Transplant Chronicles Volume 4 A publication for transplant recipients of all organs and their families, Number 4 published by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Giving Back to the Cause After Receiving the Gift of Enlightened Life by James Redford R ecently, I was chatting with good moments. Things of beauty a good friend of mine who works in hold particular sway. The the transplantation field. importance of family and relationships moves to the fore. “You people are amazing,” he Transplantation is more than the said. “Do-gooders would be putting gift of life—it is the gift of an it lightly.” enlightened life. Exactly what people was he But it doesn’t come easily. For referring to? Transplant recipients. me, there were many years of pain He is continually impressed by how and uncertainty. Like many people much we seem to give back to the with primary sclerosing cause. cholangitis (a type of liver disease), But there is something he and I was well-aware of my need for a other professionals cannot fully liver transplant long before it was understand. This activism that is medically necessary. Those were hard times. I alternated between so common among transplant James Redford and his recipients is not a matter of denial and fear. As I grew more ill, I daughter, Lena, possibly a developed an understanding that discipline or morality. When you third-generation filmmaker owe your life to the good of others, transplantation works. it’s simply empowering. You realize firsthand the And Lord, does it ever work. After a difficult good that can come from selfless choices such as stretch (complications that required the need for organ donation. Getting involved with the organ two liver transplants), I reached a level of activity donation cause feels instinctive. Recipients will that I never dreamed I could. My friends jokingly confirm this over and over again. tell me that I seem to be getting younger while We know the power of life; we have a lust for it. they are getting older. As clichéd as it sounds, I do feel that I’m having a “love affair” with life. Even bad days have their Continued on page 4 Transplant Chronicles is a transAction Program of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., supported by Sandoz Transplant, a division of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Partners in Transplant Health National Kidney Foundation editor's desk ✍ Transplant Chronicles H appy New Year to you all! Transplant Chronicles is published by National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Three months into 1997, I hope all of Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. you are sticking to your New Year’s Editor-in-Chief: resolutions. This Beverly Kirkpatrick, LSW Philadelphia, Pennsylvania year, as with every year, Transplant Editors: Chronicles promises Ira D. Davis, MD Vanessa Underwood, BS, Cleveland, Ohio AFAA, ACE to bring you the Plaistow, New Hampshire Maurie Ferriter, BS most informative Lakeland, Michigan Jim Warren, MS Arlington, Virginia updated news in Cheryl Jacobs, LICSW the world of Beverly Kirkpatrick Minneapolis, Minnesota Laurel Williams, RN, MSN Omaha, Nebraska transplantation. Linda W. Moore, RD, LDN Memphis, Tennessee R. Patrick Wood, MD This issue includes the first of a five-part series on Houston, Texas Teresa Shafer, RN, vocational rehabilitation, which plays a significant MSN, CPTC role in patients’ lives post-transplantation. Ft. Worth, Texas Editorial Office: As always, we ask you to send us stories or National Kidney Foundation, Inc. 30 E. 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 suggest topics that you would like to see covered (800) 622-9010/(212) 889-2210 T http://www.kidney.org in the newsletter. Don’t forget, we love pictures. C Executive Editor: Editorial Director: Beverly Kirkpatrick Diane Goetz Gigi Politoski for the Editorial Board Managing Editor: Editorial Manager: Sara Kosowsky Gary Green Design Director: Production Manager: Oumaya Abi-Saab Torey Marcus To David for His Gesture of Love by Steven A gesture of love . With God and myself, may my thinking be under control. To my brother, whom I love so much, Though you’re always busy, you never get out of The Bible says that “God gives not the spirit of touch. fear Balanced is your life, filled with love and caring, But of a sound mind,” let’s hope for a cure. An example to follow, with kindness and sharing. Continue to value the simple things in life, Like Aunt Pat, Grandma and Jeff—leading the Now that I have your kidney that keeps me going way to that ever-loving Light. A sacrifice of love, that’s what you’re showing. A change in my life, a positive gesture, May your life and Sarah’s be filled with joy. I’ll never take it lightly, I’ll be thankful forever. And in your children, whether they be girl or boy. Time is so short, so grab hold of each day. You saved my life, I was gradually dying, You’re in my thoughts continually, nothing but No self-esteem, continually sighing. blessings for you I pray! New life is mine, I feel better than ever. Take you for granted, never! God bless you, for your thoughtfulness, I’ll always take care of this organ for sure, T Your brother, Steven C Because in my mind, this organ is pure. Please keep praying for me that I might be whole, 2 Transplant Chronicles, Vol. 4, No. 4 Pre-Employment Enquiry Guide This guide kicks off Transplant Chronicles’ five-part series on vocational rehabilitation. When applying for a job, you should know what every prospective employer may and may not ask you. Please note that the list below represents the federal government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines for what a prospective employer may not ask you before you are hired. State laws may go even further in limiting questions. Some of these questions, such as “person to be notified in an emergency,” may legitimately be asked after you are hired. NAME: You may not be asked to indicate ARREST AND CONVICTION RECORDS: You whether you use “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Ms.” or “Miss” may be asked about convictions if a statement to precede your last name. nearby (on the application) notes that a conviction would not prevent hiring or if MAIDEN NAME: You do not have to answer this convictions relate to requirements of the job. because it may be used by an employer to Another possibility is that your prospective determine marital status, sex and national employer states that he or she intends to make origin. a criminal records check. SEX: Your prospective employer may ask this HEALTH: Medical questions may not be asked only if one sex is a legally recognized of you. Your prospective employer may not refer qualification for the particular job. to medical or physical exams until an employment offer has been made. Height and MARITAL STATUS AND DEPENDENTS: Many weight questions may be asked after a states have made it illegal to discriminate conditional offer of employment. based on marital status. Also, you do not have to answer questions regarding your WORKERS’ COMPENSATION HISTORY: The spouse’s name and occupation. Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits this type of question. AGE: You may be legally asked if you are 18 years of age or older. Other than that, you may DATES OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: This can be asked your age only if there is a legal be asked if your prospective employer shows a business justification for the question. nondiscriminatory, legitimate business reason, such as to assist with reference checks. PLACE OF BIRTH: This cannot be asked because it can be used to determine national PERSON TO BE NOTIFIED IN AN origin. EMERGENCY: Your prospective employer may not ask this RESIDENCE: A question about whether you question because it might suggest marital rent, own or board is prohibited by law. status. CITIZENSHIP: The Immigration Reform and REFERENCES, FRIENDS AND Control Act of 1986 made citizenship BUSINESS CONTACTS: discrimination illegal. An employer may ask if These may be asked of you only if your you are authorized to work in the U.S. prospective employer contacts them as a matter T of policy. C TYPE OF DISCHARGE FROM THE MILITARY: In some states this is an illegal inquiry. Transplant Chronicles, Vol. 4, No. 4 3 James Redford getting the word out. All too Continued from page 1 often, the film industry and transAction Council to other media are detrimental to Hold Inaugural Meeting the causes, with inaccurate But before transplantation reporting and a fixation on can work, it has to happen; The NKF’s transAction Council will morbid elements. In the case of unfortunately, as we all know, hold its first open membership the television show, “Chicago it doesn’t always happen. meeting on October 31 and November Hope,” the media can be There are as many reasons for 1, during the NKF’s Annual Meeting simply irresponsible. If you this problem as there are ways in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting didn’t hear, the network aired to combat it. I have joined the will provide excellent educational and an episode in which a man ranks of many other recipients social opportunities for transplant who was declared ready for who are trying to make a recipients and their families and organ donation (brain dead) difference. In my case, it those awaiting transplants and their suddenly regained means using the tools that are families, in addition to donor families. consciousness. available to me—media, Aron Eisenberg, a kidney especially film. My first project, As a professional in the film transplant recipient and actor, who a documentary film, will follow business, this irresponsibility plays the part of Nog on “Star Trek: a year in the life of long-time shames and embarrasses me.