Last modified: 11 May 2000
JUNE 1995
Volume 2, Number 5
Meeting Notice
Join TRIO - Awareness, Support, Education, Advocacy
Speaker: DR. JOHN SWANSON Chief of the Renal-Pancreas Transplantation Program
Tuesday, June 20, 1995, 7:00 p.m.
A tour of the suite where President Eisenhower spent many months recuperating after his heart attacks, and where Jacqueline Kennedy gave birth to her last son, Patrick, when her husband was President.
WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
Eisenhower Suite, Washington, D.C.
Share the experiences -- Socialize
Refreshments Will be Served.
I cannot consider myself newsworthy. My kidney transplant was entirely routine, thanks to my donor-sister's close tissue match and my body's tolerance for its medications. Hooray for us nobodies. But twice in the last few days, transplant stories have appeared prominently in The Washington Post. The first (published May 20 on page 1, no less) told the remarkable story of a parishioner, Dawn Alexander, who requested that her heart be offered to her minister, Dr. Dalton Downs, Rector of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, in southeast Washington. After her death, tests were performed to establish compatibility and the transplant was successfully consummated at Georgetown Hospital. This was only the third directed heart donation in the memory of UNOS officials.
The second story, which appeared on page 1 of the Post's Metro section on May 22, told of a recent celebration by the National Institutes of Health in honor of bone marrow donors. The story focused on the tearful, joyous reaction of a 14-year old Tennessee boy upon meeting for the first time the donor whose marrow helped him beat a potentially fatal form of leukemia.
I marvel at these stories. While grateful that I can live my own low-key life, I believe that the more publicity -- of the nature displayed by these two stories -- the better for the transplant community. How many people have been prodded by these articles to start thinking about organ donation? In my view, we can make no significant headway in shrinking the recipient waiting periods unless and until the carrying of a donor card and appropriate advice to our next-of-kin become as routine and as fashionable as responding to a blood drive.
Of course, positive publicity is often accompanied by the not-so-positive. This is illustrated by the unfortunate (and inaccurate) statements some months ago by the D.C. Medical Examiner concerning organ removal and its impact on the Examiner's ability to do her job. Another more recent news story involved a congressional hearing concerning the availability of prisoner organs in China.
While one can anticipate both good and bad, I myself would much rather see both kinds than no kind. Maybe, someday, transplantation will become routine enough to be shoved onto page 20, or even out of the newspaper entirely. But we ain't there yet, not by a long shot.
Dr. Stephen Boyce, heart transplant surgeon at the Washington Hospital Center (WHC), was the speaker at the General Meeting held on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at WHC. With the visual aid of a video of a heart transplant, Dr. Boyce explained the procedure and answered numerous question from the audience. Many thanks to Dr. Boyce for covering this subject so well. We all learned from his presentation.
Linda Cheatham ably stepped in (as always) and presided at the meeting in the absence of our President and Vice President. Jane Leon showed the Tribute Cards and explained the method for using these cards. Al Leon reported on the Art Auction scheduled for June 1.
Linda Cheatham brought us up-to-date on the One Lap Race and invited everyone to show up at Summit Point in West Virginia on June 16 at 6:00 A.M. to cheer her and Mike on at the Summit Point Raceway. (See One Lap on page 3.) No one entered the contest to name the Frogs that will be riding along with Linda and Mike so they will name the frogs themselves.
Greg Komara of WRTC said the next Transplant Candidate Seminar will be held on Sunday, June 4th at the WRTC office in Falls Church, Virginia.
Following the business portion of the meeting, everyone had an opportunity to speak of their transplant experience before adjourning for refreshments. We were very pleased to welcome Jim Ballantine, who had a heart transplant at WHC less than two months ago, and his wife; and Avery Jackson, a kidney transplant recipient in April 1993 at Walter Reed Medical Center.
As they did last year, Mike Garrett and Linda Cheatham will again be racing in Car and Driver magazine's ONE LAP OF AMERICA from June 11-17. As in past years, the race starts and ends in Detroit and they will again have only one night's sleep during the entire race.
Some new twists from last year: Two cars - twice the fun. Mike will be racing his Mustang SVO again, with his donor brother as the co- driver. Linda will be racing a Taurus SHO with Mike's wife, Pilar, and Linda's sister, Peggi (an all-female car). Hopefully, two cars will get us twice the publicity of last year. The Taurus SHO is being donated by Gardner Britt of Ted Britt Ford.
Major sponsors so far are Lexus of Alexandria, Lexus of the U.S. and M.D. Oppenheim. We are just beginning our solicitation for funds. If you would like to make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution, send it to the TRIO Post Office Box. One Lap has issued a special press release about our entry in their official press kit sent to all the media in the towns we will be visiting.
You have a chance to see us in action, if you can get out of bed early enough. We will be at Summit Point Race Track, in West Virginia on Friday, June 16 from 6:00-8:00 a.m. (yes, 6:00 in the morning!). Summit Point is about 60 miles west of D.C. Entrance is free and you can park right next to the track and see some magnificent cars in action. We hope to get some media coverage at each track and the more recipients, donor families and candidates we have the better.
If you are going to be traveling, other places to see us are:
Dearborn, MI Hyatt Regency June 10 & 11
Elkhart Lake, WI Road America June 12
Beloit WI/IL Black Hawk Farms June 12
Des Moines, IA Holmes Tire June 12
Topeka, KS Heartland Park June 13
Hallett, OK Hallett Race Track June 13
Tulsa, OK Hooters June 13
Memphis, TN Memphis Raceways June 14
Nashville, TN Bridgestone HQS June 14
Atlanta, GA Renaissance Hotel / Hooters June 14
Atlanta, GA Atlanta Motor Speedway June 15
Greenville, SC Ronald McDonald House / Hooters June 15
Charlotte, NC Charlotte Motor Speedway June 15
Summit Point, WV Summit Point Raceways June 16
Hazelton, PA Chevy Dealer June 16
Watkins Glen, NY Watkins Glen Racetrack June 16
Wyoming, NY Cannonball Bar June 16
Buffalo, NY Hooters June 16
Nelson Ledges, OH Nelson Ledges Track June 17
Waterford Hills, MI Waterford Hills Raceways June 17
Dearborn, MI Hyatt Regency June 17
Come out and join us -- anywhere along the race. And tell your friends and family around the country to join us. Call Linda Cheatham (703-698-0083) or Mike Garrett (703-931-3000) for more information.
NEORAL RECOMMENDED AS TREATMENT FOR THE PROPHYLAXIS OF ORGAN REJECTION
BY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE FDA
Washington, D.C. -- March 31, 1995 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Immunosuppressant Drug Subcommittee to the Antiviral Drugs Committee today voted overwhelmingly to recommend approval for Neoral (cyclosporine for microemulsion) for the prevention of organ rejection in kidney, liver and heart transplants.
Neoral is a new formulation of cyclosporine based on microemulsion technology, which allows enhanced absorption of the medication. Neoral was developed by Sandoz Ltd. The microemulsion formulation of cyclosporine may offer additional patient benefits. In contrast to Sandimmune (cyclosporine USP), the "gold standard" of immunosuppressant therapy, absorption of Neoral is less dependent on the patients production of bile. Also, Neoral may be especially useful for patients who absorb cyclosporine poorly.
The subcommittee, comprised of expert consultants to the FDA, recommended approval after reviewing and evaluating data on the drug's effectiveness and safety. The subcommittee's recommendation, although not bind, will be considered by the FDA in its review of the two new drug applications (NDA) for the use of Neoral Soft Gelatin Capsules and Neoral Oral Solution in the prevention of organ rejection. The NDAs were submitted July 15, 1994 by Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Sandoz revolutionized organ transplantation a dozen years ago with the introduction of Sandimmune, a drug that dramatically increased the odds of organ survival in transplant patients. There are approximately 15,000 transplants performed annually in the United States.
"The availability of Neoral will offer an important new treatment option for transplant patients," said Larry Bauer, general manager, Sandoz Transplant Business Sector. "This new formulation of cyclosporine is an exciting development and, as the pioneer company in the immunosuppressant market, Sandoz is proud that the FDA's advisors have recommended that Neoral be made available to the U.S. transplant community."
Clinical studies show that the principal adverse effects of Neoral are similar to those of Sandimmune, including possibly renal dysfunction, tremor, hirsutism, paresthesia, hypertension and gum hyperplasia.
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation, located in East Hanover, New Jersey, is a subsidiary of Sandoz Ltd, of Basle, Switzerland. Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a leader in the discovery, development and marketing of high quality consumer health products and innovative therapies and treatments to combat life-threatening illnesses. Particular emphasis and expertise are focused on finding new treatments or cures in the areas of immunology, oncology, dermatology and diseases of the central nervous system.
Resources: Blair Bartlett and Lee Goldman are with Georgetown University Medical Center -- Support Group.
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MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY (please complete appropriate category)
Regular (circle one: Transplant recipient, transplant candidate, Family member) -
Individual Membership @ $20.00Membership grants are available. For information contact Linda Cheatham (703) 698-0083
Family Membership (two members at same address) @ $25.00
Additional Members at same address @ $5.00For additional memberships, please list the names and addresses on a separate sheet of paper.
Additional Members at different address @ $10.00
Additional voluntary contribution: [your choice]
Health Care Professional (Surgeon, Physician, Clinical Coordinate, Nurse, Social Worker, Other) @ $20.00
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___Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness
___Policy/Legislation
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TRIO's Annual Picnic, co-sponsored by WRTC, will be held at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria on Saturday, July 15th, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Mark your calendars and plan to attend. It will be a great opportunity to socialize and relax. Please bring your softballs, gloves and bats and folding chairs. TRIO will supply the rest. We will publish a map and additional information in next month's notice.
A few people are needed to arrive around 10:30 to set up the horse- shoes and move the picnic tables. If you can help, please contact Betty Torma (w) 202-887-2610 or (h) 703-361-7941.
Call the Chapter TRIO number 703-920-8746 to request a copy of the 1995 Scholarship Criteria and application form.
Some of our chapter members had the opportunity on Sunday, May 28th, at the home of the Bradys, to meet and congratulate two remarkable 22-year old brothers, Matthew and Michael Jette who had run, walked and biked across country. Michael donated a kidney to his identical triplet brother, Matthew, in December 1992. They left Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center on April 29 to begin their journey across the country in recognition of National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week and to raise money for their newly formed non-profit organization, "Donors for Life." Less than a month later, they arrived in Washington, DC.
All who met them were impressed with their accomplishment and enjoyed getting to know them and their father, Bill, who accompanied his sons (but not on a bike). Bill drove the truck, towing a recreational trailer, and he was the one waiting for them several miles ahead.
There was some discussion, especially from Matthew, about a trip next year that would cover the outer perimeter of the United States!!!
The Nation's Capital Area Chapter of TRIO and The Transplant Foundation joined forces in spon- soring an Art Auction on June 1st. This fundraiser was an overwhelm- ing success thanks to the huge attendance. Proceeds were evenly distributed between both groups.
The nation's capital area has many new, beautiful art pieces from this event. The room at Georgetown University Conference Center was filled with art admirers who purchased these pieces provided by the Heisman Fine Arts Gallery. Spirits were sparkling with enjoy- ment and excitement from the beginning of the elegant reception to the end of the lively auction.
The success of this first joint fundraiser was because of the hard work and dedication of the Co- Chairpersons, Nancy Brady and Kim Brown, and the ambitious Auction Committee members and volunteers: Lee Goldman, Al & Jane Leon, Stephen Barron, Jim Dueppen, Molly McMorrow, Lora Steed, Gregg Holman, Linda Baltrusch, Claude Brady, Eva Campbell, Charlie Tolchin, Christine Wilson, Mary Lamm, Laura Fineberg and Linda Cheatham.
To everyone who supported this event --THANK YOU!!! WELCOME NEW MEMBERS During March, April and May we welcomed the following new members:
Brian Sullivan, Carl Schleicher, Christine Wilson, Barbara Strite, Lynn Denson and her mother, Betty Denson; Roland Bernier, Marion "Dee" Garland, spouse of Michael and mother of David; Edward Michaels, Diane Murtha, Danielle Mills, Angela Wynn, Andre C. Wilson, John J. Chung, Kathleen Fisher and James A. Hilbert.
We look forward to seeing you at meetings and hope you will all become involved in chapter activities.
Ronald A. Norris, kidney, Howard University Hospital, 1973
Benno Duykers, heart, Fairfax Hospital, 1993
Ernest McClain, kidney, Washington Hospital Center, 1993
Charles Scott, liver, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1990
Vanessa M. Kennelly, kidney/pancreas, Washington Hospital Center, 1991
William A. Ward, liver, WRAMC/Howard University Hospital, 1994
Bruce Brown, liver, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1989
Claude P. Brady, heart, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, 1989
John G. Thomas, kidney, Washington Hospital Center, 1991
Kenneth Pruett, liver, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh,
1990
Bernard Burnette, heart, Fairfax Hospital, 1993
Frederick R. Larson, kidney, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 1992
Lynette Searl, liver, Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh, 1988
Judith M. Harrison, kidney/pancreas, Washington Hospital Center, 1991
If we missed your anniversary or to be sure we have your anniversary,
please contact Claude Brady at
703-534-7029.
Organ & Tissue Donation -- Share Your Life. Share Your Decision.
The Nation's Capital Area Chapter
Transplant Recipients International Organization
P.O. Box 7633, Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 920-TRIO
Last modified:
11 May 2000