Mamassage

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People with organ transplants must take immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) drugs for the life of the transplant in order to lower the chance that the body will reject the organ. Currently, Medicare pays for most transplants and covers drugs for 36 months after the transplant if the person does not qualify for Medicare because of age or disability. At the end of the 36 months, the kidney recipient must pay for immunosuppressive drugs through private insurance, public or pharmaceutical programs, or pay out-of-pocket. Too often, people with kidney transplants must choose between taking the medication they need and other living expenses, and they may miss doses or stop taking the medication altogether, increasing the risk that the transplant will fail. Some people on dialysis may even decide not to have a transplant because of worries they will not be able to pay for the drugs. Although immunosuppressive drugs are very expensive, costing $10,000 - 20,000 a year, if the transplant fails the person returns to dialysis at a cost of over $65,000 a year to Medicare, far more than the cost of the drugs. Congressmen Dave Camp (R-MI) and Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced H.R. 3282 that would extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for the life of the kidney transplant. This is a big step toward preserving the life of kidney transplants! Please write to your Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor HR 3282. Share your story, or the story of a loved one, about your experiences with immunosuppressive drug coverage. For more information on this topic, please click here.

Neat Story

LOS ANGELES, August 7, 2007 (KABC-TV) - The push by the Department of Motor Vehicles to get more people to become organ donors led to one DMV employee giving the gift of life to another. Gaston Gonzalez had needed a new kidney since 1999.      No one in his family was a good donor match.      But at a Donate Life event last year, fellow DMV employee Hooshang Torabi heard Gonzalez's wife tell their story. Torabi offered to donate a kidney to Gonzalez in honor of the donation his daughter made to save her mother's life with a kidney donation in 1998. The two underwent a great deal of testing and it was determined Torabi was a perfect match. The transplant occurred last week. LINK: Transplant Donor Network (www.onelegacy.org)

woof woof

What’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys? Parvovirus B19, of course. Actually, no. I take that back. Parvo absolutely sucks. In fact, it worked really hard to destroy Kajsa about 6 months ago. So she became well acquainted with our old friend IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin). And it worked wonders. At one time she had over ten billion DNA copies running around in the blood. But, with a little help from IVIG, she was able to recover. And we’ve been monitoring Kajsa’s Parvo levels since that time. For the most part we have been relieved to see a steady decline. As of last month they were down to 100 (or fewer) copies. In fact, we’d started to joke about the ridiculously, unbelievably high levels she’d once shown. As you can imagine, this month I expected to hear that they were gone completely. So imagine my surprise when Mary called yesterday to inform me that Kajsa’s Parvo levels are once again over ten billion. It turns out that IVIG is incredibly helpful for 2 weeks to 3 months. After that, honey, you’re on your own. So when Dr. Morgenstern called the infectious disease docs, their recommendation was quarterly IVIG treatments. Yippee. The good news is that we’ll be able to do this outpatient. They have a little room with a recliner. (Gads, am I ever glad I took up knitting.) So we’ll go sit there for four or five hours while she has her infusion. I’ll try to read and knit. She’ll try to climb out of the chair. It should be fun. Oh, and for a couple of things completely off topic: I got the job at the salon & day spa. I’m supposed to begin next Tuesday. Woohoo! I’m VERY excited to start working again. My initial introduction to the rest of the employees was at a staff meeting. I was incredibly nervous. And they were all so young, pretty and stylish. I seriously felt like the fat girl with toilet paper on her shoe. So I just sat there and smiled whenever anyone looked my way. Then, when I ran into the other LMT the next day, I was told that they all wanted to know why I was smiling so much. (Great -- fat, toilet paper dragin’, and mentally challenged.) Thankfully, she told them that I was probably really nervous. A whoppin’ big thanks goes out to Wendy, my newest ally.    ...   ...   ... And finally, I’m learning to knit socks…on circular needles. I feel like a total klutz, but have been told that everyone feels that way, at first. So I’ll just keep knitting along. Seems like a pretty good way to get to tomorrow to me.

sticky fingers

Quote o’ Day Just a few minutes ago Kajsa informed Chris that “Every hand gets sticky from time to time…with a jellybean.” From time to time??? Who is this child? And how did she become so astute?

Éireann go Brách

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.   

The fact that he wasn't Irish and wasn't named Patrick didn't seem to thwart this in the slightest... According to the Catholics, Patty's real name was Maewyn Succat. "Patrick" was the Roman Catholic name he adopted later in life. He was born at Kilpatrick, near  Dumbarton, Scotland, in the year 387. The name changed when he was in his twenties. According to church records, Maewyn died in Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17th, 493.  He would have been 106.

When he was sixteen, Maewyn was captured by pirates and then sold as a slave to a chieftain named Milchu in  Dalriada, Ireland. For the next six years, he tended sheep in the valley of the Braid where Maewyn began hearing voices.

Understandably, these voices told him that this whole slavery gig wasn't really all that great, and that he should escape back to England. For some reason, Patrick interpreted these voices as "angels" instead of "common sense." Either way, he ran away from his master, persuaded the captain of a boat into permitting him passage back to England, and finally returned home at the age of twenty-two. Since he credited God and angels for his release, he became focused upon being holy and pure in order to thank the powers that be for his freedom.

As Patty had such a predilection toward the idea of conquering, ahem, saving the souls of Ireland, Pope St. Celestine I gave Patrick a mission to "gather the Irish race into the one fold of Christ." (i.e., convert who you can and kill the rest). In 433 Patrick landed at Wicklow Head in Ireland to begin his conquest of the evil, loathsome, heathenous Druids that were living blissful, jovial lives unaware that they were, in fact, wretched and miserable without Christ.

Over the years, Patrick went about raising the dead, healing the sick, and doing all your run of the mill "saint" stuff. In return for all this astounding work, God promised Patrick that he could be judge of all of Ireland--instead of Christ--when the Apocalypse came. As a special favor to Patrick, God also agreed to send a massive tidal wave to demolish all of Ireland and kill every Irishman so they wouldn't be tempted to join the Antichrist in the End Times. Now isn’t that sweet?  I guess we should all drink up while we still can.

Evidently, Patrick went up on a mountain and prayed for forty days. (Why is it always forty days?) It is said that his prayers were so powerful that they drove all the snakes out of Ireland. The difficult part of this tale is not in ascertaining whether or not it is true, but in figuring out who in their right minds would believe it.

Ireland is an island.

Like all islands its biosphere is unique.  Australia (another island) is famous for its peculiar and inimitable flora and fauna. The same is true of Ireland.  A reptile expert will tell you that snakes and other reptiles would not flourish in the cold, damp weather of Ireland even if they did make it there from the mainland. Furthermore, ecologists state that Ireland has frozen-over many times since the big Ice Age.  This would kill off any residual snakes that may have been lurking there.

In all likelihood the whole tale is some sort of allegory for "cleansing" Ireland of Druid worship. (Druid priests were known for tattooing snakes upon their forearms, dontcha know?)  And although there is now a huge population of Catholics in Ireland, he was never successful at eliminating all of the pagans. The annual Druidic Wickerman festival in Ireland which pre-dates Patrick, attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year.

So, I guess not all the snakes are gone.

SHAKING MY HEAD IN BEWILDERMENT

Thanks to my perusal of the website devoted to The Twin Cities Creation Science Association’s (TCCSA) science fair.

Yes you guessed it. This science fair was specifically for Christian Homeschoolers of Minnesota. Their science fair goals?

1. Know your material.
2. Be Confident.
3. Communicate well. 
4. Be thorough.
5. Pray your exhibit will witness to non-Christian visitors.

You know, that’s what I associate with science...conversion of heretics.  Oh, wait, that would be me. No wonder I don’t get it.

Bear in mind that every exhibit is required to display a bible verse. While this may seem a bit odd to me, I was unaware that the following was the perceived purpose of evolutionary biologists.

Evolutionists ask this question:
How can I prove that evolution is true (and God does not exist). This may not be stated in this way, but is inferred by their writings. Darwin and others have said that if evolution is true, there is no need for God.

Creation scientists need to ask this question:
What can I learn about myself, God, and God's plan for the universe as I study His creation today. I believe true science is a way to learn more about God and ourselves. It is a living class room in which God is the Instructor and we the students. Jesus used common things in nature to illustrate his principles as he taught.

It must be such beliefs which led them to proclaim:

Unlike Some Science Fair Sites
We Are For Real!
Unlike Many Secular Educators
We Teach The Scientific Method!

Each student is provided with a list of suggested creation science topics from which they may choose. Among my favorites are:

• How many shades of skin color are there? Use a paint scanner to test 100 people.
•  What affects skin color? Is one color better than another? What was God's purpose?
• Is intelligence influenced by physical attributes? i.e. are blondes "dumb" or does skin color influence intelligence?
• Statistical occurrence of giants, and midgets and dwarfs and giantism. Use Princess Flo, Goliath, and brothers.
• What can we learn from the Amish blood disease and sixth finger? Compare this to the half Jewish Samaritans.
• How much voltage or current can a human take before he is killed? Could do experiments on a plant.
• Build and run studies on a strata forming wave tank. This would confirm or disprove strata are all laid down at the same time.
• What was life like before the Flood?
•  Make a computer model of the Flood currents.
•  Trilobites prove Noah's flood because they are curled up or not?
•  Do Lilydale closed clam fossils support a world wide flood? Collect 100 shells and compare.
• What was the weather like before the Flood?
• Were all the animals friendly to man before the Flood? Idea: raise several baby animals like snake and mouse together to see if they remain friends as they are older.
• Why do they live longer before the Flood?
• Why did God create the moon to control the tides?
• Is there a way for humans to get to Jupiter? Mars? etc.
•  If there were aliens, why would they visit humans?
• What are aliens and are there really any in our world? see Lamentations 5:2, Eph 2:12, Heb 11:34.
• Why does the Bible say there is one glory of the sun, one glory of the moon, and one glory of the stars?
• Why did God make pests like bugs and mosquitoes?
•  Why did God make birds to fly?
• How long can flies survive freezing in a frig?
• Are humans mammals? We thought they were made in God's image and not related to animals.
• What is God made of?
• Where was the Garden of Eden? Is it around today?
• Why do people believe in Evolution?
• What events caused them to become evolutionists?

I still don’t get it.

I have no issue with people believing whatever they feel in their hearts. But why do some otherwise smart folks insist on using religion as an excuse to keep them from seeing facts & evidence clearly.
Evolution is not a theory people. It has been proven. Intelligent design is an interesting religious anecdote. But in my opinion, it belongs in a social studies class. Because, honestly, it has nothing to do with science.

Thursday Thirteen 2.16.06

Thirteen Things about MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION

        Transplantation is the act of surgically removing an organ from one person and placing it into another person. Transplantation occurs because the recipient's organ has failed or has been damaged through illness or injury.

        1. Myth: If emergency room doctors know you’re an organ donor, they won’t work as hard to save you.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ donation can only be considered if you die and after your family has been consulted.   The medical staff trying to save lives is completely separate from the transplant team. Donation takes place and transplant surgeons are called in only after all efforts to save a life have been exhausted and death is imminent or has been declared.

2. Myth: When you’re waiting for a transplant, your financial status or celebrity status is as important as your medical status.
Fact: The computerized matching system does not select recipients based on fame or wealth. Organs are matched by blood and tissue typing, organ size, medical urgency, waiting time, and geographic location.

3. Myth: Having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is all you have to do to become a donor.
Fact: While a signed donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is always discussed with family members prior to the donation. To ensure that your family understands your wishes, it is important that you share your decision to donate LIFE.

4. Myth: I am 60 years old. I am too old to be a donor.
Fact: People of all ages may be organ and tissue donors. Physical condition, not age, is important. Please sign a donor card; physicians will decide whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.

5. Myth: My family will be charged for donating my organs.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.

         6. Myth: People can recover from brain death.
Fact: People can recover from comas, but not brain death. Coma and brain death are not the same. Brain death is final.

7. Myth: Minorities should refuse to donate because organ distribution discriminates by race.
Fact: Organs are matched by factors, including blood and tissue typing, which can vary by race. Patients are more likely to find matches among donors of their same race or ethnicity.

8. Myth: Organs are sold, with enormous profits going to the medical community.
Fact: Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs in the U.S. Violators are punishable by prison sentences and fines.

9. More than 88,000 men, women and children currently await life-saving transplants.

10. Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list.

        11. An average of 17 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.

        12. In 2004, there were 7,150 deceased organ donors and 6,990 living organ donors resulting in 27,028 organ transplants.

        13. Approximately 1,000,000 tissue transplants are
        performed annually. 

Don’t let myths and rumors keep you from saving lives.
Please, learn the facts.

Related info:
Annika will be returning to the liver list.
Kajsa continues to wait for a kidney.

For more information about transplantation, donation and other associated issues, please feel free to peruse the links in the left side bar. 
Thank  you.Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Shelli, Uisce, Mama B, Jen, Dariana, Lynda

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MY $0.02

Some of my first memories as a child involve being “dragged” off to various rallies. I was raised to believe that certain rights are ours naturally. Period. And in the late 70s and early 80s there were plenty of these rights still available. So, most of the rallies were about equal pay, abolishing nuclear armamentation, and yes, peace. As the 90s approached, I as a young adult, picked up the signs and marched, danced and cried out for the environment.

Now here we are in the year 2006 and while those issues still exist, the one that seems to be a persistent thorn beneath everyone’s thumb is that of choice. Rarely will we see people so polarized as we do with the abortion issue. Everyone feels that they are so right...or should I say correct?

I am amazed that there are folks out there who will blow up clinics in the name of life. I am amazed that people will spend their weekends murdering deer, while feeling the need to save a cluster of cells. I am amazed that a bunch of old men have the legal ability to control not only the bodies, but the rest of a woman’s life with the stroke of a pen. I am amazed that education about birth control is being squelched at the same time that a woman’s right to choose is at such great risk.

The fact is that there is nothing I can say here that hasn’t already been said. I’m not likely to change anyone’s mind. I know damn well that no one is going to change mine. But in this political climate, I think it is important to write how I feel, think & believe. Because if I don’t I am one of the culpable.

It would be easy for me to sit back and quietly play it safe. To know that just because abortion is not – at this time – a personal issue for me, I have nothing to fear. But it isn’t just about me. It is about the (any) woman who knows, for whatever reason, that bearing a child is the wrong decision. This is such a difficult decision for a person to make & I don’t think that one woman’s reason is any better or worse than another’s. I don’t have that right...to judge, that is. The right that I do have is the ability to make decisions regarding my own body. And I am here to say that I for one do not support any legislation to remove that right.

First they came for the Communists,

and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,

and I didn’t speak up,

because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,

and by that time there was no one

left to speak up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

To see the writings of others “blogging for choice” please click here.

Special thanks go to ccw, who alerted me to this opportunity. I hope that some of you will join in.

Some who have:

• Alas, A Blog
• Desert Rat Democrat
• Sapho's Breathing
• Redneck Mother 
• Power Liberal
• Mid-Life Ramblings
• Where the revolution's gonna begin
• Akimbo
• AlterNet
• feminizzle
• Put on your big girl panties and deal with it
• I need to speak 
• Liberal - Feminist Bias
• Reclusive Leftist
• Soul Gardening
• And Others