Last modified: 11 May 2000
February 1996
Volume
3, Number 2
Congratulations to heart transplant recipient Brian Rothermel for his achievements in the 1996 Winter World Transplant Games. The event was held during the week of January 7-12 in Pra-loup, France, located in the southeastern corner of France, a three hour drive from Marseilles.
Close to 90 organ transplant recipients, from a total of 15 countries participated -- some from as far away as Australia. The U.S. Team consisting of seven members came in third place in the medal standings, behind Norway and Austria. Brian exceeded his goal in his "Quest for Gold," and came home with FOUR GOLD MEDALS -- all in individual slalom races.
The third annual National Donor Recognition Ceremony will be held on April 14, 1996, to honor America's organ and tissue donors. Each of us who is a recipient, or a family member of a recipient, is keenly aware of how precious life is. We are reminded every day that we owe our lives and the quality of our lives to the generosity of a donor and his/her family members. Please join us in giving thanks to those special people who made it possible for a growing number of recipients to have a growing number of tomorrows.
Sponsored by their local procurement organizations, donor families will travel to the Washington, D.C. area from around the country to participate in this program honoring and remembering loved ones. It is especially important for recipients and our families to attend this program to demonstrate our support for and personally express our appreciation to participating donor family members who are attending as representatives of all donor families throughout the Nation.
Last year more than 40 organ procurement organizations sponsored families to participate in the ceremony. Among them were the Nicholas Green family whose son's organs were donated in Italy after he was fatally wounded by a gunshot, and Mr. Chester Szuber who received his daughter's heart. As in years past, TRIO of The Nation's Capital Area Chapter will present donor family members with a rosebud bouquet, and the Central Pennsylvania Coalition on Donation will give each family a medal honoring their donors.
The presence of recipients and our families is a vitally important element of the program. We hope to see you there. There is no fee to attend the Ceremony, however, you must be registered with the National Donor Family Council which is handling registration for this program. To obtain a registration form, call or write to Ms. Kathleen Casey at: National Donor Family Council/NKF, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016, phone: 212-889-2210 fax: 212-779-0068
Rooms at two Washington area hotels have been reserved at special rates for participants in this ceremony.
The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
1127
Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington,
D.C. 20036
phone: 202-347-3000
Group rate of
$139 for single/double
The Lincoln Suites
1823 L Street,
NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
phone:
202-223-4320
Group rate of $99 for
single/double/triple/quad
Identify yourself as being part of the National Donor Recognition Ceremony. Rates are good until March 22.
The 1996 National Donor Recognition Ceremony promises to be a very special and memorable event. We hope many TRIO members will attend. Mark your calendars now!
I've already had to shovel my driveway six times this winter, three of them within the last week. And the groundhog saw his shadow the other day, a sure portent of six weeks more of winter. So I suppose this means at least a few additional bouts with Mother Nature before we begin to see our grass seed sprout.
And what a delight! Without the miracles of modern medicine, a dedicated surgical team, and my friendly nephrologist (and in my case my donor, my sister), at best I would be huddled in the house trying to find someone to shovel my drive for me. So the chores of winter are not, for me, a pain. They are a true pleasure. Every time I pick up the snow shovel, I look forward to the exertion of scraping snow until the bare pavement appears.
So it should be for all of us who are fortunate enough to have been given a second chance at life. Not only should life's good things--picnics with our families, watching our children grow, being able to lower (or be forced to raise) our golf handicap--be enjoyed, we should revel in life's little chores. Carrying out the garbage, cleaning the fireplace, changing a tire, even (in another season) cutting the lawn, are privileged activities. If we had been transplant candidates 20 years ago, it's very unlikely that we would have been able to exercise any of these privileges. So approach them joyfully, and with thanks to our donors and their families who have given us the chance to enjoy them.
You recently should have received a membership renewal form, which included a section to volunteer for Chapter Committees, accompanied by a description of the committees. If you haven't returned your renewal yet, please do so. The chapter exists through its members, and your help is needed. If you have misplaced your papers, call the TRIO number (703-920-8746) and leave a message that you would like another set.
Secondly, the next General Meeting will be held on February 27 at the WRTC Headquarters near Fairfax Hospital. Instead of a formal speaker, we plan to have a members' forum, in which a panel of recipients will discuss their transplant experiences and submit to questions from candidates. Hope to see you there.
Former Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and heart transplant recipient Jack Herrity spoke at the January 22 meeting of the Fairfax County Commission on Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplantation. He announced the establishment of a Trust Fund for Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness, administered by the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia. Their first major activity will be a dinner on Friday, April 19, at the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons Corner. Tickets are expected to be $150 per person; or reserve a table for 10 people for $1,000. Proceeds will go to the Trust Fund of the Community Foundation.
Willard Scott is the honorary Chairman and, although unable to attend, he is producing a videotape to be shown at the event. His fellow "Joy Boy," Ed Walker, will be the Master of Ceremonies. There will be other entertainment, and the presentation of an award to Dr. Lefrak, a heart surgeon at Fairfax Hospital. This event will mark the end of National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week.
Our intrepid auto racers are off and running again. Our chapter will again be entering two cars under the TRIO banner in the 1996 One Lap of America. Mike and Pilar Garrett will be one team and the other will be captained by Linda Cheatham (co-driver yet to be determined). They will be handing out organ donor cards and meeting with the press at all of the locations along the route. The dates are June 9-15, 1996.
Sunday, June 9 -- Watkins Glen, NY
Monday, June 10 -- Michigan International Raceway / Putnam Park in Indiana
Tuesday, June 11 -- Road America - Wisconsin / Black Hawk - Northern Illinois
Wed., June 12 -- Heartland Park - Topeka, KS / Hallett, OK
Thursday, June 13 -- Memphis
Friday, June 14 -- Summit Point - West Virginia / Lime Rock - CN
Saturday, June 15 -- Spencer, NY / Watkins Glen, NY
Come cheer on TEAM TRIO -- especially at Summit Point which is at Winchester -- only a little over an hour west of D.C. If you come -- BRING FOOD for us! More details in future issues.
The Whitney Family -- in memory of John Weber; Al and Jane Leon -- in honor of Chick Abeles' Retirement and -- in memory of Jim Dueppen's father; Audrey and Irwin Goldring -- in memory of Kathie Cole's father; Claude and Nancy Brady -- in memory of Jim Dueppen's father; Robert and Elaine Stiger -- packet of cards; Ed Linz -- packet of cards; and Flora Sanchez -- packet of cards. For more information on obtaining Tribute Cards contact: Jane Leon at 703-920-8746.
The beginning of a New Year is an excellent time to set some insurance and financial planning goals for the coming year. When you are preparing your Income Taxes take the time and add the burden of creating an Estate Plan for your family.
Estate Planning starts with a basic Will. If your estate is less than a million dollars, I am not sure nor would I advise the hiring of a Financial Planner (CHFP) or an Estate Planner (CHEP). I would suggest that those of us with fixed or modest incomes should still have at least a sound plan of:
(1) Where I am now and what I would want to happen to my family if I should die; (2) What plan can I make to insure me and my family for future financial security; and, (3) How can I use the "tools" of existing insurance to protect and plan for this future, whether I live or die.
You might be thinking, here comes the Life Insurance pitch! Well, unless you are a Kidney transplant recipient from a living related donor you are not insurable, yet! However, if you have an existing plan of Term Insurance, you may be able to convert it to a permanent plan without any medical considerations.
If you were lucky enough to have a Whole Life plan in force, you might be able to buy additional coverage by changing your "Benefit Options". This policy also may have enough cash value to not require additional premium payments for many years (if ever). Some policies have a "living benefit rider". This means you can use some of the death benefit to pay off medical bills/or just bills while you are still alive.
If you are on disability, did you check to see if your present plan had a waiver of premium rider on it? You could be entitled to a refund of premiums paid or can stop paying premiums and continue the insurance till you are able to go back to work.
A final note on Estate Planning, make sure your healthy spouse has adequate life and disability insurance protection on them- selves. Their loss could affect the family life style dramatically.
The Nation's Capital Area Chapter
Transplant Recipients International Organization
P.O. Box 7633,
Arlington, VA 22207
(703)
920-TRIO