Newspaper Page Text
DECEMBER 17, 1998
10A
Use of blood from unrelated donor
offers hope for sickle cell treatment
By Patrida J. Mays
ASSOCIATED PRESS Writer
ATLANTA
A 12-year-old boy suffering from
sickle cell anemia had unprec
edented surgery to replace his
bone marrow with stem cells
transplanted from an unrelated
newborn’s umbilical cord, doctors
said.
“Wehope thereis a 50-50 chance
that this cord blood transplant
will cure” the boy’s disease, said
Dr. Andrew Yeager, director of
pediatric hematology, oncology
and bone marrow transplant at
“Medically needy”’nursing home program
placed on the chopping block by state
EProposed cuts will
be a hardship for
many nursing home
residents and their
families.
ATLANTA
(AP)Joyce Swing wonders how
she’ll manage to keep her hus
band in a nursing home if the
state eliminates a program that
pays nursing home bills for Geor
gians with too much money to
qualify for Medicaid.
The $2 million “medically
needy” nursing program is part
of S6O million in budget cuts
Donors needed to
give the best gift: Life
ATLANTA
Ifyou are looking for the perfect
gift that could last a lifetime, then
give the gift of life by becoming an
organand tissue donor. This Christ
mas will mark another holiday for
the 850 Georgianswho arewaiting
for a life-saving organ transplant.
The need for organ and tissue
donors is great. More than 60,000
Americans await life-saving organ
transplantswith anew name added
to the waiting list every 16 min
utes. Thousands more are on the
list for tissue and corneas that can
dramaticallyimprove their quality
of life and restore sight.
“Donation creates a true sense of
giving during the holiday season,”
said Lauren Biggs, chairperson for
the Georgia Coalition on Donation.
“What could be more precious than
a second chance at life for Geor
gians waiting for life-saving or
gans?”
The solution to the critical need
fororgan and tissue donorsis quite
simple: more people need to sign
donor cards or say “yes” to becom
ing a donor when receiving their
driver’s license. The next critical
stepthat can be translated directly
into saved lives is discussing the
decision to become a donor with
family members so that your
wishes can be carried out.
Recent studies have shown that
although most Americans support
organ and tissuedonation, most do
not share their decision with fam
ily members, which is critical to
" Nutcrackerina
* Nutshell will be
= » presented by the
Augusta Dance Theatre
- atthe Augusta State
University Maxwell
Performing Arts Theatre
on Dec 19-20, Sat.-Sun., at
8 PM. Saturday, 3 PM.
Sunday. Adults $lO,
« §@Miors and students
7" $7.50. For more
information, call .
706) 667-4099.
AUGUSTA FOCUS
Emory University.
The procedure performed Fri
day (Dec. 11) is believed to be the
first time unrelated cord blood
has been used specifically to treat
sicklecell, an inherited, crippling,
and sometimes lethal disease
prevalent among blacks. Unre
lated cord blood has been used to
treat other blood diseases such as
leukemia and other cancers.
Doctors should know within two
to four weeks whether the stem
cells taken from the cord are pro
ducing an adequate blood for the
boy, Keone Penn of Snellville.
Keone willundergo transfusions
proposed by the Georgia Depart
ment of Medical Assistance.
The department estimates the
cut would affect 500 to 1,000 nurs
ing homeresidents. Advocatesand
industry officials say the figure is
more like 2,500 to 3,000 residents.
“If the program is terminated,
how will I live?” said Mrs. Swing,
72, of Woodstock, who worries that
her husband, Chester, will have
toleave the Canton nursing home
where he has lived since he suf
fered a stroke in April.
Before the stroke, Mrs. Swing
ran herself ragged caring for her
78-year-old husband, who also
suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.
“I didn’t sleep for 36 hours at a
ensure that their wishes are fol
lowed.
“Theholidaysarethe perfecttime
to give the special gift of life by
signing an organ and tissue donor
card and discussing the decision
with family members,” said Biggs.
“This decision tobecome adonor is
one of the most life-affirminggifts
you can give this holiday season.
And theholidaysare anidealtime
to discuss it because families are
together.”
The Georgia Coalition on Dona
tion is one of 49 nonprofit local
coalitions and 49 national organi
zationsdedicated to educatingthe
public about organ and tissue do
nation, correcting misconceptions
and creating a greater willingness
to donate. For afree brochure and
donor card, please call 1-800-355-
SHARE. For moreinformation con
tact the Georgia Coalition at 404/
892-4505 or visit the web site at
www.emory.org/transplant/
ga_coalition.
CasEeLLA EYE CENTER, P.C.
“SERVING AUGUSTA SINCE 1948”
DR. THOMAS V. CASELLA DR. VICTOR CASELLA
QUALITY EYECARE, SPECTACLES AND CONTACT LENSES AT AFFORDABLE
PRICES WITH AN ACCENT ON PERSONAL SERVICE AND ATTENTION
9AM - S:3OPM
WED. | DAM-IPM _
TSAM IPN
AREMINDER...THE RECORDS OF DR. BENJAMIN BOGLA, DR. JOSEPH SELDIN, DR. O.M. MURPHY,
DR. JOHN PAUL JONES AND HOTLZCLAW OPTICIANS REMAIN ON FILE AT CASELLA EYE CENTER
722-0817
The perfect stocking stuffer:
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to keep normal blood cells work
ing within his body until the stem
cells have enough time to start
growing new bone marrow.
He will then require weekly
outpatient visits so that doctors
can monitor his blood count, but it
will be at least a year before they
know whether Keone has been
cured of sickle cell. :
“This will be just one patient
but if this is cured with little side
effect it will certainly make cord
blood transplant a more attrac
tive option where other people
will follow suit as well,” said Dr.
John Wagner, director of the In
time,” she said. “The doctor said if
I didn’t do something I would be
getting sick.”
Currently, Swing’s $2,010
monthly income from Social Se
curity and his military pension go
to pay for his wife’s rent, grocer
ies, car and medical insurance.
The “medically needy” program
‘pays his nursing home bill.
The income threshold for quali
fying for Medicaid, the govern
ment health-care program for the
poor, is $1,482 a month in Geor
gia. A nursing home typically costs
between $2,250 and $3,000 a
month.
Department officials acknowl
edge that the cut will be a hard-
AUTO ACCIDENT & PERSONAL
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Dr. Scott E. Sherman and Staff
The Sherman Clinic of
Chiropractic
767 BROAD ST} (1 BLOCK FROM RIVER WALK) BROAD @ Bth ST.
Living
WE ACCEPT
& MEDICAID
722-2428
ternational Cord Blood Trans
plant Registry at the University
of Minnesota School of Medicine.
About 1 1/2 years ago, a 19-
year-old male in Virginia was
treated with an unrelated donor
for both leukemia and sickle cell,
Wagner said. The cord blood elimi
nated the sickle cell but was not
completely effective in curing his
leukemia, Wagner said.
Unlike bone marrow trans
plants, patients can receive cord
blood transplants from donors
whose tissue types are not closely
matched therefore making it
easier to find a donor match.
ship for many nursing home resi
dents and their families.
“We are not enthusiastic about
this,” said Chief Deputy Com
missioner Margaret Taylor.
But department officials say
the proposal is the result of ris
ing health care costs and Gov.
Zell Miller's mandate that state
agencies cut or reallocate 5 per
cent of their budgets each year.
The department is also trying
to spend more on programs to
keep older people in their own
homes and out of nursing homes.
The department’s budget has
been passed on to Gov.-elect Roy
Barnes, who has not indicated
what he will do.
CONVENIENT
PAYMENT
+ AVAILABLE
Southeastern develops Center '
of Excellence at Augusta VA S
The Augusta VA Medical Center
was chosen by the Southeastern
Cardiovascular Centers of Excel
lence to be developed as one of the
four initial Centers of Excelience.
Theexecutive committee presented
the medical center a grant in the
amount of $30,000.00 at the recent
sth National Scientific Sessions of
the Consortium for Southeastern
Hypertension Control (COSEHC)
held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The development of a Center of
Excellence specifically for the con
trol of hypertension in veterans is
particularly relevant and timely
because of the unique demograph
icsofthis population. Nearly three
out of four veterans are over the
age of 45 and more than a third of
veterans are over age 65 years.
With the graying of the veteran
population comesincreased preva
lence of cardiovascular disease in
general and hypertension in the
elderly in particular.
The grant is to support the ac
tivities of the proposed Center of
Fax your news in to Augusta Focus at (706) 724-8432.
BANKRUPTCY and
DEBTOR’S RELIEF
’ Are you having financial difficulties, be
‘ ing harassed or garnished by your credi
: ,‘3‘ tors?
Pk Are your properties being threatened
(% with repossession or foreclosure? If the
i answer to any of the above questions are
\, true, it is possible that you can acquire
: relief under Federal Law (Chapter 7 or 13
i under Bankruptcy Act). To determine if
' =S you qualify for relief call:
I Arthur Walker, Attorney at Law_
| 796-7382 . 1-800-742-6524 |
NO CHARGE FOR
CONSUL TATION
Should other services be needed, you will be advised of any further cost beforehand.
Warning Signals:
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We will work with your attorney to expedite your claim.
INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED AND FILED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
IMMEDIATE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
""293-.0141
% R “The Total Approach to
| Health Care”
Y A Dr. Robert M. Clark
: : Family Medicine
Experienced in Care of Infants, Children, Teenagers,
Adults and Senior Citizens
Holistic Approach to Wellness
Evening Hours * Same Day Appointments
Accepting Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Jobn Deere,
and Most Health Insurances.
For an appointment, call =
@ Center for Primary Care
' (706) 650-7563
477 N Belair Road, Evaqis, Gegrgia
h . 4
Excellence aimed at reducing the
morbidity and mortality of cardio-'
vascular diseases in the South-'
east. Theseactivitiesinclude train
ing physicians, educating patients,
screening activities, data collec-'
tionon the prevalence of hyperten
sion, and other risk factors, as well
as development of algorithms for,
the management of chronic cardio
vascular ailments.
George A. Mensah, M.D.,
FAC.P, FAC.C, chief of the
Cardiology and Head Department
of Cardiovascular Care at the VA,
will be the principal investigator.
A major strength of the proposed
Center of Excellence is the exper
tise of its multidisciplinary team'
that includes a nephrologist, endo
crinologists, neurologists, physi
cian assistant, and clinical phar
macists.
“Itisagreat honor tobe the only
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
chosen for this project,” states
Ellen DeGeorge-Smith, director of
the Augusta VA Medical Center.
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