A Note From the Support Group Coordinator

I had the urge to express my gratitude to all of you who have been such a blessing in my life this year , in years past and hopefully long into the future. I'll take advantage of this forum to let you know how much I truly care about each of you, your struggles and triumphs, your wins and your losses, and all the small and large bumps and grinds of life as we move along this wild roller coaster ride of lung disease and transplant.I've been particularly fond of an expression I like to use when I give a talk for the Donor Awareness Council.....no matter where we come from or what disease we've been saddled with, we're all in the same boat; we just have different paddles. I've always been a student of human nature and I consider myself blessed indeed to have been put on this path with all of you. Each of you, in your own way, has shared a part of yourself that helps me to be a better listener and to learn more about what is important to someone who deals with chronic illness.So as we look forward to 2007, I would like you all to know that the struggles and triumphs of 2006 were made immeasurably easier to bear and soooo much more fun to celebrate with you than they would have been without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to my dear husband, Dennis, who has stood so faithfully by during all the ups and downs.....I love you!!Here's to a successful and healthy 2007.....our new full-time social worker will be introduced at our first meeting on January 29th, 2007. We can look forward to the "big move" to the Anschutz Campus of University Hospital sometime in mid-year 2007. I hopefully will be established as a member of the Patient/Family Care Advisory Board and , God-willing, I hope to continue to co-facilitate our support group.May each of you enjoy this miraculous holiday season and may peace reign on earth and in each of our lives. Love and Blessings, Cindy Anderson

Susan Hamelin an Everyday Hero!

Our Lung Transplant Support Group Potluck was the scene of much excitementMonday night as the Channel 7 news anchor, Mitch Jelniker, and hiscameraman, surprised Susan Hamelin with their "Everyday Hero" award,co-sponsored by Regis University.

A few of us got our "mugs" on camera andwe were privileged to have Susan's family there to help us celebrate. Weall hope that "The Lung Connection" will get some much needed publicity andthat Susan will receive the recognition she justly deserves.The dates for airing the segment are as follows:

Sunday 12/3 10pm
Wednesday 12/6 11am
Friday 12/8 4pm
Saturday 12/9 5pm
Sunday 12/10 7am

If any of you have the ability to record the segment for our support group"archives", please do so. I'm sure that many of us will be happy tocontribute to your cost as we can.

Thanks everybody who helped make this a memorable event!! Cindy Anderson

An Update on Plans, People, and the Directory

Welcome and Introduction
Welcome! This Blog is created for the Denver based, Lung Transplant Support Group and those who wish to share in our dialogue. We reach throughout the Rocky Mountain Region and beyond. We have fellowship with folks in Kansas to Hawaii, from Montana to Texas. We are from all walks of life, for lung disease is totally non-discriminatory. We meet monthly, share our walks, listen to talks, dine on covered dish / potluck and extend our connection with one another as we are able through the internet, the phone and from time to time, a cup of pleasure at a pleasant café. There are a few rules on this blog and it starts with respect and ends with respect.

This is a public forum so do not expect what you say to be confidential.
This may be a place where we share our lives in depth so please read it with due respect.
Respect others time when you write, and write what you need to say.

The Support Group Potluck generally meets on the last Monday of the month at 5:30 PM in the 8th floor conference room of the Shiver's Building at Ninth and Colorado Blvd. Parking is available behind the building...enter between the buildings off of Ninth Avenue. Please bring a dish to share and your own drinks....Plates, cups and utensils will be provided. Know that you are welcome to join us, especially pre-transplanted patients, transplanted patients, support folk and family, and of course medical staff. Cindy Anderson is the coordinator and you can contact her at cindytlc@msn.com .

For Blog talk questions you can write to me at mjleite51@ecentral.com . Thank you for joining in the conversation and keep connected.
Michael J. Leite - IPF left lung transplant patient - March 22, 2004 - Phone 303-408-5223

To make an entrance into the blog click on comments and let us hear from you!

Directory
As you may remember I have been working on a directory for the support group and it is available to all members of the support group. You can get a hard copy if you contact mjleite51@ecentral.com or call at 303.408.5223. I know there will be constant correction so I invite you to be scrupulous in editing the directory. Know that the University is not responsible for this directory. The only names and addresses we have are those given to us ... by you. We want you to be connected with other pre and post transplant patients and their support folks. If you have any concerns, complaints, ideas, or whatever give me a ring.