tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14438659.post115437709596462240..comments2023-04-21T20:55:57.514-05:00Comments on Finding the Balance: Stem Cell StewardshipJohnny Jeffordshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04988818509667483600noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14438659.post-1154453792076493272006-08-01T12:36:00.000-05:002006-08-01T12:36:00.000-05:00My Heart Transplant This blog will take you throug...My Heart Transplant <BR/><BR/>This blog will take you through my personal experience of having a heart transplant. It will show the importance of organ donation. It will give guidance in case you or a loved one have to go through the transplant experience.<BR/><BR/>If the averages held, on the day I received my new heart 18 other people died somewhere in the U.S. because there wasn't a heart, kidney, liver or other organ available to save them. That makes me a very lucky guy.<BR/><BR/>I now have a chance to see my first two grandchildren this year. Both my daughter and my daughter-in-law are pregnant. Even more importantly my father, who has inoperable pancreatic cancer, has a chance to see his first two great granchildren before he dies.<BR/><BR/>What do you do when you have been blessed with a second chance in life? That's an individual decision for everyone. I decided to organize CODA. The aim is to provide financial help to the less fortunate for the cost of prescription drugs and medical costs. It also awards scholarships to young organ recipients to help them with school costs. It is a 501 (c)(3) charity so financial contributions are deductible according to state and federal law.<BR/><BR/>Organ recipients have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their life. If they don't, they will die. Many people cannot afford the costs involved in a transplant. Through CODA I'm trying to help. You can visit our website at www.codacharity.org.<BR/><BR/>Don't be intimidated by the "Make a Donation" button. It's not asking for you to donate an organ. It merely takes you to "Paypal" if you'd like to make a secure tax-deductible charitable contribution via the Internet. Thanks and I hope you enjoy reading about my personal experience.<BR/><BR/>Any day is a great day for a patient to receive a transplant, but to receive my heart on Valentine's Day, 2004 is very special to me and my family.CODA-Organ Donation Charityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09486375952303394713noreply@blogger.com