President’s Corner

Welcome to the Heart Exchange Support, Inc. website.  We would like to keep in touch and learn about your experiences.  Please -let's keep in touch.  Our e-mail is support@heartexchange.org

Visit us every month and find new information related to our activities.  We are here for you.  Thanks.  Violet

I know from personal experience that when I was told I needed a heart transplant, I knew nothing about it nor did I know anyone that had had a heart transplant.  I was nervous and scared until I met the Heart Exchange members and realized there were many success stories and people that I could actual talk to about my concerns. 

My family benefited from the meetings too and it did not seem as science fiction to them anymore.  We all felt very confident when I finally did go into surgery for my new heart.

We here at the Heart Exchange want to encourage all of you to join our support meetings whether or not you are already transplanted or waiting for an organ.   We will listen and share our own personal experiences which are can be different from one patient to another and/or  similar in many ways.

Violet with Dr. Frazier (2009)

On September 29th at the 5th National Learning Congress on Organ and Tissue Donation,  SLEH received its first-ever Silver Medal of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We were among 428 of the nation's approximately 5,000 hospitals to be honored at this event. We received this award for exceeding a 75% organ conversion rate as well as having greater than 10% of our donations be DCD. This is a tremendous achievement and K. Stark would like to honor our critical care nurses for their role in making organ donation possible at SLEH.

She is hosting a "thank you" celebration on Wednesday, November 18th from 1:00 - 3:00 PM in the Ansary Atrium. Cake, cookies and punch will be available. Remarks and a presentation of the award will occur at 1:00 PM. Special guests include Dr. Peg Van Bree (new CEO) and Sam Holtzman, CEO of LifeGift.  She is also hoping that members of the Heart Exchange would be willing to attend! I think it would be great for our critical care nurses to see what the other side of organ donation looks like. If you would like to attend, please notify me so I can send her a total count

Now that the Heart Exchange Golf Tournament is finished, we will begin to focus all our attention on donor awareness. 

 It is a matter of life and death to sign up donors and there are many misconceptions about being a donor.  We are needed to get the correct information out there. 

Please help by talking about being a donor to all your friends and family and asking them to tell one person and that person telling one person.  Soon we will have all of Houston signing up to be a donor.  I can’t think of anything better than that!

Recently in the Houston Chronicle an article was written about a woman who had a transplant a year ago.  It mentioned that she was inspired by a visit from the Heart Exchange and especially Charles Liszcz. 

She was waiting to get a new heart and was concerned as many of the patients are, about life after transplant.  Charles stayed and talked to her awhile and he told her that he runs marathons and plays golf 3 to 4 times a week.  Since she loves to play golf, this was very comforting information and actually seeing all of us that have done well after transplant and knowing there are no guarantees but we were living proof of the possibilities also gave her comfort. 

By the way, the picture for the article had her on the golf course hitting the ball.

Thank you, Charles for being such an inspiration to all.

I am getting acquainted with all my new duties as President of the Heart Exchange.  I am meeting so many wonderful people who are devoting their time helping others.  I did not realize how much goes on behind the scenes to get the final results.  It really takes a team effort to make a successful program and the Heart Exchange certainly does have a great team. 

My main agenda is to build our membership and develop new ways to receive donations so that we can continue to help as many people as possible.   I have applied to Randall's and Kroger to get a number assigned to the Heart Exchange and have now received that number.  You only have to register once and the rest of the year all future purchases will count toward our quarterly check.  Please go online to get your forms or go to the SLEH Auxiliary Office and pick up the forms there.

Thank you for all your help.  God Bless,

The Heart Exchange held its annual election of officers and chairpersons for committees for 2009 – 2010.

 President - Violet Brabham

VP/Treasurer - John Price

VP/Secretary - Judy Price

Historian - Carrie Arnold

Committee Chairperson

Communication, Rebecca Butler-Holder

Golf Tournament, Rebecca Butler-Holder -  Wayne Holder (Coordinator)

Mail, Rebecca Butler-Holder

Merchandise, Rebecca Butler-Holder

Organ Donor Awareness, Rebecca Butler-Holder

Apartments, Tom Griggs

Clean-up, Beulah Bennett

Membership, Beulah Bennett

Refreshments, Nancy Aycock

Social, Carrie Arnold

Telephone, Glenda Pay

Website, Edgar Vesga

Heart Exchange Audit, Donna Hinman

The Heart Exchange had 156 volunteer hours for the month.   We visited patients for the July 4^th holiday and handed out patriotic blow outs, flags, and posters.  We have had many new guests attending the Heart Exchange weekly meetings in the Family Room on the 12^th Floor.  We look forward to seeing everyone at the next meeting.