Pre- and post-transplant patients offered support

Pre- and post-transplant patients offered support
Circle of Life offers camaraderie to people in unique circumstances

BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

People who are waiting for an organ transplant and those who have received one now have the opportunity to join a special support group at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.

Transplants may be for any organ that is transplanted, including, but not limited to, heart, liver, pancreas, lung and kidneys.

The group, which presently has nine members, meets on the third Thursday of every month from 7-9 p.m. Meetings are presently scheduled for June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.

Stanley Epstein, 82, of Jackson, said he formed the Circle of Life support group because, "I understood and was told that there are no support groups in this area of New Jersey for pre- and post-transplant patients and recipients. I felt the emotional drive to provide these people with the support they needed, going through these traumatic times in their lives."

Epstein, who was the recipient of a heart transplant, said he thought he was invincible and never thought about death until his cardiologist gave him the news that he had only a year or two to live. He found his prognosis distressing, but even more distressing was the news that most transplant centers did not consider people who are well advanced in age as a candidate for surgery.

After much research, Epstein found seven transplant centers throughout the United States that would consider the operation on a person his age. He eventually visited all seven locations before selecting the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center.

He remained in San Diego for 18 months before receiving a new heart on April 19, 2001, a day Epstein calls "my second birthday."

Epstein said he survived many experiences after the transplant, but each one helped to increase his tenacity, motivation and drive to succeed.

"In order to succeed as a transplant recipient and patient you must have those ingredients," he said. "You must be your own best advocate, because you are the only one who knows how you feel. You're the only one who can describe to your doctors what is bothering you. Once you do that, they are in a better position to treat you and prescribemedication and whatever other medical treatment is required to make your life a better existence."

Epstein said he formed the Circle of Life support group last year and thanked CentraStateMedical Center for provided space for meetings.

The support group provides education through articles, literature pertaining to advances in transplants, e-mail information and support activities, as well as establishing a social support network and friendships.

"Our goal and mission is to help and support our pre- and post-transplant members to preserve and cope with incredibly challenging physical and emotional stress during this period of their lives," Epstein said. "This is the way I am paying back my good fortune."

Epstein said pre-transplant patients can learn from the post-transplant members who have gone through all of the medical and surgical problems and have taken all of the medications that are required for life after the transplant.

"Sometimes members are stressed out or despondent because they are waiting for a kidney and they are going to dialysis three days a week," said Epstein. "You are spending all that time there and it is a debilitating experience. You have a lifestyle and dietary limitations. It's not a pleasant experience and existence."

All transplant patients are welcome to become part of the support group. Fore more information Epstein may be reached at 732-370-2150 or SEPSTEIN8321@Optonline. net. He noted he is not a doctor and cannot dispense medical advice.

CentraState Corporate Outreach Coordinator Robert Sposato said, "We are delighted to offer space here for the Circle of Life support group. We really didn't have anything like this in the area and we realized it after meeting with Mr. Epstein. So we were more than happy to welcome him and the group.

"From a nursing standpoint this is a unique group not only in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties, but this is the first I've heard of any support group for transplant patients in the surrounding areas," Sposato said.

"This is a face-to-face, person-to-person experience where you can get information from people who have gone through the transplant process. So the support group he has started has a wealth of knowledge," he said.

Sposato may be reached at 732-637- 6378, 609-290-5800 or by e-mail at RSposato@CentraState.com.

Anyone who wishes to attend is asked to call Epstein or Sposato prior to a meeting so that an adequate sized room can be made available for the support group's meeting.

All meetings are open to pre- and posttransplant patients and to their families (wife, husband, children, sisters, brothers, etc. ) Epstein is reaching out to guest speakers such as doctors, nurses and others who may be connected to the New Jersey Sharing Network, the only government authorized group whose purpose is to promote organ donations and remove organs for transplant.

As a result of the advances achieved in transplant medicine, the age barrier no longer exists, Epstein said.

"This experience has drastically changed my thought processes and I now cherish life," he said. "All of the things I took for granted are now precious and treasured."

As transplant programs continue to achieve success, Americans are becoming more aware of the medical advances taking place in this field. Today, organs are more carefully matched to the recipient. Organs are matched for size, blood type and other characteristics and are also tested for a variety of factors before being transplanted. Strides have also been made in transplant after-care.

"That awareness is not only helpful, but it decreases the possibilities of misconception and fear in the decision-making process," Epstein said. "At times it may become difficult to distinguish between the truth and misunderstanding created by rumor. Our support group will try to help members distinguish between the two."

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