From Channel 13 ABC Affiliate, Houston, TX, By Steven Romo
Elsa the golden retriever is specially trained to interact with children battling illnesses. TCH has had therapy dogs visit before, but Elsa is the first full-timer.
She lives with Sarah Herbek, her trainer.
"She's always very calm when she's working," Herbek said. "But when she's home and the vest comes off, she's any other dog -- chewing up shoes, or the bark off a tree."
At the hospital, with her green vest and picture ID badge on, it's back to business helping patients like Molly LeBlanc.
"Molly's been in and out of the hospital her whole life," her mother, Jill LeBlanc, said.
Molly is battling a genetic disorder called polycystic kidney disease or PKD. She had both kidneys removed just two weeks ago.
"We were having a lot of trouble getting her out of bed and Elsa helped us get her up to stand for the first time. She made a hard day a little easier," Jill said.
Elsa is funded by a donor family who wanted to give the patients a lasting gift. Herbek and Elsa have only been on the job for a couple weeks and already Elsa's celebrity status is taking off.
"It takes us a long time to get anywhere. People stop us every three feet," Herbek said.
Elsa makes the rounds visiting patients like Molly everyday. Molly is receiving in-patient care getting dialysis as she awaits a kidney transplant. Elsa brings a much-needed boost for a little lady taking on a big battle, Jill said.
"She sees Elsa or hears that she's coming and she's ready to go," Jill added.
I am a lucky man to have lived to be 61 years old. Soon, I hope to have the license plate to prove it.
Recently, I went to www.DonateLifeTNPlate.org to order a “Donate Life” plate – not only because I am a strong supporter of the vital need to register donors for lifesaving organ transplants and want my car to be a moving billboard for the cause – but because I am a walking, talking testament to the need. The liver and kidney in my body are not my own.
At age 32, I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease – a genetic condition that took my father’s life in 1995 – as well as polycystic liver disease. I didn’t qualify for dialysis. By my early 50s, both my kidneys had decreased to 10 percent functionality. My liver was enlarged, severely affecting the organs around it. I was placed on the organ waiting list, and while my health declined gradually, I was in dire straits. I wasn’t the only one. According to national statistics, someone in the U.S. is added to the organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. I waited my turn for a transplant and prayed I wouldn’t run out of time.
Eleven months later, on Nov. 10, 2009, I received a call that a matching liver and kidney had become available to me from a young man who had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I don’t know if he chose to sign up on the registry or if his parents made the decision to donate his organs. I do know that because of that decision I am alive today. When doctors finally removed my diseased kidney and liver, the organs were massively oversized due to the extra weight of the cysts. The average kidney weighs a fraction of a pound. Mine weighed 9 lbs. The average liver weighs 3 lbs. Mine weighed 30 lbs.
After my transplant, I felt a weight lifted from me – literally and figuratively. I was given new organs and a new life and believe I have a responsibility to share with everyone I meet why registering as organ and tissue donors is so important. That’s why I travel across the state speaking about organ and tissue donation. That’s why I’m applying for a “Donate Life” license plate. And that’s why I need for you to apply as well. The more of us who are out there on the road reminding people to register as donors, the more people like me who will be given a second chance at life.
Here’s the rub: Tennessee policy requires that, in order for new plates to be produced, at least 1,000 people have to reserve them. The cost to reserve a plate is $35 in addition to your registration fee. That price pales in comparison to the lives that are in need of donors. Nearly 3,000 Tennesseans are waiting for organ donations. Tragically, 22 people across the country die each day waiting.
Surely we can all take the simple step of applying for a plate to help spread the word and bring these grim statistics down. Please go to www.DonateLifeTNPlate.org to claim your plate. And, if you’re not registered, please do so today at www.DonateLifeTN.org!
Donate Life Tennessee’s vision is that one day all Tennesseans will embrace organ and tissue donation as their personal responsibility. I firmly believe it’s a vision we can all work to realize if we’re driving in the same direction.
From Global News Canada, By Navneet Pall
Conference on polycystic kidney disease to be held in DDO
According to nephrologist Ahsan Alam, a doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the fourth most common cause of kidney failure.
It is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys.
Autosomal dominant PKD is the most common inherited form, while autosomal recessive PKD is a rare.
People born with the disease develop cysts in the kidney, which then spreads to the liver.
“Life is constant urinary tract infections, kidney infections, cyst that rupture, [it’s] constant pain,” said PKD Foundation of Canada coordinator Luisa Miniaci-Di Leo.
“For me, sitting or lying down is the worst thing for me because [I] have these big masses … it’s hard, so I rely on pain killers three to four times a week.”
There is no existing cure for PKD.
PKD: and its Effect on Other Organs conference will be held Friday, Oct. 28 at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux Civic Centre Theatre.
From Seek.com, The University of Sydney, Australia
PhD Scholarship in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
The scholarship is supported by the Department of Renal Medicine, Westmead Hospital. Up to two full-time PhD positions are available to work on specific projects aimed at finding a better treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The projects will provide an unique opportunity to be involved in a specific aspect of the full spectrum of translational research ranging from preclinical studies and drug development to applied clinical trial research in genetics, biomarker development, dietetics and other related areas (quality of life and process evaluation). The research will be conducted at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Westmead Hospital (and affiliated centres), and involve a multidisciplinary team.
The scholarship will be valued at the same rate as the Australian Postgraduate Award, and will be indexed annually. It may be renewed for up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress. For candidates that are successful in obtaining an APA, a top-up scholarship to the value of $10,000 per annum is possible.
Further information can be obtained from:
Associate Professor Gopala Rangan
Westmead Institute for Medical Research at Westmead Hospital
+61 2 8627 3502
g.rangan@sydney.edu.au
How to apply:
Applications should be emailed to scholarship.applications@sydney.edu.au and should include:
• a curriculum vitae
• a cover letter that includes a short (300 word max) research statement that explains their interest in the project and longterm career goals
• a copy of an academic transcript
• the names and contact details of at least two referees (preferably current)
Please subject the email: PhD Scholarships in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Applications submitted through selecting the 'Apply Now' button below will not be accepted.
Closing date: 25 November 2016
Recently, I went to www.DonateLifeTNPlate.org to order a “Donate Life” plate – not only because I am a strong supporter of the vital need to register donors for lifesaving organ transplants and want my car to be a moving billboard for the cause – but because I am a walking, talking testament to the need. The liver and kidney in my body are not my own.
At age 32, I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease – a genetic condition that took my father’s life in 1995 – as well as polycystic liver disease. I didn’t qualify for dialysis. By my early 50s, both my kidneys had decreased to 10 percent functionality. My liver was enlarged, severely affecting the organs around it. I was placed on the organ waiting list, and while my health declined gradually, I was in dire straits. I wasn’t the only one. According to national statistics, someone in the U.S. is added to the organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. I waited my turn for a transplant and prayed I wouldn’t run out of time.
Eleven months later, on Nov. 10, 2009, I received a call that a matching liver and kidney had become available to me from a young man who had been killed in a motorcycle accident. I don’t know if he chose to sign up on the registry or if his parents made the decision to donate his organs. I do know that because of that decision I am alive today. When doctors finally removed my diseased kidney and liver, the organs were massively oversized due to the extra weight of the cysts. The average kidney weighs a fraction of a pound. Mine weighed 9 lbs. The average liver weighs 3 lbs. Mine weighed 30 lbs.
After my transplant, I felt a weight lifted from me – literally and figuratively. I was given new organs and a new life and believe I have a responsibility to share with everyone I meet why registering as organ and tissue donors is so important. That’s why I travel across the state speaking about organ and tissue donation. That’s why I’m applying for a “Donate Life” license plate. And that’s why I need for you to apply as well. The more of us who are out there on the road reminding people to register as donors, the more people like me who will be given a second chance at life.
Here’s the rub: Tennessee policy requires that, in order for new plates to be produced, at least 1,000 people have to reserve them. The cost to reserve a plate is $35 in addition to your registration fee. That price pales in comparison to the lives that are in need of donors. Nearly 3,000 Tennesseans are waiting for organ donations. Tragically, 22 people across the country die each day waiting.
Surely we can all take the simple step of applying for a plate to help spread the word and bring these grim statistics down. Please go to www.DonateLifeTNPlate.org to claim your plate. And, if you’re not registered, please do so today at www.DonateLifeTN.org!
Donate Life Tennessee’s vision is that one day all Tennesseans will embrace organ and tissue donation as their personal responsibility. I firmly believe it’s a vision we can all work to realize if we’re driving in the same direction.
Learn About PKD
According to nephrologist Ahsan Alam, a doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the fourth most common cause of kidney failure.
It is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys.
Autosomal dominant PKD is the most common inherited form, while autosomal recessive PKD is a rare.
People born with the disease develop cysts in the kidney, which then spreads to the liver.
“Life is constant urinary tract infections, kidney infections, cyst that rupture, [it’s] constant pain,” said PKD Foundation of Canada coordinator Luisa Miniaci-Di Leo.
“For me, sitting or lying down is the worst thing for me because [I] have these big masses … it’s hard, so I rely on pain killers three to four times a week.”
There is no existing cure for PKD.
PKD: and its Effect on Other Organs conference will be held Friday, Oct. 28 at the Dollard-des-Ormeaux Civic Centre Theatre.
From Seek.com, The University of Sydney, Australia
The scholarship is supported by the Department of Renal Medicine, Westmead Hospital. Up to two full-time PhD positions are available to work on specific projects aimed at finding a better treatment for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The projects will provide an unique opportunity to be involved in a specific aspect of the full spectrum of translational research ranging from preclinical studies and drug development to applied clinical trial research in genetics, biomarker development, dietetics and other related areas (quality of life and process evaluation). The research will be conducted at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Westmead Hospital (and affiliated centres), and involve a multidisciplinary team.
The scholarship will be valued at the same rate as the Australian Postgraduate Award, and will be indexed annually. It may be renewed for up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress. For candidates that are successful in obtaining an APA, a top-up scholarship to the value of $10,000 per annum is possible.
Further information can be obtained from:
Associate Professor Gopala Rangan
Westmead Institute for Medical Research at Westmead Hospital
+61 2 8627 3502
g.rangan@sydney.edu.au
How to apply:
Applications should be emailed to scholarship.applications@sydney.edu.au and should include:
• a curriculum vitae
• a cover letter that includes a short (300 word max) research statement that explains their interest in the project and longterm career goals
• a copy of an academic transcript
• the names and contact details of at least two referees (preferably current)
Please subject the email: PhD Scholarships in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Applications submitted through selecting the 'Apply Now' button below will not be accepted.
Closing date: 25 November 2016
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