SPECIAL ALERT FOR HELP!

[HeartofNC]

This is a real situation. I know there's folks from all over the east coast in here, maybe, just maybe you might know someone who could help.

Please see read below...

On Friday, February 7, 2003 at 4:20PM, Jesica was wheeled into surgery at Duke Children's Hospital in Durham, NC to receive a life saving 'heart and lung' transplant. This was a long awaited, hard fought battle, and it should have been a wonderful success story. Instead, things went very wrong, doctors made mistakes (i.e.). Jesica has type '0' blood and the transplanted organs are type 'A'. Thus Jesica's body rejected the new organs and she is currently fighting for her life in the Duke Children's PICU. If Duke cannot procure a new set of lungs and a new heart (type '0') within the next five days, Jesica will die. Duke has now placed Jesica back on the National Transplant list. She is in critical condition, so of course, she goes right to the top of that list. But this does not mean a match will be found within five days. In an effort to help things along, I have spent all day, today working with the news media, TV as well as print. We are looking for anyone who might be able to help our baby.

Every day hundreds of auto accidents occurred up and down the east coast and throughout the mid west. Because of this, hundreds of people are hospitalized daily, many are killed and some wind up on life support. Unfortunately due to religious beliefs and the tabu that is attached to organ donation, many families simply that loose a loved one never consider donating their life saving organs. Many others simply have never think about the lives that may be saved if they did. Thus, these precious organs are simply buried with the deceased. My plea is to anyone who may know of someone, or may know of a family who currently has a loved one on life support. It makes perfect sense to share these precious organs with others so their loved one might live on in some small way through them. I ask you to please pass this e-mail on to at least five people on your 'buddy' list. Our hope is that, maybe someone will know someone, who knows someone, who through their own terrible loss might be willing to help save the life of a very sweet little girl.

Jesica is a petite 17 year old girl, her blood type is '0 positive' and doctors say they are 90% positive, if they have type '0' organs (heart and lungs) they can literately save her life. However, the organs have to be procured within the next three to five days and they would need to be from a child, or a small adult. If there is an angel out there somewhere, please notify Jesica's Hope Chest by e-mail 4JHC@msn.com or call me, Mack Mahoney at (919) 497-0022. I will notify Duke Children's Hospital. Please, Please, pass this e-mail along to everyone you know, a child’s life depends on you!

Thank you,

Mack Mahoney,

JHC



Editors Note: If you hear of any child that is involved in an accident or dies suddenly, please notify Jesica's Hope Chest by e-mail 4JHC@msn.com or call, Mack Mahoney at (919) 497-0022. I will notify Duke Children's Hospital. Please, pass this page along to everyone you know, a child’s life depends on you! If you can't get in touch with Mack call us at Hometowncompanion.com (919-302-6941) or Carolina Donor Services at 1-800-200-2672 and give the information so we can contact the Duke Hospital for a possible donor for Jesica.
I talked to Mrs. Maloney this morning, ( February 13, 2003) and they give Jesica till Monday at the latest to live without a transplant. Her blood type is '0 positive' and doctors say they are 90% positive, if they have type '0' organs (heart and lungs) they can literately save her life

Jesica's Hope Chest


WRAL-TV Story

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

Wow...nice and touching story. I'm O+ and I just gave blood not too long ago. I always do. I'd do it again had it not been for another appt on the 24th to my doctor for a follow up on my heart tests and so forth. I know it is routine and there are people out there in need...I wish I could help. Just think...she is just one story out of thousands we hear all the time and its sad that some people cannot get the afforded help they deserve.

[isobar]

I pray that this sad story has a happy ending and that this girl receives the organs she needs to save her life.

There absolutely should be a heightened awareness of organ donation in this country. It's such a difficult subject to talk to grieving families about. No one thinks clearly during a crisis, and the medical community doesn't want to appear like Frankenstein looking for body parts. People ought to decide ahead of time and discuss it with their families.

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

I'm an organ donor on all my cards and license as well signifies it. When my father passed in 1993, his eyes were given to someone and now they can see. We received a letter of thanks and to me, that is precious in itself.

[ColdFront77]

No offense at all to those that need blood. It is a great idea to give something like blood to others. Wanting to give it and getting weak giving it are two different things.

Actually, I am not even allowed to give it because I only weight about 105 pounds, I believe you have weigh at least 110 to 120 pounds.

[wx247]

Organ donor here as well. I have always said that if I make no other contribution to this world, that when I die my useful organs can save others.

Garrett

[pojo]

Organ Donor here too. I'm also a regular plasma donor. About five years ago, one of my friends died suddenly and the parents said to "share the wealth" of his organs.

[isobar]

I'm on the Nat'l Bone Marrow Registry too. Which reminds me, I better send them my latest address.

[weatherlover427]

I am not a registered organ donor yet, nor have I ever onated blood because I take tons of medications. I'm a bad boy.

[HeartofNC]

On the way to give blood today, my 14 year old son Keith said that he wanted to be an organ donor. We lost his brother who was 12 to leukemia when he was only 5 but remembers all the sick kids he saw in the hospital. We also have a dear family friend who was on the liver transplant list in California. (she's been healed now tho - Praise God!) anyway, all this before I read the story about the girl ~ What a Valentines day this has been!

Vicky - another future organ donor

[MScoast]

I nearly lost my son 4 years ago when an illness snuck up on him. He had to receive blood platelets in order to save his life. I am so thankful to people who donate their blood! A few minutes of our lives can save someone elses life. I am not yet a organ doner, but I will make sure I register as soon as possible.

A very touching story. I pray that she gets what she needs.

[HeartofNC]

POSTED: 6:04 p.m. EST February 15, 2003
UPDATED: 12:06 a.m. EST February 16, 2003

DURHAM, N.C. -- A 17-year-old girl was still fighting for her life Saturday after an unsuccessful organ transplant.

Last week, Jesica Santillan had a heart and lung transplant at Duke Medical Center. Her body is rejecting those organs, and the family fears the hosptial may be to blame.

It's a race against time to save Jesica's life.


Santillan had a heart and lung transplant one week ago. But it instantly went horribly wrong.

"She had gone into acute rejection," said a family friend. "He (the doctor) said he made a mistake and that he was sorry."

Jessica is a type O+. According to the family, the donated organs were type A - not a match.

The family said a mistake was made by the hospital.

Jesica needs another heart within a few days or she'll die.

Despite the problems, Jesica's mother is somewhat forgiving of the doctor.

"She feels that she's somewhat angry," said another family friend. "But she believes the doctor is trying very hard to do what he can to save her daughter."

Though time is running out for Jesica, her mother refuses to give up hope.

"A lot of hope," she said. "Nothing is impossible."

Duke hospital released a statement saying Jesica is once again on the national waiting list for new organs. The hospital says it continues to keep a careful eye on her and also is carefully examining all aspects of her care up to this point.

They hope to find a suitable donor soon.

For information about organ donation, transplants and the Jesica's Hope Chest, a foundation set up in Jesica Santillan's honor, see the following links:

Jesica's Hope Chest Foundation
Carolina Donor Services
Share Your Life: Coalition On Donation

[Rainband]

How very sad!!

[HeartofNC]

Sorry the links didn't transfer, let me know if you want to see them..

HeartofNC

[streetsoldier]

I am unable to give blood, due to my Rx; I AM an "organ donor" as shown on my Missouri DL, and I wish I could do more...

[HeartofNC]

Just keep her and her familly in your prayers. An 11 year old boy was killed riding his ATV - i think he may have been dead too long to use his organs unfortunately - just keep praying...

[HeartofNC]

Jessica in surgery now! They started surgery about 5:30AM Eastern time - got organs from Boston - she's been all over the news - Good Morning America and all the local channels... They give her a 50-50 chance to survive surgery, keep praying!!!!!

[isobar]

HeartofNC and MSCoast, How very sad that you both lost children to illness. My heart goes out to you both and all who have experienced such profound loss.

I pray that Jessica's parents will experience the joy of bringing her home one day soon on the road to recovery.

[JQ Public]

Such a sad situation...heard she got new donor organs this morning and now she is in critical condition after the surgery. Best wishes to jessica

[Rob-TheStormChaser]

I think this time she'll make it since the docs made sure all went just right!