The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
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    ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

    By Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:01am |

    OrgueSaintThomasStrasbourg.jpg
     

    No, I am not talking about transporting a church organ from Strasbourg to Milan you idiots.

    I am referring to transplants along this order:

    it’s alive!!!!

     

    This type of transplantation is a relatively recent phenomina, as WIKI points out:

    Timeline of successful transplants

    • 1905: First successful cornea transplant by Eduard Zirm[6]
    • 1954: First successful kidney transplant by Joseph Murray (Boston, U.S.A.)
    • 1966: First successful pancreas transplant by Richard Lillehei and William Kelly (Minnesota, U.S.A.)
    • 1967: First successful liver transplant by Thomas Starzl (Denver, U.S.A.)
    • 1967: First successful heart transplant by Christiaan Barnard (Cape Town, South Africa)
    • 1981: First successful heart/lung transplant by Bruce Reitz (Stanford, U.S.A.)
    • 1983: First successful lung lobe transplant by Joel Cooper (Toronto, Canada)
    • 1986: First successful double-lung transplant (Ann Harrison) by Joel Cooper (Toronto, Canada)
    • 1995: First successful laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy by Lloyd Ratner and Louis Kavoussi (Baltimore, U.S.A.)
    • 1998: First successful live-donor partial pancreas transplant by David Sutherland (Minnesota, U.S.A.)
    • 1998: First successful hand transplant (France)
    • 1999: First successful Tissue Engineered Bladder transplanted by Anthony Atala (Boston Children's Hospital, U.S.A.)[7]
    • 2005: First successful partial face transplant (France)
    • 2006: First jaw transplant to combine donor jaw with bone marrow from the patient, by Eric M. Genden (Mount Sinai Hospital, New York)[8]
    • 2008: First successful complete full double arm transplant by Edgar Biemer, Christoph Höhnke and Manfred Stangl (Technical University of Munich, Germany)[9]
    • 2008: First baby born from transplanted ovary.[10]
    • 2008: First transplant of a human windpipe using a patient’s own stem cells, by Paolo Macchiarini (Barcelona, Spain)[11]
    • 2010: First full facial transplant, by Dr Joan Pere Barret and team (Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron on July 26, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain.)[12]

    This subject really struck me when I read a recent article concerning a new policy for ambulance drivers in NYC:

    Some 911 Calls in Manhattan will bring out two ambulances, one hurrying to the scene in an attempt to save the patient's life, and the other arriving to save the patient's organs in case the person dies, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

    "After months of grappling with the ethical and legal implications, New York City medical officials are beginning to test a system that they hope will one day greatly increase the number of organs collected for transplant," the newspaper reported.

    According to the newspaper, "a specially trained team" will monitor 911 calls for people "who may be in danger of dying," such as those having a heart attack. It's the first system of its kind in the U.S.

    http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/death-panels-nyc-will-send-ambulances-sa

    So I came to two conclusions from all of this.

    FIRST, SAVE THE LIVER!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaASyRFXTj4

    Second, make sure the ambulance guy KNOWS YOU ARE AWAKE in case of some emergency!!!

     

    Comments

    This comes to mind:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aclS1pGHp8o


    by Atheist (not verified) on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 12:13pm

    Now that is what I call an organ donor!!!


    by Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 2:24pm

    I have some strong feelings about organ donations.  Several years ago, it was determined by Mayo physicians that I required a heart transplant within one year or I would "tip."  I'll spare you the details of the proceeding months, but will state that I got to jump into the middle of the waiting list due to intercession by some surgeons due to my relative age.  The first requirement was proof that "someone" was going to pay Mayo.  I won't get into that either.  I was ultimately enrolled in the transplant program at Mayo. As I recall, it was an 8 day series of multiple tests.  After several tests and days, I demanded that I be given tests that had "some" relevance to the condition of my heart.  That I had the audacity to question the system set the department's hair on fire.  To make a long story short, meetings were held and, I'm certain there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth!  It was agreed that they would prove that I needed a million dollar heart transplant.  Trust me... the post operative costs were going to be prohibitive, also.  Anyway I got the heart related tests which indicated no requirement for the transplant.  I went home after being advised to take my one-a-day blood pressure pill, a blood thinner and my daily multi-vitamin.  No explanations...Nothing.  The story after my Mayo visit is even sicker, but I'll let it go at that.  Follow the money!


    by chucktrotter on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 5:15pm

    Fuck a duck, Chuck!!!

    My god what a story in a paragraph.

    My heart started racing just reading this.

    Scary, scary, scary.

    Yeah, the death panels are in place and have been for the last century.

    This person gets help and this one does not. Allotments must be made anyway.

    So in the end, follow the money.

    My gawd I am glad (I think) that you escaped the transplant. But that must have been a process as close to purgatory that I could ever imagine.


    by Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 5:34pm

    A few years back, I had to get my nasal passage replaced - as did so many of us after the cocaine-fuelled 80's. (And 90's.)

    As you've probably also heard, some of those earliest transplants were done using... pig bowels. 

    Now, far be it from me to complain. After all, I've got a fully-functioning nasal passage once again. And I give thanks for it daily.

    But.

    It just IS difficult having 6 inches of excess pig bowel hanging from the end of my nose.

    And the involuntary snorting makes public speaking a LOT tougher than it used to be. 

    Plus... everything DOES seem to smell a bit like pig shit.

    Still. On the bright side, I kick ass when it's truffle hunting time.


    by quinn esq on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 5:53pm

    I think I am reading a comment from Chuck along the lines of his real reply under yours. hahahahaha

    Someday we shall go hunting for truffles together. They really go well with bacon. hahahaha

    Things go better with coke, even pig intestines. hahahaah


    by Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:06pm

    DD...

    One of many lessons I learned is the fact that today and the expectations that tomorrow will be equally as good or even better are driving factors as we cope with the finds of life.  Then Mayo tells you that tomorrow is being taken away.  I'll never forget the emptiness...that loss of hope.  Thanks for giving a shit DD!


    by chucktrotter on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 5:57pm

    I tell ya, I have not been this shaken up by a comment in a while.

    I hope you are doing well and I bet that you have succeeded in realizing a reason to live that I will never reach.

    Oh but be sure to read Q, I really thought initially I was reading  you. hahhaha


    by Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:09pm

    With a name like "Trotter," I'm sure Chuck would have no problem with pig parts.

    A fine animal.


    by quinn esq on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:32pm

    I read Q's post three times!  Is it safe to assume he is shitting us?  I'm doing okay for 67.  I had my congestive heart failure in 97-98.  Supposedly, at that time, it was the concensus that the heart (a muscle) could not rehab itself.  Last ultasound (several years ago) showed no deformity.  Who knows when I'll tip?  I'm not religious, but I do thank "someone" for letting me stick around for each and every day!


    by chucktrotter on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:44pm

    You can safely ignore quinn.  It's only rarely he contributes much to the discussion any more.  He used to be a favorite and I fear we spoiled him.


    by AmiBlue on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 7:04pm

    How brave of you to ask for further tests!  I'm sure I would have taken the diagnosis as god's truth and gone off to wither away some place because I certainly don't have the resources or insurance to cover it. 


    by AmiBlue on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:57pm

    I have two points here.

    Yeah, all you have to do is watch shows like House and learn from people like Chuck to understand that the doctor on Simpsons is closer to the truth than we would wish.

    Oh everything will be okay.

    I scanned thousands upon thousands of pages of medical records and protocol (read insurance monies etc..) takes over.

    If you are diagnosed with some disease process, for chrissakes get on the internet and learn something about that process as well as the symptoms. Good point.

    On the other hand, Q is the single funniest writer I have found on the net. And one of the reasons I come to the net at all is to read his jive. hahahahaha

    I told him over two years ago he brings right back to the old Harvard Lampoon.


    by Richard Day on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 7:11pm

    I probably should respond to Q directly, so I'll let the subject of Q drop for now.

    I always enjoy your posts, dday. 


    by AmiBlue on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 7:27pm

    Ami...Re:Q --

    Although I hold DD in high esteem, his evaluations of Q's posts leave me in dismay.  Is this Q a demented troller?  Perhaps DD is more intellectual than I, but I find no humor in Q's posts and consider it a waste of valuable time to peruse them.  If you are a good person, Q...don't clutter my posts with your ignorant banter...I promise to not violate your posts.

    Thnx

    Chuck


    by chucktrotter on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 11:22pm

    No problem, Chuck. ;-)


    by quinn esq on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 10:17am

    Ami...

    What it boiled down to :

    Will we get our money

    Hearts are rare for transplanting purposes.  That means all kinds of testing before you qualify for a transplant.

    What are your chances of survivibility?  Smoker, drinker, overeater,etc.

     

    I would have ultimately received the testing that I demanded, but that testing was days away.  While I was waiting to enroll in the Mayo program, I started trying to go for walks -- each day further and further.  The first few times, I actually fell to the ground, exhausted.  As time passed I was climbing the bluffs along the Mississippi.  It took time, but by the time I arrived at Mayo, I knew that something good had happened.  My son, in Naval Medical, initially told me to get out of bed and start exercising.  It worked.  Had I had the transplant I would have been required to live within a short distance of Mayo and paid for 24-7 nursing care for, at least, 6 months.  I could never have afforded that.  And 20% of a million bucks is pretty hefty.  The transplant would have ruined me.  Many people die because they can't afford not to.


    by chucktrotter on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 7:52pm

    Our friend from Cafe, Pseudoants, he was faced with a cancer. So many issues involved. He was a vet but refused vet preference.

    He would attempt every damn day to walk. He showed us his course by satelite pictures.

    I loved that man, and never met him.

    He had such hope, and things would get better for him....

    He died in this struggle.

    Your comments here bring me back to this struggle.

    I have to make a choice myself. I must get up and move every day. Then twice a day. Then three times.

    I am uplifted by your statements really. I have been thinking about this. If you are not busy being born you are busy dying.

    Long history here with me actually. I have done this before. I despair and then I realize how we must struggle and enjoy the struggle.

    Thank you for this, really.


    by Richard Day on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 6:17pm

    Dick:

    I had to think long and hard prior to responding to you.  First (and most important,) I grieve  for whatever struggle that you are confronted with.  With luck, both of us will continue to post for years.  Each day, I fear death, but my love for the environment that surrounds me masks my insecurities.  I have watched loved-ones die, slowly, from various diseases and each event stole a portion of my heart. But, I keep-on keeping on.  I smoke and drink...Have no intent to quit.  I feel that one's fear of mortality is more damaging than one's acceptance of what they are and the life they choose to live.  Now I lay me down to sleep...


    by chucktrotter on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 10:21pm

    Chuck, your heart disease made me recall an interview I heard him on NPR over 20 years ago with a man named Norman Cousins. I thought maybe you might benefit from reading the book he wrote linked below, or hearing about his life.

    The particular thing about him that stuck in my memory was that, on an examination of his heart in the 1950's, Cousins said he was told death was likely imminent, his life expectancy outlook was very poor,  and yet, here he was being interviewed, about 25 years later.

    At the initial 'bad news' diagnosis, he had not actually had a heart attack.  He did have one in 1980, and died  of heart failure in 1990. He also had a long term collagen disease/arthritis dating to the 50's. He worked at the School of Medicine, U of California, so he was not a neophyte to the halls of medicine.

    He wrote a book called The Healing Heart. He also worked for the test ban treaty in the 50's and early 60's, received thanks from JFK and Pope Pius XXIII, and among other awards received the UN Medal of Peace in 1971. Wiki Link. Best of luck with your health care, it sounds like you are doing the right things.

    From Wiki: ...he did research on the biochemistry of human emotions, which he long believed were the key to human beings’ success in fighting illness......Cousins developed a recovery program incorporating megadoses of Vitamin C, along with a positive attitude, love, faith, hope, and laughter....


    by NCD on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 7:57pm

    God I know, I am so taken by Chuck's determination. Anything I say would simply be a cliche. ha

    Good points, yes, yes, yes...


    by Richard Day on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 9:02pm

    NCD:

    Perhaps, tonight , I will go to sleep and not awaken.Although I'm not religious...I tried to live by the "Golden Rule."  Do I choose to give advice...I'm far to ignorant to offer wisdom or hope to my fellow beings.  I lived my life and got "lucky!"

    http://www.ilike.com/artist/Louis+Armstrong/track/What+a+Wonderful+World


    by chucktrotter on Sat, 12/04/2010 - 10:50pm