Once again we have lost many of our friends this past year. They have all been a part of our transplant community and each of them will be missed. We especially remember their families and loved ones.

I am so grateful for each of you and for all the relationships I have been able to form through my journey in transplant.

I would like to challenge everyone to become involved in some sort of volunteerism in 2009. I guaranty it will make a difference in your life as well as that of others.

Have a Great Holiday Season!

Kip

Treasurer’s Report

A recap of HCN finances from September to December

Income:

  1. Fall envelope campaign- $1,030.00 in donations, Honorariums, and Memorials
  2. Last of the Golf Tournament - $1,490.00
  3. EaglesPancake Breakfast in -$619.00, w/sale of tote bag $15.00
  4. Herberger Coupon Books - $265.00

Total Income: $6,801.42

Expenses:

  1. Fund Distributions to patients: Utilities-$650.00, Housing $1074.19 Medical $2150.00 (total 7 patients)
  2. Funeral Baskets -$82.71 (2)
  3. Miscellaneous: newsletter printing, postage and other office costs - $612.17

Total Expenses: $4569.07

A look back for 2008:

Our Income was 13,929.86 over expenses, compared to 2007 of 8,630.28. Good Job everyone.

Our biggest income comes from our the 2 Golf Tournaments that netted us $22,902.84 this was up from the 2007 total of $17,869.69

Our other fundraiser though smaller in scale brought in a fair amount also. They included, spring and fall envelope campaigns, Eagles Pancake Breakfast, Herberger Coupon Book Sale, Bake Sale, Memorials for our lost lung buddies, and sale of HCN items.

We were able to help 22 patients with Housing, Utilities, and mainly Medical expenses.

As of today we have $36,625.96 in the bank. Your board of directors has earmarked $5,000.00 plus interest for future (way down the road) building of a House for Lung and Heart Transplants here on University of Minnesota Campus for patients and families.
Thank you all for a good year and have A VERY HAPPY HEALTHY YEAR IN 2009.

Sincerely

Judy Vermeulen

Treasurer

Hope Chest News has been the recipient of proceeds from three fund raising events held since the last Newsletter.

Eagles Fund Raising Breakfast in Litchfield, MN

The Hope Chest News held their second annual fundraiser breakfast at the Eagles club in Litchfield, MN. The event was organized by Hal Wenaas who is a double lung transplant living in Litchfield. We served Pancakes and French toast sausage juice & coffee for $6.00. All the proceeds went to Hope Chest News. We served over 150 people collecting $500.00 from the Eagles club and another $120.00 from a ‘donation jar’ at the door. The tentative date for next year is Sunday April 19th- 8:30AM-12:30PM.

Hal Wenaas

Hope Chest News thanks the Eagles for their generous donation of their facilities, a manager to oversee the kitchen and food for this event. We also thank the people helping including people from Hal’s family, friends, neighbors and HCN patients for attending to support the morning.

Herberger’s Coupon Book sales

Harriette Wock lead an effort to sell Herberger’s coupon books in November. With the help of patients, family members and friends the event brought in $265.00

HCN plans to participate in the Herberger’s event in the Spring. Please watch for the announcement via E-Mail in late January.

Bake Sale sales

Mary Paquette organized a Bake Sale on Monday, December 18thin the hallway outside the U of M Transplant Canter. The sale was from 9-4 and all the ‘goodies’ were sold out by 1 pm! We had choc chip cookies, peanut butter blossoms, caramel corn with almonds, pumpkin bread, lemon bars, peanut butter cookies, praline cookies, double choc chip, ginger and white choc macadamia nut cookies, brownie bites and candy canes. Proceeds amounted to $160.00 We intend to do it again on February 8, 2009. More information on that later.

Mary Paquette

Fund Raising Items For Sale

Item / Price / Contact / Phone # / Email
Cookbooks / $15.00 / JudyVermeulen / 952-445-2497 /
Logo Tote Bag / $15.00 / EileenVierow / 651-483-3146 /
Logo Jackets / $35.00 / EileenVierow / 651-483-3146 /

Reference Corner

AmericanCollege of Chest Physicians

There are many, many resources concerning lung diseases, treatments, transplantation on the Web. The following is a ‘link’ to one for the AmericanCollege of Chest Physicians. It has some nicely done brochures you can download or review online covering various topics such as:

  • Shortness of Breath Patient Education Brochure
  • A Guide to Lung Transplantation
  • Patient Education Guides on Cough

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COPD Topics

The COPD Foundation publishes newsletter three times a year that specializes in COPD specific information. Patients, family members, friends, physicians, researchers, and policy makers will find the COPD Digest a valuable resource.

* * * * *

CF Topics

The Cystic Fibrosis foundation has many resources for patients with CF including locating a local chapter from among the 80 in the US, subscribe to their newsletter, watch informational videos and participate in fund raising events.

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Pulmonary Fibrosis Topics

The incidence of the various forms of Pulmonary Fibrosis is rising across the US. This as well as other Web sites gives information about the disease, resource to help patients and caregivers and funding for research.

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Hope Chest News received the following letter from Anne Amato. It is a touching tribute to her late husband Dave who passed away in October.

To the HCN Community,

My husband Dave was a living lobar lung transplant patient who received his lobes from live donors At FairviewUniversityMedicalCenter – which we live in Minnesota and stayed at the Radisson Hotel on campus for 4 months. Dr.Herrington was the surgeon and Dr Whelan was his pulmonary Doctor who did a wonderful job and saved my Dave…. I have attached a copy of the photo showing his donors – 3 total – 2 donors and a backup. What a gift and there are alot of amazing people out there – alot of good hearted people willing to help…

In 2006 we did a benefit and raised $36,000.00 and gave to the university for Lung Research. They formed a foundation called Amato Family and Friends Foundation. Dave had his transplant on Feb 25th 2004 – which was Ash Wednesday. We were blessed with a second chance for Dave and valued every minute.

Since his transplant Dave had a battle with the ongoing CMV virus and a pear size tumor filled with MRSA but he overcame both of these and beat the odds with his positive attitude and strong will to live for me and the family.

In 2007 Dave came down with squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer on his head – so in 2008 underwent at the University of Chicago medical Center Treatments for head and neck cancer –In Feb. were told there were 2 spots on his lobes and since he was being treated they would just continue. They did start to shrink,,,, In April Dave came down with pneumonia and had an emergency treach put in – we were told it didn’t look good and called in the family to say goodbye. On Easter morning Dave woke up and said I was his wife…. Again with Dave’s strong will to live – he beat the odds again.

Dave finished up his head and neck treatment at the end of May – at the end of June Dave underwent head and neck surgery to remove the rest of the cancer. At this time Dave’s head and neck were cancer free. But with the bad news that the cancer on his lobes have spread to 5 spots – Radiation would have been too risky – so Dave went with chemo – He fought till on Oct. 17th he took a turn – said goodbye to all of us and told us he was tired – please don’t be mad – he loves us but just can’t fight anymore. Dave was in allot of pain and never complained. On October 23rd at 10:10 pm with me laying by his side and family all around Dave passed peacefully. His pain and suffering is over. God how I miss him so much and my days feel so empty – but I know Dave fought for us and now we need to be strong for him. He is the love of my life and my best friend and I will cherish every memory.

Thank you for all your support when we were in Minnesota. Below are 2 links - one to the obituaries which shows Dave with me and his mother - but also there is a video on that page that can be watched if you would like.

And then another from the paper called the legacy which people can write things about Dave

Please feel free to take a look at these and learn allot about what a difference he made in so many peoples lives…Please feel free to share this with everyone in the newsletter.

Thank you

Anne Amato

A note from Judy Vermeulen

Hello Everyone from Sunny California. Frank and I are doing great and he just celebrated his 9th Anniversary of his Lung transplant. I would like to share the words of our son on this occasion.

WOW! 9 Years! Happy Anniversary on your transplant Dad!

I can't express how happy I am that you were able to get that transplant 9 years ago. I can't imagine what my life would have been like if you were not able to be at my wedding, be there for the birth of Jessie, and be able to experience the past 5 3/4 years of Jessie's life. I never would have dreamed 9 years ago that you would be able to spend a day at the beach with us in California, ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland with Jessie, and take a walking tour of the USS Midway with me in October 2008! God gave us all a miracle that day 9 years ago and I pray that we will be able to spend many more years with you and enjoy many more of life's experiences together!

Happy Anniversary Dad! We love you!

He also was there for the 4 other grandchildren’s births, we have traveled the US from east to west and are enjoying our time together and sharing it with our family and friends.

Acknowledging your “Gift of Life”

This following article was in the Letters to the Editor section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune on July 5, 2008. It highlights the need for those of us who have been transplanted to acknowledge the special “Gift’ we have received from our donors. While a letter can be difficult to write it is a duty we have. If a response is returned from the donor family, it is a reward. If there is no response, its not because of you but because of the loss the family is feeling

ORGAN TRANSPLANTS - Acknowledge the 'gift'