Again, some local news and other items of general interest.  The news
about the biliary atresia newsletter is about halfway in.

The subject of temporary housing by transplant centers has come up before.
There's news here about housing for Mt. Sinai in NYC.

The Donor Recognition bill is mentioned.  I hope to get a current list of
co-sponsors soon and will post it.  We need this bill people!  If you
haven't called your rep yet, you're being lame.  Let us know if your rep
refuses to co-sponsor.

Disclaimer:  I just scan it and post it folks.  Incorrect or out-of-date
information about phone numbers, joggers, walkers, or the weather, is
strictly out of my control.

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Transplant Recipients International Organization
Long Island Chapter
P.O. Box 922
Huntington, NY 11743-0922
516/421-3258

                                        MAY 1994
                                        VOLUME V   No. 9

NEXT MEETING

WEDNESDAY MAY 11 is the date.  DR. THOMAS DIFLO of the New York
University Medical Center is our guest speaker.  Dr. Diflo is a
transplant  surgeon,  and  is  involved  in  experimental  small
intestine transplants. He will be reviewing current developments
and future trends in transplantation.  Dr. Diflo has planned to
be with us on two previous occasions, but medical commitments
and the weather changed those plans.  We look forward to getting
us all together for what will surely be an interesting evening.

WEDNESDAY MAY 11  8 PM  KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS  UNION DALE

LAST MEETING

Why  don't  we  just  change  TRIO  to  mean  The  Rain  Inducing
Organization and be done with it?  Yes, it rained the night of
the last meeting, and on the day of the rose garden planting.

However, Ms. DIANE LIE BERMAN of Mt. Sinai Hospital bravely made
her way through the mist to give us some insights regarding diet
and Cyclosporin and Predinsone side effects.

                Side Effect             Nutrition

Cyclosporin     Hypertension            Decrease Sodium Intake
                Elevated Potassium      Decrease Potassium

Prednisone      High Blood Glucose      Avoid Sweets
                Salt retention          Decrease Sodium Intake
                Stomach Ulcer           Avoid Spices & Alcohol
                Weight Gain             Exercise & Reduce fats
                High Cholesterol        Reduce Animal Fats

Ms  Leiberman also noted that products called "low salt" may
contain a lot of sodium in other compounds, the calcium in green
vegetables is not always absorbed as efficiently as dairy,  cook
with olive or canals oil, as monk unsaturated fat is healthier,
"no cholesterol" products may contain fats,  and watch Health
Food products, as there is less Government control over them.
Read the labels. As in all matters of your health, check with
your doctor about your diet before YOU make any changes.

We thank Ms. Leiberman for being with us.

ANNUAL MEETING

The April meeting was also the Annual meeting and five years of
chapter operation were celebrated with cake and some ceremony.
Anne  and  Don  Treffeisen  were  presented  with  a  plaque
acknowledging their founding efforts, and Bob Carroll received a
congratulatory letter from Dr. Jefferson Pennington, President
of TRIO International.  Anne's President's report summarized the
activities of the year.  Don Treffeisen, filling in for Patricia
Yankus, treasurer, stated that the Chapter was solvent and was
essentially on budget for the year.  Walter Ruzak reported that
the chapter membership has grown this year, and Jan Schichtel
related her successful public relation activities.

The following were reselected  to the Board for two year terms.
Robert Carroll, Jeanne and Gerry Eichhorn, Marie and Ron
Healey, Peggy and Walter Ruzak, and Patricia Ann Yankus.

ROSE GARDEN

Naturally  it  rained,  but  under Jeanne  and Gerry  Eichhorn's
direction a few hardy souls got the  thirty  new rose bushes
firmly planted in the Donor Garden in Eisenhower Park.   The
garden will be rededicated,  with press coverage,  a bit later
this Spring when the bushes are in bloom. We'll let you know.

The summer heat and lack of watering resulted in the loss of
most of the roses planted last year.  WE NEED YOUR HELP to keep
them alive this year.  All one has to do is spend a quiet half
hour twice a week in this lovely spot watering the plants. The
hose is there and connected  you only need to bring yourself and
someone to talk with.  We want people to  ADOPT A WEEK TO WATER.
Please call Gerry Eichhorn and sign up to take one week during
the summer at your convenience. 516 796-3613.  THANKS.

DONOR AWARENESS

National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week (NOTDAW) received
more attention this year than in the past.  Good media coverage
is on the increase, and awareness efforts seem to be working.
Donations are up and in New York City there has been an increase
in the number of donations initiated at the family's request.

We urge you to keep wearing the Green Ribbons provided by the
New  York  Regional  Transplant  Program  (NYRTP).  They  provoke
questions and give you the opportunity to discuss organ donation
and the need to "talk to your family".  Another way you can make
a personal  impact  is to send out  the Donor Awareness Chain
Letter you received from TRIO International.  This is a good way
to spread the word to your friends. One on one, one by one.

BILIARY ATRESIA NEWSLETTER

Two Staten Island mothers of children born with Biliary Atresia
are  publishing  an  informational  Newsletter  for  families  of
children with the disease.  The children of Lisa Carroccio and
Kelly Hendershot have both been successfully transplanted and
the ladies wish to share their experiences and offer support.
If you wish to receive the Newsletter,   write to: The Biliary
Tree,  3835 Richmond Ave Box 190, Staten Island, NY 10312.

TLC EXPANDS

The Transplant Living Center (TLC) at 225 East 95th St in New
York  provides  affordable  temporary  housing  for  transplant
families while their loved one is in Mr. Sinai.  They opened in
late 1g92 with facilities for three families, are now able to
handle six  and are  planning further  expansion  this  summer.
Congratulations to Barbara Klion and Erica Miller for their hard
work and commitment in making a dream come true.  When you are
in the city stop in for a visit and see this wonderful home away
from home.  If you wish to support TLC  call  212-735-6836.

DONOR FAMILY RECOGNITION

Recognition of organ donor families at the National level is the
subject of House Bill 1012.   If the bill passes a commerative
medal would be given to those who have given life to others.
Right now the bill is stalled in committee, and before action
will be taken, 218 Representatives must sign on as co-sponsors.
So far about 150 are signed up. To encourage your Representative
to support this bill write, or call at 212 224-3121.

SOME MORE STATISTICS

The final numbers on donations and the transplants that were
performed because of them have been published by UNOS for 1993.
These figures do not include living donations.

  Donations   4849       (up from 4521 in 1992)

  Transplants performed

        Kidney 7503,    Liver 3407,   Heart 2291,    Lung 656,

        HeartaLung 60,   Pancreas 109,   Kidney/Pancreas 656.

The total transplants performed using the organs of the 4849
donations was  14,682 !   The power of the gift is enormous.
And it works,  the longest surviving kidney,  liver, and heart
recipients are now well past the twenty year mark.

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

Transplant Games.   It is not too late to register for the
Transplant Olympics to be held in August in Atlanta Georgia.
All kinds of sports are part of the fun. It is a celebration of
life.  For details call Patricia Ann Yankus  516 581 7592

Annual Picnic.  The ANNUAL TRIO FAMILY PICNIC will be held at
Belmont Lake State Park on Sunday August 14.  Belmont Park is on
the South Shore and is a bit closer to the City than Hecksher
where we were last year.   IT WILL NOT RAIN.   Start planning
now...more details will follow.   Last year we had a wonderful
day of family fun, food and fellowship.  Plan on being there.

Doo-Wop  Dance.  The  Columbia  Presbyterian  Gift  of  Life
Transplant Support Group is having a fifties dance with live
entertainment and a DJ in Seaford, Saturday night June 11. $15
per person.   Call Harry Reyling 516 796-9051 or John Shea 516
799 0410 for information and reservations.

June Meeting.   The June meeting will be the last before the
summer break.  Our guest is a Social Security administrator who
will answer questions about disability,  and medical insurance
deductions and coverage.  This is a subject of vital interest to
many of us so plan now to be with us on June 8.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Congratulations  to  Darla  Kowalsky,  liver  recipient.  on  her
engagement to be married!!

Arthur Micheals, liver recipient, completed his second Boston
Marathon April 18 with accompanying publicity..Go Artie!

Rebirth day congratulations this month go  to Len  Levine,  and
Lindsay Bowden, Cready for kindergarten?.  And last month marked
20 years for Sharon Meus since her kidney transplant.

Sadly we must report the death of our friend and Board Member
Vito  Suglia from  causes  unrelated  to  his  transplant.    Our
condolences  and prayers go to Bette in her loss.

SEE YOU THEN,

WEDNESDAY   MAY 11  8 PM  KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS  UNION DALE

DR. THOMAS DIFLO   TRANSPLANTATION TRENDS