News From Organ Transplant Initiative (OTI)
May 24, 2011
For more information contact
Bob Aronson
bob@baronson.org
Bob Aronson, the founder of the popular blog Bob’s Newheart ( www.bobsnewheart.wordpress.com ) and the Organ Transplant Initiative group on Facebook (OTI) has announced OTI’s first field volunteers. They are Amanda Zill of Mesa, Arizona and Ashley Tenczar Curran of Boston, Massachusetts.
Aronson who is a heart transplant recipient notes that OTI is a group dedicated to the principle that anyone who needs a blood, tissue or organ transplant should be able to get one. The group engages in thoughtful discussions on donation/transplantation issues all day every day and takes specific action on many issues. Aronson noted that, “Zill and Tenczar Curran are long-time members of OTI and both have personal familiarity with donation/transplantation issues. Both are wonderful, caring people and I’m honored that they agreed to help.”
Amanda Zill has been a practicing Registered Nurse (RN) for 25 years and still works full-time in her profession. She is the mother of three and a passionate patient advocate who has shown unique skills in being able to match available resources with patient and family needs. Depression, for example, is often a problem with pre and post-transplant patients. Zill’s experience gives her the tools to quickly provide OTI members with the right links and resources to address symptoms, proper treatment, providers and even insurance coverage. Ms. Zill will be OTI’s Information Resource Officer and Patient Advocate. As a nurse, Amanda is keenly aware of the stress placed on families because of transplant issues and will make every effort to provide information and resources that can help diminish that stress. While time does not allow her to address the specific issues of every patient, she will provide accurate and timely general information on a number of subjects as her time permits.
Aronson characterized Zill in this manner, “Picture your favorite warm, compassionate knowledgeable and highly skilled nurse and you have pictured Amanda Zill”
Ashley Tenczar Curran is a mother, wife, caregiver, a former Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a tireless advocate for blood, tissue and organ donation. Through internet communication and by telephone she daily offers support to patients and their families, donors, donor families and caregivers. Her husband Peter, who suffers from Hepatitis C, is on the national liver transplant waiting list. Each day they hope the phone will ring with news that there is a liver available for him.
In describing Tenczar Curran’s role as OTI’s Hepatitis C and Caregiver Support Advocate, Aronson said, “Ashley will regularly contribute thoughts and information about these important issues as part of our effort to be more responsive to member concerns. Not only does she live with Hepatitis C each day she is an experienced caregiver who is fully committed to helping others who share her situation.” Ms Tenczar Curran recently posted an excellent piece on Caregivers Vs. Caretakers on OTI.
Both Zill and Tenczar Curran have already begun their efforts. Watch for their names in the OTI and other group discussions and please offer your thanks to them for volunteering.
As a final thought Aronson said, “Both of these women are my dear friends with full lives, heavy schedules and a host of responsibilities. Their agreement to take on these important volunteer positions is a testament to their commitment to the OTI mission and its members. We are all fortunate to have them as advocates and friends and we encourage members and others to express the concerns they would like Amanda and Ashley to address.”
Please view our two brand new video “Thank You From the Bottom of my Donor’s heart” on You
Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifyRsh4qKF4 This video was produced to promote organ donation so it is free and no permission is needed for it’s use. Another important video is “A Transplant for Nurse Lori” this brave woman has Multiple Sclerosis and needs help paying her share of the bill for a procedure that can halt the disease in its tracks and even reverse some of it. Watch the video at www.OrganTI.org.
Also…there is more information on this blog site about other donation/transplantation issues.
We would love to have you join our Facebook group, Organ Transplant Initiative The more members we get the greater our clout with decision makers.
Please comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org . And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors. There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance. If you convince one person to be an organ and tissue donor you may save or positively affect over 60 lives. Some of those lives may be people you know and love.
May 24, 2011
For more information contact
Bob Aronson
bob@baronson.org
Bob Aronson, the founder of the popular blog Bob’s Newheart ( www.bobsnewheart.wordpress.com ) and the Organ Transplant Initiative group on Facebook (OTI) has announced OTI’s first field volunteers. They are Amanda Zill of Mesa, Arizona and Ashley Tenczar Curran of Boston, Massachusetts.
Aronson who is a heart transplant recipient notes that OTI is a group dedicated to the principle that anyone who needs a blood, tissue or organ transplant should be able to get one. The group engages in thoughtful discussions on donation/transplantation issues all day every day and takes specific action on many issues. Aronson noted that, “Zill and Tenczar Curran are long-time members of OTI and both have personal familiarity with donation/transplantation issues. Both are wonderful, caring people and I’m honored that they agreed to help.”
Amanda Zill has been a practicing Registered Nurse (RN) for 25 years and still works full-time in her profession. She is the mother of three and a passionate patient advocate who has shown unique skills in being able to match available resources with patient and family needs. Depression, for example, is often a problem with pre and post-transplant patients. Zill’s experience gives her the tools to quickly provide OTI members with the right links and resources to address symptoms, proper treatment, providers and even insurance coverage. Ms. Zill will be OTI’s Information Resource Officer and Patient Advocate. As a nurse, Amanda is keenly aware of the stress placed on families because of transplant issues and will make every effort to provide information and resources that can help diminish that stress. While time does not allow her to address the specific issues of every patient, she will provide accurate and timely general information on a number of subjects as her time permits.
Aronson characterized Zill in this manner, “Picture your favorite warm, compassionate knowledgeable and highly skilled nurse and you have pictured Amanda Zill”
Ashley Tenczar Curran is a mother, wife, caregiver, a former Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a tireless advocate for blood, tissue and organ donation. Through internet communication and by telephone she daily offers support to patients and their families, donors, donor families and caregivers. Her husband Peter, who suffers from Hepatitis C, is on the national liver transplant waiting list. Each day they hope the phone will ring with news that there is a liver available for him.
In describing Tenczar Curran’s role as OTI’s Hepatitis C and Caregiver Support Advocate, Aronson said, “Ashley will regularly contribute thoughts and information about these important issues as part of our effort to be more responsive to member concerns. Not only does she live with Hepatitis C each day she is an experienced caregiver who is fully committed to helping others who share her situation.” Ms Tenczar Curran recently posted an excellent piece on Caregivers Vs. Caretakers on OTI.
Both Zill and Tenczar Curran have already begun their efforts. Watch for their names in the OTI and other group discussions and please offer your thanks to them for volunteering.
As a final thought Aronson said, “Both of these women are my dear friends with full lives, heavy schedules and a host of responsibilities. Their agreement to take on these important volunteer positions is a testament to their commitment to the OTI mission and its members. We are all fortunate to have them as advocates and friends and we encourage members and others to express the concerns they would like Amanda and Ashley to address.”
Please view our two brand new video “Thank You From the Bottom of my Donor’s heart” on You
Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifyRsh4qKF4 This video was produced to promote organ donation so it is free and no permission is needed for it’s use. Another important video is “A Transplant for Nurse Lori” this brave woman has Multiple Sclerosis and needs help paying her share of the bill for a procedure that can halt the disease in its tracks and even reverse some of it. Watch the video at www.OrganTI.org.
Also…there is more information on this blog site about other donation/transplantation issues.
We would love to have you join our Facebook group, Organ Transplant Initiative The more members we get the greater our clout with decision makers.
Please comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org . And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors. There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance. If you convince one person to be an organ and tissue donor you may save or positively affect over 60 lives. Some of those lives may be people you know and love.