#crowdfunding for organ transplant

[transplants-india]

Hidden Truth of Energy Drinks Leading to Organ Health Risks

Energy drinks are the new fast hit in today’s quick world, but these drinks, containing caffeine, lots of sugar, and stimulants that can pile up the dose on vital organs like the liver, kidneys, and heart, have severe long-term health risks. Although giving an excellent temporary energy boost, the overall effects on critical organs result in serious medical challenges, often through complex treatments, including transplants.

NGOs play a significant role in assisting financially deprived patients needing life-giving transplantation of the heart, liver, or kidney if they suffer from lifestyle-related organ failure. It’s time we understand the consequences of energy drinks for vital organs and raise awareness about these silent health threats.

Since the liver is an organ in detoxification, it is also highly exposed to the high sugar and stimulant compositions in energy drinks. In the process of detoxifying energy drinks, the liver becomes loaded with caffeine and niacin, which overburden the functions of this organ; these can result in severe conditions, such as Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), over time.

This connection is also increasingly recognised in medical science. For example, a case report in BMJ Case Reports reported a 50-year-old man who, after three weeks, consumed four to five energy drinks per day and experienced acute hepatitis. The research explains that the chronic consumption of high-energy drinks causes toxic liver damage, commonly being treated with aggressive treatment and, at worst, a liver transplant.

Such risks can be accessed by the people so that they make the right choice. Those individuals who suffer through some complications related to the liver, which are a result of lifestyle, may eventually require help with any treatment or, if required, a liver transplant, which is highly costly and physically straining.

The kidneys also help flush out toxins in the body, so they are highly susceptible to the high sugar levels in most energy drinks. Sugar intake can lead to kidney strain and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A published study on PLOS ONE demonstrates the impact of sugary drinks on renal function. In this study, high-sugar beverages, such as energy drinks, significantly increased albuminuria, symbolising kidney damage.

The risks are more severe for those who consume more than one energy drink daily since the kidneys must work overtime to filter excess sugar and caffeine. Prolonged stress can lead to acute kidney injury, a temporary but severe decline in kidney function that may advance to CKD. There is a growing need for financial support for kidney transplant recipients, especially in areas where health care is scarce.

Energy drinks are predominantly high in caffeine and impose additional stress on the cardiovascular system. When the stimulatory agents taurine and guarana are incorporated with caffeine into energy drinks, increased blood pressure, arrhythmias, or risk factors for cardiovascular events have been documented to be associated. A case report in BMJ Case Reports, referring to a 28-year-old man with seizures and more severe symptoms post-consumption of vast amounts of energy drinks, indicated the cardiovascular risks of such beverages.

Habitual consumption of energy drinks, particularly in high doses, can cause heart rhythm disorders, high blood pressure, and other increased threats towards heart disease. This affects people with lifestyle-induced issues in the heart, and finding proper care requires financing for people requiring heart transplants and other highly advanced treatments.

Understanding the health risks of energy drinks would offer a firm start towards better health. Healthy choices include natural hydrating beverages, balanced nutrition, and quality sleep for sustainable energy without risking organ health. Public health education is needed to counsel people about the potential harm of regular consumption of energy drinks to reduce the need for organ transplants.

For those already with organ health problems, NGOs like Transplant India act as a safeguard. Through finances, Transplant India ensures that impoverished patients get needed life-saving transplants on their livers, kidneys, and hearts. In this sense, this organisation connects people with funds, which is vital in giving patients another chance at life.

An energy source from energy drinks may be innocuous, yet the long-term effects on vital organs are no joke. There is extensive evidence of an association between energy drink consumption and various conditions affecting the livers, kidneys, and cardiovascular conditions, making the issue discussed as vital as ever. Understanding the effects of caffeine on health and the high sugar intake health risks is essential, as both play a significant role in organ health. Recognising these risks can help prevent severe complications.

Transplant India caters to the needs of those who require organ transplantation because of their lifestyle. Because of that, it brings hope to patients who cannot support themselves financially and cause help. By enabling patients and equipping them with the resources, we can assist in ensuring the people requiring an organ transplant get the appropriate medical care to restore the quality of their lives.

[filaantrocrowdfunding]

Crowdfunding and Organ Transplantation — A revolutionary change in India

Crowdfunding has grown in popularity as a potent tool for supporting various initiatives, from groundbreaking company concepts to medical cases. Organ transplantation is the one field where crowdfunding has had a significant influence. This revolutionary fundraising method has given hope and new chances to countless people in need of life-saving organ transplants in countries like India, where the demand for organs outpaces the supply.

Crowdfunding has emerged as a game-changer for patients in need of organ transplantation. An increasing number of patients and families are utilizing online crowdfunding to support their medical expenses related to organ transplantation. This approach has effectively tackled the financial barrier that often stands in the way of accessing organ transplantation. Benefits of Crowdfunding for Organ Transplantation:

Accessibility: Thanks to crowdfunding, organ transplantation is now affordable for people from all walks of life. It has eliminated the financial barriers that in the past kept many worthy patients from receiving life-saving treatments.

Increased Awareness: Individuals and organisations may dispel misconceptions regarding organ transplantation and educate the public about the value of organ donation through crowdfunding initiatives. The public attitudes towards organ transplantation have gradually changed as a result of this increasing understanding.

Community Support: Crowdfunding offers financial assistance and promotes a sense of belonging. A network of supporters who stand by the patient in need is formed when people from all backgrounds come together to support a cause. This emotional and social support may be quite helpful throughout the transplant process.

4. Timely Intervention: Traditional fundraising techniques sometimes took a long time, which caused delays in getting a transplant. Through a simplified and effective method called crowdfunding, patients may raise money for transplants more rapidly, perhaps increasing results.

5. Success Stories and Impact: Numerous success stories throughout India demonstrate how crowdfunding for organ transplants has changed the game. Thanks to the generosity of donors, patients who were previously stuck on waiting lists because of financial restrictions have successfully had procedures.

Crowdfunding has revolutionized the field of organ transplantation in India, providing a lifeline for those in need. Through its ability to mobilize funds, raise awareness, and build communities, crowdfunding has made organ transplantation more accessible and given hope to countless individuals and their families. While challenges and ethical considerations remain, the positive impact of crowdfunding on organ transplantation cannot be denied. Filaantro, the crowdfunding platform also raises funds for people who are in dire need of medical emergencies. Patients can also start fundraising pages on Child Help Foundation and Filaantro.

Thank you for reading this article and we hope that you have found a new perspective when it comes to organ transplantation.

[blazehedgehog]

Since a handful of cool people I know/follow have done it, I've set up a Throne gifts page. It's basically a transplant/combination of what is on Amazon, but I spent a while organizing it at least.

I think Throne technically has better systems than Amazon? Like I seem to remember that while I have a Throne wishlist of specific items, you can also just tell Throne "Hey I want to buy this person a gift" and they'll make suggestions for things that aren't even on my wishlist? It may also show you multiple sources for gifts, if it's cheaper somewhere else? I'm not entirely sure. You can even send gifts anonymously.

For every single thing it would let me, I set all items to "crowdfunding." That means if you want to contribute to something, but not necessarily spend the full price, you can do that. It also means you can get the ball rolling and hope somebody else picks up the slack later on, or even put money down in small increments over time, if that's your style. And I think I can also contribute money to my own gift goals, so it's kind of like giving me a discount. Maybe.

Is it a bad idea to set it to crowdfunding for over 50+ items? You tell me.

No, I'm serious, actually tell me, because I'm not sure. If any experienced Throne-heads are out there and have any advice on if I'm doing something wrong here or committing a faux pas, don't hesitate to drop a line.

Anyway, for those of you who care, this could be useful for my birthday in about a month and a half!

[shreejaraj]

Dr. Karthik Mathivanan is a medical stalwart with more than 15 years of experience as a multi-organ

transplant surgery specialist specializing in liver, small bowel, kidney, and pancreatic transplantation and

rehabilitation. He is one of the best liver doctor in Chennai. At MGM Healthcare, he is currently the

Associate Director of Liver and Multi-organ Transplantation, as well as HPB surgery. He is a founding

member of India’s illustrious Liver Transplant Society. He knows firsthand the myths, misinformation,

and anxieties that people have concerning liver diseases as a liver specialist and surgeon. In his long and

accomplished career, he has been part of many firsts in surgical excellence in Tamil Nadu and Chennai.

Dr. Karthik oversaw the first live donor liver swap translated under the state insurance health scheme

for the poor. It required the collaboration of four operating rooms, as well as various transplant

coordinators, surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses. Dr Karthik’s legacy is only amplified by his passion for

social justice and activism. He has been part of many philanthropic campaigns and awareness programs

throughout his career.

Notably, he has taken initiative in crafting many crowdfunded surgical procedures for transplant

patients and emergency patients with liver failure. He is the specialist transplant surgeon to initiate free

liver clinics across Tamil Nadu spreading awareness even to very rural and remote areas with minimal

access to quality healthcare. Dr Karthik Mathivanan, a proficient Liver Transplant Surgeon has been

pivotal in spreading awareness about liver diseases and has performed over 2000 complex and high risk

liver surgeries. In an effort to honour his significant contribution in the field of Liver Health and

Transplant programs leading the way to serve humanity, he was conferred the Outstanding Community

Awareness and Selfless Service Award in the field of Liver Health & Transplant during April 2022 by Dr.

Sangeetha Health & Educational Group.

He received this award from Dr.K Jayanth Murali (IPS), DGP, Government of Tamil Nadu. This shows the

depth of his passion and dedication towards his incredible and inspiring journey of healing and caring.

[kettocrowdfunding]

Crowdfunding A Kidney Transplant - Dos and Don'ts

A person suffering from kidney problems may be saved by dialysis. However, it may not be a long-term solution to kidney failure, and getting dialysis may be a costly and uncomfortable experience for the patient. A kidney transplant is a more practical choice. By crowdfunding kidney transplant surgeries, you can collect the necessary funds for even lifelong treatment.

Components of Kidney Transplant Cost

Patients are better prepared to care for themselves and their new organ following a transplant when they are aware of insurance coverage, anticipate transplant-related costs, and understand how to control those costs.

The general transplant costs include-

• Medical tests and procedures. • Having a transplant and staying in a hospital. • Aftercare involves examinations, doctor visits, and rehabilitation. • Drugs for pre-and post-transplant like immunosuppressants.

It is recommended that all transplant patients set up long-term financial plans. It is frequently advised to patients whose economic or insurance situation is unsure to participate in fundraising activities like crowdfunding a kidney transplant to create a "safety net" they may use for post-transplant expenses.

Tips for Crowdfunding A Kidney Transplant

There are some guidelines you must adhere to if you opt for crowdfunding your kidney transplant. Here are 5 tips to consider while planning your medical crowdfunding campaign -

1. Prepare a budget: Include all costs associated with a kidney transplant in your budget. This includes receiving the kidney and paying for the procedure, drugs, and follow-up visits. Speak to all the others who have had kidney transplants to find out what the outcome will be.

2. Choose the crowdfunding site: There are many of them on the internet, but you should choose the one that best meets your needs and objectives. Check if your website can provide you with a campaign manager. This makes campaign management easier for you. The website will charge you a service fee for this service. When it comes to crowdfunding, keep in mind that the cheapest choice is not always the best.

3. Be transparent: When writing your fundraising, you must use simple language. You will benefit from budgeting in this situation. Your fundraiser's budget should be documented. You will then be able to build your fundraiser and choose an exact fundraising goal. Because kidney operations are already scheduled, you can even set a definite deadline.

4. Leverage online platforms: Because kidney treatments are normally booked in advance, you will be given some time to start a campaign. Make sure you're making the best use of all of your resources. Make good use of social media. Share updates on Twitter and Facebook. Create a campaign slogan that describes the issue in greater detail. Make a photo of it and post it on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and Instagram. These typically capture immediate attention.

5. Have a team ready: This might be relatives, well-wishers, or individuals who are willing to assist in crowdfunding the kidney transplant. Ensure their dedication to your cause. This is crucial since your team will carry out your campaign. You can be preoccupied at work or elsewhere. Then, your team will intervene. Fundraising for medical causes is particularly dependent on teamwork.

Things to Avoid while Crowdfunding for Kidney Transplants

Crowdfunding is not easy. Hence, it can fall flat if not planned well. Here are 5 critical things to avoid for your crowdfunding kidney transplant campaign to be successful -

1. Not acknowledging your supporters: Building relationships is at the heart of fundraising. Keep in touch with your contributors and express your gratitude for their support of your cause to maintain the relationship you have with them. Get in touch with new donors as soon as their initial donation is received.

2. Not opting for an all-inclusive website: Even if you have a top-notch website and a fundraising strategy that draws thousands of visitors to your website, if your online fundraising system is broken or out-of-date you risk unintentionally alienating contributors and losing out on significant gifts.

3. Not stating the purpose: Individuals frequently make the error of asking for donations without justifying. Always try to be explicit about your request's goal.

4. Not focusing on the Donations page: Make sure a potential donor has an easy-to-use and seamless experience on your website. Your donation page needs to be simple to locate so that people can easily click on it and arrive at the donation page.

5. Not having a team: If you do not involve your best supporters in the process, you may not succeed in the crowdfunding kidney transplant campaign. In addition to creating awareness, it also allows them to support your project by raising more finances.

It takes a lot of time and effort to raise money for medical care. It is much simpler, though, when you have selected the appropriate platform for crowdfunding a kidney transplant.

[cookinguptales]

I just saw another overtly horrifying news story being presented as heartwarming, so I guess it’s time for this post again!

Please, please, please when you read articles online about “inspiring” or “heartwarming” situations, ask yourself this very important question:

“Is this a simple story about kindness, or is this actually about a systemic problem?”

Kindness is great, kindness is wonderful, but kindness isn’t dependable. Laws are dependable. (When they’re enforced, which is another systemic problem.) Everyone hopes that people will be kind to them, but stability and rights cannot be dependent on hope or kindness. Then marginalized people will only get both rights and resources when they are lucky and/or “sympathetic”.

That’s why individual actions cannot change problems that exist on a systemic level. More importantly, when we focus on individual action instead of systemic problems, we feel this false sense of accomplishment that actually lowers our need to engage with a problem that still exists.

Let me break this down a little further. Let’s take the article I just read. It was the heartwarming story of a teacher who adopted one of his students so he would have a permanent home — and a spot on the kidney transplant list. See, they’ve buried the lede here. The real story here is not about a kind teacher. The real story here is that children with irregular home situations (such as kids who are bounced around foster homes) are not put on organ transplant lists because they’re at a high risk for organ rejection. Moreover, the kid said that no one would adopt him because of his medical issues, which speaks to systemic discrimination against sick/disabled people and also the tragedies of a healthcare system that piles debt on the families of sick children.

So let’s look at the story this way:

Story: Teacher adopts sick child so he can get a kidney transplant. Systemic problem(s): Kids in the system can’t get adequate healthcare, there is discrimination against sick/disabled kids, many families cannot pay for healthcare. Individual action: Teacher adopts child. Problem with individual action: Other children are still in this situation. They cannot depend upon individual kindness. Systemic action necessary: Creating stable environments for sick children in the system, pushing for socialized healthcare, reduction of discrimination.

That’s the problem here with making these stories about acts of kindness rather than serious systemic issues. The focus has now been put on a Good Samaritan and human kindness rather than a problem that needs a lasting solution. It feels good, people feel good, they mark the problem down in their head as “solved”. No one’s angry. No one’s agitating. No one’s pushing for change. And so every other child in this situation is still in it.

You see this happen all the time in news media. A woman gets cancer in her office but doesn’t have enough sick leave so her coworkers pool theirs. A man has worked in the same job for his entire life but he still can’t afford to fix his car, so the community gets him a new one. A person gets sick so people crowdfund them. A disabled child cannot get the assistive device they need so neighborhood geeks/the folks at Home Depot/etc. build one themselves. A disabled woman is (illegally) refused service at a nail salon so a Walmart employee paints her nails. And of course she very humbly said that she didn’t want anyone to get in trouble.

(Yeah, this shit happens a lot with disability.)

This is how the media reduces serious systematic issues to fluff pieces to make people feel better about the world. But believe me, these things aren’t feel-good to the people who continue to suffer. They don’t need warm fuzzies, they need anger and they need action. I am so tired of seeing problems that affect my communities being warped into inspiring stories that exist to uplift people outside of those groups.

No anger, no accountability, no action. No wonder those stories are so popular in newspapers owned by billionaires. : /

I’m not asking you to stop being kind. I’m not asking you to change the world. I’m just asking you to read news articles with a critical eye to see if the focus is where it should be or if the author is just massaging the sting from injustice. Ask questions about the source of the problem. Listen to the voices of the people actually affected by the problems. Pay attention to which voices are allowed to be amplified by major companies.

Pay attention.

[brotherhoodnow-blog]

Raise funds for organ transplant our online crowdfunding platform. We provide zero setup fees. 24X7 support, no goal requirements. Keep Every Donation with yourself.

[krishnamaheshwari30098]

Crowdfunding in health sector

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a worldwide concept that has a long history and several roots, it is when the crowd collects or donates funds to a campaign for a certain cause. It can be generalized into 3 sections, the first section is of the individuals, group of individuals or organization starting the campaign, the second section is of the people who support the needy or support the cause and contribute funds for the campaigns, and lastly and most importantly the medium in most cases it is the website that brings both the donor and receiver party together. One of the notable impacts of offline crowdfunding has been the assembling and installation of the Statue of Liberty where the government of the United States of America was not able to provide funds for the project of the monument and through a newspaper advertisement, 160,000 citizens came together to fund the project.

Crowdfunding in the Health Sector

Crowdfunding in the health sector is used to raise funds for medical care or related expenses. In recent years, crowdfunding gained admiration especially in countries without universal healthcare coverage. Though, these universal healthcare coverages do not cover the medical charges of everyone. The same goes with the health insurance funds as they too do not cover all medical expenses. With the help of crowdfunding, it becomes easier to raise funds online for patients who cannot raise funds for their treatment.

It is a fantastic platform for receiving funds without even taking loans or paying EMIs. Investments or donations are usually made through online platforms, which then organize and manage the funds. The Healthcare sector is one of the domains that benefit the most from Online Crowdfunding platforms, largely because numerous patients (the crowd) have a humanitarian interest in healthcare issues and often show compassion to the patients. In Crowdfunding, neither the campaigner nor the donor has any age, religion, caste, creed, or relation barrier. The true purpose of the campaign is to raise funds without any restriction. According to the article by Entrepreneur India, Healthcare crowdfunding is growing enormously as crowdfunding platforms are raising crores of rupees every week for medical causes.

You may have come across ads on the internet that displays messages that say “My child's life is at stake, please help me or my baby will lose her life". They are followed by images of a critically ill person and his or her sorrowful family members. These intensely touching cases are usually a form of crowdfunded healthcare i.e. raising funds online to pay for someone’s medical expenses. Unfortunately, it is often the only option left for people who are in dire need of medical funds.

According to an article in "The Hindu", in the year 2015, a Hepatologist (liver surgeon) and her team at Aster Hospital in Bengaluru were most likely the first doctors in India to set up a campaign on a crowdfunding platform for a transplant. The transplant was of a Foundry worker’s daughter who wasn’t able to pay for the transplant which made Dr. Asthana and her team reach out for the option of crowdfunding. She explained, “It was unacceptable that a foundry worker’s daughter would not get her transplant because her father earned just ?7,000 a month. We have the facilities”.

Since 2013, Dr. Asthana has been working with private foundations and CSR teams of corporate hospitals to fund liver transplants. In 2018, 51 liver transplants took place and among these transplants, seven of them were crowdfunded.

Simran Ansari, an 8-year-old young girl, caught fire from garbage burning nearby while she was returning home from the grocery shop. She tried to stop the fire but failed to do it on her own. Soon she was found and was immediately rushed to the nearby “ Family Care Hospital” where her treatment was started. She suffered from a total of 48 % burn which critically affected her waist, feet, leg, and her back. She was instantly taken to the ICU. As she was unable to breathe, she was helped with artificial ventilators, for her nutritional needs she was dependent on saline drips. Her condition was critical for her age. Due to the intense burn skin grafting was needed to be carried out. Her father is the sole breadwinner of the family and he was a taxi driver so he couldn't bear the expenses of his daughter’s treatment. Taking into consideration the situation Family Care Hospital reached out to the Child Help Foundation where the partial cost of the treatment was successfully raised on the crowdfunding platform. After a month of prosperous treatment was entirely recovered and now is back to her normal life. Who would have taught that with help of the crowdfunding platform we could save lives!

Sashi Gupta, (another great example of how crowdfunding helps in raising funds) a 3-year-old baby boy of Amit Gupta (father) who is a driver, and mother Arti Gupta who is a homemaker. Sashi is the youngest child with two elder brothers. At the age of 2-year-old, he started falling ill often. When his parents took him to the local physician and provided him with the prescribed medicines he used to get better for a few days but then soon fell ill again. This process continued till one day his mother noticed dark spots developing on his body. His parents got worried and rushed him to the local hospital where he went through a couple of tests. When the tests returned it was confirmed that Sashi had blood cancer. For his treatment, he was shifted to Rainbow Children’s Hospital, where they were informed that the estimated cost of his treatment would be around 6 lakhs. As his father is the sole income producer in the family of 7, it is out of the question for him to cover the cost of his son’s treatment. With the help of Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Sashi’s family came forward to ask for the funds needed for their child’s treatment on Filaantro (Crowdfunding platform) through the Child Help Foundation. Sashi is still in need of treatment and you can save his life, click on the link to support Shashi fight the battle.            

https://filaantro.org/fundraiser/view/shashi

Crowdfunding has proved to be a blessing for projects in life sciences or other similar projects which lack enough funds. It saves time from tedious paperwork and helps upfront without any returns. Funding study projects that could direct to better treatments or find cures for deadly diseases. The crowd reaches together to support fund solutions for the world’s most dangerous and virulent diseases. Multiple biotech companies need tens of millions of money before they can get their products to the market, these amounts can make a big difference at the beginning of the journey of a young biotech startup or the existing research. Example

Urodelia, a biotech startup developing innovative drugs against cancer fund (€800,000 raised).

Antabio, a biotech startup developing innovative drugs to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections (Source: over blog).

Sometimes, it is difficult for these companies to raise capital for continued development. It is a great opportunity for new investors to invest in companies working on treatments close to their hearts. Some families who have or know cancer patients, won’t hesitate to invest in a company working to find a cure for the disease.

Crowdfunding is proving to be a salvation in the healthcare sector, especially for scientific study and research projects which require excessive funding. Projects that are more helpful than commercials, such as research on cancer treatments, and the other most deadly diseases which require widespread research for finding cures and possible treatments.

FUNDS

On the crowdfunding websites, the individual requesting funds explains his/her need and submits the required documents. The documents are then cross-checked with the hospital before putting up the case on the website to verify the documents and prevent scams from happening.

There are certain ways in which you can obtain reach on a particular campaign, medical cases usually have a constrained time frame with a large number of funds needed. This requirement varies as per the patients' needs and the donors can contribute without any limit. But, it is uncommon for a campaign in crowdfunding to fund the entire cost of the treatment as there are certain risks associated with the online methods. to understand the risks read "Understanding Crowdfunding".    The average campaign adds up to 40% of donations such as trust, government funds such as the Chief Minister's relief funds, as well as the hospital’s own CSR funds. But in a few extremely sensitive cases 100% of the donations are raised by crowdfunding platforms.

Hence, crowdfunding has revolutionized the healthcare industry, not only through funding research projects but also in a way saving and enhancing the quality of lives and reaching out to those who are in desperate need of getting treatments and paying their medical bills

[indiandefencenewz99]

covid: Hospital patient without Covid shot denied heart transplant - Times of India

MENDON: A Boston hospital is defending itself after a man's family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19, saying most transplant programs around the country set similar requirements to improve patients' chances of survival. The family of DJ Ferguson said in a crowdfunding appeal this week that officials at Brigham and Women's Hospital told the 31-year-old father of two that he was ineligible for the procedure because he hasn't been vaccinated against the coronavirus. “We are literally in a corner right now. This is extremely time sensitive,” the family said in its fundraising appeal, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars. “This is not just a political issue. People need to have a choice!” DJ's mother, Tracey Ferguson, insists that her son isn't against vaccinations, noting he's had other immunisations in the past. But the trained nurse said Wednesday that he's been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation — an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm — and that he has concerns about the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine. “DJ is an informed patient,” Tracey Ferguson said in a brief interview at her home in Mendon, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Boston. “He wants to be assured by his doctors that his condition would not be worse or fatal with this Covid vaccine.” Brigham and Women's Hospital declined to comment on DJ Ferguson's case, citing patient privacy laws. But it pointed to a response that it posted on its website in which it said the Covid-19 vaccine is one of several immunizations required by most US transplant programs, including a flu shot and hepatitis B vaccines. The hospital said research has shown that transplant recipients are at higher risk than non-transplant patients of dying from Covid-19, and that its policies are in line with the recommendations of the American Society of Transplantation and other health organizations. Patients also must meet other health and lifestyle criteria to receive donated organs, and it's unknown if DJ Ferguson did or would have met them. Brigham & Womens Hospital also stressed that no patient is placed on an organ waitlist without meeting those criteria, and rejected the notion that a transplant candidate could be considered “first on the list” for an organ — a claim Ferguson's family made in its fundraising post. “There are currently more than 100,000 candidates on waitlists for organ transplantation and a shortage of available organs — around half of people on waiting lists will not receive an organ within five years,” the hospital said. Hospitals in other states have faced similar criticism for denying transplants to patients who weren't vaccinated against Covid-19. In Colorado last year, a woman suffering from late-stage kidney disease said she was denied a transplant by her hospital because she was unvaccinated. Leilani Lutali, a born-again Christian, said she opposed immunisation because of the role that fetal cell lines play in some vaccines' development. There is a scarcity of donor organs, so transplant centers only place patients on the waiting list whom they deem the most likely to survive with a new organ. “A donor heart is a precious and scarce gift which must be cared for well,” said Dr. Howard Eisen, medical director for the advanced heart failure program at Penn State University in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “Our goal is to preserve patient survival and good outcomes post-transplant.” The United Network for Organ Sharing, the nonprofit that manages the country's organ transplant system, doesn't track how many patients refusing to get a Covid-19 vaccine have been denied transplants, said Anne Paschke, an organisation spokesperson. She said patients who are denied organ transplants still have the right to go elsewhere, though individual hospitals ultimately decide which patients to add to the national waitlist. According to the online fundraiser, DJ Ferguson was hospitalised in late November for a heart ailment that caused his lungs to fill with blood and fluid. He was then transferred to Brigham and Women's, where doctors inserted an emergency heart pump that the family says is only meant to be a temporary stopgap. “It's devastating,” Tracey Ferguson said. “No one ever wants to see their child go through something like this.” Source link Read the full article

[transplants-india]

First and Rare Liver Kidney Transplant in Marathwada Triumphs

Medicover Hospitals set health history in Marathwada by performing the first-ever SLKT in the region. This highly complex surgery has now provided a new lease of life to a 41-year-old patient who was being treated for CKD and DCLD. This process brings life through renewing the marvel of organ donation, teamwork, and so much more from the organ donation world.

The medical miracle story began with a timely cadaveric organ donation coordinated through the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee on 25 October 2024 in Medicover Hospital in Parbhani initiated a liver and kidney donation, and Medicover’s expert team did not bat an eyelid at taking on the dual-organ transplant.

Sachin, the nephrologist, led Soni, the multidisciplinary team of liver transplant specialists. Sharan Narute, urologist; Dr Mayur Dalvi, general surgeon; Swaroop Borade, gastroenterologist; Dr Chetan Rathi, is an exceptional set of anaesthetists, radiologists, and other medical personnel. Coordination among all members guaranteed the success of this rare price, underlining the importance of teamwork in medical care.

This patient was already suffering from CKD, requiring dialysis. The complications from advanced liver disease worsened the situation. The team concluded that a simultaneous transplant was the only hope for survival for this patient after all the testing and consulting processes. Success in this kind of complication requires flawless integration specialities that Medicovers meets with precision and dedication.

Simultaneous liver-kidney transplants are among the most complex medical procedures, requiring very high technical expertise and coordination. The surgery, handled with advanced techniques, has shown that the hospital is ready to take on complicated cases that most would regard as high-risk.

He was post-operatively followed by rapid improvement in liver and renal functions due to targeted treatments with immunosuppressives and blood transfusions after intensive post-surgical care. The patient stabilised enough to be discharged on 7th November 2024, an inspiring recovery.

This milestone continues to be an essential organ donation that will save lives. This transplant is only possible because of a selfless act by one cadaver donor and to stress the fact that there is a vital need for an emphasis on who would commit their organs.

The ZTCC and local organisations set up several organisations to sign up and give the gift of life to anyone interested in learning how to become an organ donor in India. Cadaver donations still need to be utilised more in India, but stories like this underline its transformative potential.

Despite numerous developments in medical sciences, financial barriers often prevent patients from getting life-saving treatments like dual-organ transplants. Herein lies the significance of financial assistance to liver transplant patients in India. Crowdfunding and assistance from NGOs that work specifically towards transplantation have become life savers, preventing economic dilemmas from blocking the doors to critical care.

Awareness of public involvement in organ donation is equally essential. Organisations promoting crowdfunding for organ transplants that make provisions for resource-poor patients will complement medical innovation with accessibility.

Medicover established a precedent for healthcare in unreached areas like Marathwada. It must be clear that local centres must grow mature enough to conduct high-tech procedures to transfer the travel burden from patients and their families. This might prove more accessible for small city hospitals to be on par with metropolitan standards with committed teams and state-of-the-art infrastructure- a revolution in healthcare outcomes nationwide.

Health knowledge, timely organ donation, and a community-driven initiative to salvage one life exemplify this power of collective effort. They present hope for patients and their families facing a tremendous challenge from end-stage organ failure.

In this regard, Transplant India takes up the challenge of underprivileged patients who are at the edge of a heart, liver, or kidney transplant. Programmes are focused on financial aid, public awareness, and raising awareness among people who would otherwise lack access to such treatments. This powerful impact epitomises compassion in healthcare.

The story of Medicover Hospitals goes beyond medical success. It marks the proof of human strength and the capability of modern medicine to counter nearly impossible situations. Such milestones strengthen the importance of organ donation, good collaborative care, and programmes to make advanced treatments accessible to the most significant number.

This is not the story of one hospital or patient but about hope for many.

[filaantrocrowdfunding]

Crowdfunding for bloodthirsty inherited disease - Thalassemia

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder. It affects the production of haemoglobin that the body naturally produces otherwise, causing reduced red blood cells. Haemoglobin is a protein present in the blood cell. It enables your red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body, supplying the other cells with nutrients.

What happens if you have Thalassemia?

Your body and bone marrow produces less healthy haemoglobin proteins and healthy red blood cells if you have thalassemia. Anaemia is a condition whereby there are inadequate red blood cells. Lack of healthy red blood cells can deprive your body’s cells of the oxygen they need to create energy and thrive since red blood cells have an essential function in delivering oxygen to the tissues of the body.

What are the symptoms of Thalassemia?

Thalassemia comes in various forms. Your condition’s kind and severity will determine the indications and symptoms you experience.

Signs and symptoms of thalassemia include:

Facial bone deformities

Weakness

Fatigue

Pale or yellowish skin

Dark urine

Abdominal swelling

Slow growth

What is the treatment for Thalassemia?

Treatment for patients with mild thalassemia trait isn’t necessary.

Treatments available for moderate to severe thalassemia include:

Frequent Blood Transfusions

Blood transfusions are usually necessary for more serious conditions of thalassemia, possibly every few weeks. Iron accumulates in the body as a consequence of blood transfusions over time, which can injure the heart, liver, and other organs.

Stem Cell Transplant

A stem cell transplant generally referred to as a bone marrow transplant, can be an option in some scenarios. It can minimize the need for lifelong blood transfusions and medicines to control iron excess in children who have severe thalassemia.

But how to afford these expensive yet life-saving treatments? At such times, what people do is, mortgage or sell their ancestral property or belongings and are found to be in debt later. Now that the world is expanding, you can find ways to fund even prolonged expensive medical treatments.

Crowdfunding is a way that can assure paying for expensive medical treatments like bone marrow transplants. Long-Medical crowdfunding is a social cause that has received considerable donations from kindhearted people all around the world. People in India who are in desperate need of financial support for medical treatments can do so by joining crowdfunding platforms to raise funds necessary for the patient’s care. medical treatments that also include transplants without you selling your valuables.

Shazin is Waiting for a Life-Saving Bone Marrow Transplant. Help Him!

Mohd. Shazin is 16-year-old son of Mr. Abdul Gafoor and Mrs. Sahida hailing from Kannur, Kerala. Shazin was diagnosed with Thalassemia Major, a blood disorder when he was one year old. Since then, blood transfusions every two weeks have been necessary for him to survive.

Shazin often falls sick with a high fever, cough and cold, his body is growing weak and has to miss school and other activities most days. The doctors at Narayana Hospital, Bangalore have proposed a Bone Marrow Transplant worth Rs. 25,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Lakhs Only)

Life Dependent on Blood Transfusions, Save 10-Year-Old Kirti Lokesh

Kirti Lokesh, a ten-year-old child, has been cursed by Thalassemia Major. His childhood has been caged because of this disease. It all started when Lokesh was two years old. What started as a mere fever turned into an unimaginable catastrophe. Soon, he started losing strength in his body, and he shrunk into skin and bones. After undergoing numerous tests, Lokesh was diagnosed with this bloodthirsty disease. The only way to free him from pain is through a bone marrow transplant. But the transplant comes with a price tag of Rs 35,00,000/- (Rupees Thirty-Five Lakhs). Kirti’s father, Keerthi Balaji is an auto driver in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He barely earns enough to feed his family of five. Somehow he has managed to arrange some amount for his treatment. But right now he has exhausted all sources of funding.

Please donate as much as you can for the sake of Lokesh. His life is in your hands right now.

[productview-org]

Little Brother’s Heart Transplant My brothers name is Thomas. We adopted Thomas when he was 4 years old. He's now 10 years of age and honestly it's quite the miracle. Thomas came to us with a past of seizures and already had plastic tubes connected to his heart. He recently suffered another seizure and since then has forgotten how to read. #Gofundme #Crowdfund #Fundraising. https://gofund.me/006b65e0

[shreejaraj]

Dr. Karthik Mathivanan

Dr. Karthik Mathivanan is a medical stalwart with more than 15 years of experience as a multi-organ transplant surgery specialist specializing in liver, small bowel, kidney, and pancreatic transplantation and rehabilitation. He is one of the best liver doctor in Chennai. At MGM Healthcare, he is currently the Associate Director of Liver and Multi-organ Transplantation, as well as HPB surgery. He is a founding member of India’s illustrious Liver Transplant Society. He knows firsthand the myths, misinformation, and anxieties that people have concerning liver diseases as a liver specialist and surgeon. In his long and accomplished career, he has been part of many firsts in surgical excellence in Tamil Nadu and Chennai. Dr. Karthik oversaw the first live donor liver swap translated under the state insurance health scheme for the poor. It required the collaboration of four operating rooms, as well as various transplant coordinators, surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses. Dr Karthik’s legacy is only amplified by his passion for social justice and activism. He has been part of many philanthropic campaigns and awareness programs throughout his career.

Notably, he has taken initiative in crafting many crowdfunded surgical procedures for transplant patients and emergency patients with liver failure. He is the specialist transplant surgeon to initiate free liver clinics across Tamil Nadu spreading awareness even to very rural and remote areas with minimal access to quality healthcare. Dr Karthik Mathivanan, a proficient Liver Transplant Surgeon has been pivotal in spreading awareness about liver diseases and has performed over 2000 complex and high risk liver surgeries. In an effort to honour his significant contribution in the field of Liver Health and Transplant programs leading the way to serve humanity, he was conferred the Outstanding Community Awareness and Selfless Service Award in the field of Liver Health & Transplant during April 2022 by Dr. Sangeetha Health & Educational Group.

He received this award from Dr.K Jayanth Murali (IPS), DGP, Government of Tamil Nadu. This shows the depth of his passion and dedication towards his incredible and inspiring journey of healing and caring.

[zealoptics]

Early Monsoon

by Ben Ayers

Ben Ayers is a climber, film producer, National Geographic Explorer, and humanitarian based in Kathmandu, Nepal. He is the director of the Dzi Foundation, working in close partnership with some of the most isolated communities in the country to create lasting improvements in quality of life.⁠ Thank you, Ben, for sharing your sto⁠ry and experience in Nepal during the pandemic. 

I.

Kathmandu is good at raining. The storms somersault into the valley and spill with such enthusiasm that you can’t make out the individual raindrops. It’s as if God was carrying a bucket of water on some errand across the Himalayas, and tripped.

Today it’s hailing for a change. Which is loud and hard on young peas and the fragile lemon blossoms, and the rest of the motley garden that we stress-planted at the beginning of the lockdown.

The lockdown. Going on six weeks now. It turns out Kathmandu is also very good at lockdowns. As with most things in Nepal, the exact rules of the lockdown aren’t clear. And those that we do know are flexibly enforced. No private vehicles. No going outside. No businesses open except food stores, pharmacies, and hospitals. Masks are required for everyone, all the time. For the most part, people comply. The chaotic streets of the city are yawning and empty. Kathmandu is quiet – an adjective I never would have imagined choosing before this.

We survive in the margins. If you have a shopping list in your pocket, the police may let you go on to the store. To stand in the chalk circle on the sidewalk, patiently waiting your turn to check the empty frozen meat section. Those without lists, or unlucky, sit in detention on the roadside under the watchful eye of the police for hours. If the cops aren’t at the intersection by Liquor Land, you can text the owner who will open the shutter enough for you to roll under. Aisles of dusty bottles glint by the light of your phone. All the cheap booze is gone.

But these problems are, of course, relative. While we are playing our cat-and-mouse games and stuffing our backpacks with the last bottles of Abominable Snowman gin, the vast majority of the Nepal is suffering in quiet desperation and hunger. Daily wage workers – the mainstay of the economy – are shut in with no means of income. The price of vegetables and basic goods has shot up. Like anywhere in the world, the police disproportionally target the poor.

Millions have left the city already. At first on crowded busses and jeeps, and then on foot. Thousands of people walked for days with little food – just to reach their loved ones and the small terraced fields to whom they belong. Each one of these men and women has their own story of epic adventure and meaning and love: cutting through the corrugated Himalayan foothills barefoot or in cheap sandals; carrying your children; going hungry; sleeping rough; hitching rides; skirting the cops and zealous locals along the empty highway.

II.

The usual story of Nepal’s remote villages is one of departures. The young and able leaving to find work or education in the cities, the dream of a jet ride to Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Turkey. A job that pays something – not much, but enough to strike the right poses on Facebook; to send mom a new cell phone; to buy medicine; to help your sisters finish school.

But today it’s a story of strange reunions. As the global economic engine coughs and slows, the villages again fill with young men and women hoping to share in the meager crops, to be away from the sickening cities, to be in the safety of family and at home. And this presents a dilemma for the struggling one-room health post, the local tea shop, the frazzled mayor. My colleagues at dZi, and I spend hours on the phone strategizing how to support social isolation in some of the last villages on earth that have maintained healthy social bonds based around agriculture. We find PPE sets from underground suppliers and fill repurposed ambulances bound for the villages. We hope that the lockdown eases before rice planting season, as a family can’t transplant all of their rice alone.

III.

I meet up with old friends who helped organize volunteers after the earthquake. We start crowdfunding and using the money to buy rice, lentils, soap, and fresh vegetables from farmers. We make small packages of food and distribute them across the valley to hungry families in the brick factories and the shanty towns. The vegetables are beautiful and fresh and heavy. We aren’t changing the world by doing this, but at least there is something tangible to do.

The rain pounds on the metal roof of the empty hotel where my friends spend all day breaking bags of rice into hundreds of smaller bags of rice. The farmers, grateful to have a market for their produce, send us small gifts. 5 liter jugs of moonshine that someone was saving for their daughters’ wedding; massive pumpkins; fresh yogurt in clay jars.

IV.

I don’t understand why our species craves comfort so desperately. It’s in these hard-edged moments that we begin see the real value of things - a meal, family, a place and people who are worth walking for days in the rain to reach.

And then there’s me - running outside in the hailstorm. The power is out. The neighborhood is dark and noisy with the hailstones striking the tin roofs, the potholed street, the shuttered tea shop across the way. I cower in the garden over the light green tendrils of the pea shoots. They climb like angels, like tiny mountaineers in an avalanche. So frail. So thin. And so strong.

The storm is over in a moment. It is silent now and I’m soaked. The yard is littered with blossoms.

If you are interested in supporting Nepals remote communites during this time visit: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/dzi-foundation-a-colorado-non-profit-corporation/give-the-gift-of-resilience

[ajanreginalduk-blog]

Ajan Reginald  A Cure for the Broken Heart ?

 Ajan Reginald As start-up ideas go, this has to be one of the best: Ajan Reginald wants to mend broken hearts.

Medically speaking, that is.

Heart disease affects about 30 million people globally, causes an estimated 4 million deaths per year in Europe, and is the primary cause of death in the developed world. Although modern medicines can provide a degree of relief, the harsh reality is that today there is no cure.

But there may be. Ajan (Chicago, Zurich, 2003-2005) is the founder and CEO of Cell Therapy Limited (CTL), a biotech firm he started in 2009 to experiment with stem cells as a way to fix damaged heart tissue.

“It was my dream to start a company that melds great science with great business to produce great benefits,” said Ajan.

It doesn’t hurt that his cofounder is Professor Sir Martin Evans, a Nobel laureate who first isolated and grew embryonic stem cells at Cambridge University back in the 1980s.

“Martin has a vast depth of understanding, expertise, and intuition, all of which are fantastic leadership qualities. But he also brings strong contributory assets that make him a brilliant person to start a company with,” said Ajan.

For the first six months, it was only the two of them. “We were a genuine start-up, doing everything ourselves: designing experiments, registering the company, raising funds, and setting up the website. We were certainly unique in that we had a Nobel Prize winner answering the phones.”

CTL has since identified a way to treat people with the most severely damaged hearts—those whose only hope is to receive a transplant.

“We’re treating people who have a life expectancy of less than one year—with 70 percent one-year mortality,” said Ajan.

And this is where the “great science” part of his dream comes in to play.

CTL’s proprietary cell therapy claims unique properties. “It’s a paradigm-shifting technology. Today’s medicines can only keep a patient from getting worse. We’re looking, for the first time, at a medicine that is able to regenerate a damaged organ.”

Heart failure develops after a person has a heart attack or when the arteries of a person’s heart are blocked. The heart muscle gets damaged and forms nonfunctioning scar tissue. Without treatment, this scar tissue expands, leading to heart failure and a significant chance of death within a few years.

CTL’s stem-cell therapy can be injected into scar tissue to reduce the size of the scar, stimulate repair, improve the heart’s ability to function, and mitigate the likelihood of heart failure.

Although there are other biotech firms working to produce stem cells for the broad treatment of diseases—using the same stem cell for, say, the treatment of lung disease or a chronic joint problem—CTL is unique in that it has been able to identify and isolate heart-specific stem cells.

The firm has already completed successful clinical trials, which brings us to Ajan’s vision of a “great business.”

The fast-growing high-tech stem-cell market is projected to reach about $20 billion in five years, and CTL hopes to tap into that market. Last year, in what was an unusual move for a biotech start-up, the firm ran an external fund-raising campaign that included crowdfunding; the goal was to raise £1 million. Ajan anticipated it would take up to three months to hit his target.

It took just ten days.

“The fact that we met our goal in such a short time shows that exceptional science for the benefit of society is an exciting investment proposition. This outcome is consistent with my BCG experience: clients with a focus first and foremost on quality produced highly differentiated products with demonstrable benefits, and profits followed. BCG gave me the analytical skills to understand these important drivers of great companies; hopefully I can replicate these characteristics in our small firm.”

In CTL’s case, demonstrating benefits demands a meticulousness in the way it generates value for heart patients. “Scrupulousness in value-generation for our patients translates into value-generation for our shareholders,” Ajan says.

In addition to Sir Martin Evans, CTL’s leadership team boasts other prominent figures, including Rhodri Morgan, a former first minister of Wales, Mubasher Sheikh, a former transplant surgeon and the current head of Permira health care, and Lord Digby Jones, a former UK minister of state for trade and development.

“It’s important to surround yourself with smart, critical people and to listen to them. Again, this is something I learned at BCG. I’m fortunate to have an exceptional board and executive team, and I am careful to listen, but ultimately I’m responsible for the decisions, good or bad. And I’m happy to make those calls.”

Ajan likens his role among these iconoclasts to his position as a central midfielder in field hockey. (He currently represents the England Masters at the international level.) “In other words,” he says, “I’m expected to see everything, anticipate everything, and cover every inch of the pitch. I’ve got to be a total team player—attacking, defending, and fulfilling whatever role is required by the team.”

“CTL is like most biotech companies in that it requires a CEO to understand and connect the science with the biotech business,” says Ajan. “However, where CTL may be different is the dual-fold novelty and ambiguity of both our field of regenerative medicine and CTL’s unique approach. The novel approach in an unproven field and being at the fore-front. There is no path to follow. Therefore, we believe an in-depth level of science and business expertise is necessary to make these critical (and novel) decisions.

“BCG was the best preparation for this role. I found my BCG experience very challenging and the hardest job I’ve ever done. But in hindsight, it was great training. The intellectual capacity needed, the speed of thought and execution required, and the unrelenting pressure and ‘stretch’ is how I developed my capacity to perform critical operations under high stress. BCG trained me to think and to work in a high-performance team. I learned to be data driven and to recognize excellent analysis and the singular value of insight from that analysis. Ultimately, leaving BCG was right for me. But the hard-won BCG skills gave me the ultimate confidence to use data to make the most critical decisions.

“My experiences from high-performance sports teams and BCG are complementary. High-level hockey is fast and dynamic; tactical thinking on the fly is very hard. But for me, the single well-executed tactical decision that wins the game is compelling. In contrast, business is more strategic and tactical, and there’s more time to think. However, it’s much more difficult to produce ‘game winners’ in business, and it’s much harder to build a high-performance team. That may be because the time frames are longer, prolonged years of rigor are required, and the rewards are less connected with actions.

“When we started CTL, we decided to combine the teamwork of high-performance sports with the strategy and execution required to excel in business. Therefore, our team is nontraditional—perhaps to match our nontraditional scientific approach.

All of which, he says, is borne out in the success of CTL.

“If your high-performance team can work synergistically, excellence is a more likely outcome—be it at BCG, international hockey, or a biotech firm. I truly believe there are few limitations on the productivity of such organizations. You also need luck, however, and then you just might develop the world’s first regenerative medicine.”

CTL, which is based in Cardiff in the UK, now has 30 employees, holds more than 100 patents, and is affiliated with labs at leading universities in Oxford, Toronto, Denmark, Greece, and China.

“Our goal is to treat 100,000 critically ill patients within the next five years,” Ajan concluded. “Realizing the great responsibility of lifesaving medicines, we focus on bringing Heartcel to market rapidly. It’s an amazing time—simultaneously frightening, humbling, and awe-inspiring.”