Groundbreaking set for second transplant house12/2/2008 7:55:02 AM
By Jeff Hansel
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
If a second Gift of Life Transplant House existed in Rochester, 1,500 patients could have been served this year.
What: Groundbreaking ceremony for second Gift of Life Transplant House.
When: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Address: 724 Second St. S.W., across the street from the existing transplant house.
Treats: Refreshments follow at Gift of Life Transplant House, 705 Second Street S.W.
Donations: Donation forms are available at the Gift of Life Web site at
www.gift-of-life.org/. Checks may be sent to Gift of Life, 705 Second St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55902. A donation wish list includes toilet paper, napkins, hand soap, hand sanitizer and wrapped candy.
Advocates, who will have a groundbreaking ceremony for a new site on Wednesday, hope that wish will be fulfilled next year.
The home-away-from-home for people awaiting transplants and who are healing from one served 900 people and had to send 900 people to local hotels, Gift of Life's executive director said.
"This month (December) we currently have nine kidney or liver checkup patients, 15 stem cell patients, 12 bone marrow patients, two patients waiting for hearts, two liver patients, five kidney patients, one lung waiting," said Sister Jane Frances Gregoire.
Gift of Life is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise enough money to build a second location across the street.
The nonprofit has raised $2.3 million toward a goal of $7.5 million. That's enough to begin construction at the new site, 724 Second St. S.W., while the campaign continues.
Construction on the new building is expected to be done in October or November next year.
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=373307
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