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Patient's Guide to Transplantation was developed for transplant
patients by transplant patients. It was written to help guide
you, the transplant patient, through the maze of this modern
miracle of medicine known as organ transplantation.
It isn’t a book of personal stories. Although we have talked
to hundreds of transplant recipients and their families, and
know that every transplant patient has a story to tell. And
each story is more incredible than the last. And all of the
stories are worth telling. But we’ll leave that to someone
else’s book.
And the Guide isn’t meant to be a textbook on transplantation.
We hope you’ll learn a lot here, but we’re not going to try
to overwhelm you with a lot of scientific or medical terminology.
You’ll get exposed to that sort of material just from the
amount of time you spend with the doctors and the nurses in
the hospital or transplant clinic. And if medical "mumbo jumbo"
confuses you – you’re not alone. So, we’ve included a glossary
with some basic definitions to provide some help.
Our goal in this guide is to help provide you with as much
information as possible to assist you to better understand
and cope with your transplant experience. Our belief is that
a knowledgeable patient is a better patient – and the more
information you have, the better your transplant results will
be. And, with a little luck, your story, and the book you
someday may write, will have a happy ending.
As you’ll soon see, we have written the guide in a "light"
style. Every once and again we have even attempted a feeble
stab at humor. It’s not that we think that transplantation
is a light topic. We know that it is just the opposite. But
we figured that, if you’re reading the guide, you’ve probably
got plenty on your mind already. And your brain doesn’t need
any additional "exercise" just now. So, we have tried to make
the guide as readable as we could.
This guide should not be your first source of information.
It is intended to be a supplement to your first and most important
information resource – your transplant team. While there are
many experiences common from patient to patient, transplantation
is nonetheless a very individual experience. And no one will
have a better picture of your individual circumstances than
your transplant team.
Your transplant team should always be your primary source
for answers to the hundreds of questions you will have about
transplantation. Even though they might not have all of the
answers all of the time, chances are good they've heard the
questions before and will be able to steer you to the information
you need. Always use your transplant team as your source for
medical information.
What we have done here is to try to put a patient’s perspective
on transplantation. Having "been there and done that", that
is, having personally lived through the experience, we have
an idea what patients and their families need and are interested
in when it comes to transplantation. We have tried to compile
as much of that information as we could in this guide.
The guide is not intended to be an "everything you've always
wanted to know" source for information on transplantation.
The subject is far too complex and evolutionary to be covered
in one place. Transplant technology is advancing so fast,
the answers you get today won't fit the questions you have
tomorrow. So, use this as a starting point to begin to learn
more about transplantation and to open your mind to the options
and resources available to you. And if it helps only one of
you through your transplant in any way, it will have been
well worth our effort.
If you've already had your transplant, congratulations and
make sure you take your meds! If you're waiting for your transplant,
hang in there and keep up a good attitude! It can be a long
uphill struggle, but remember, TRANSPLANTATION WORKS!
What they're saying about the Patient's
Guide...
- “The book is comprehensive and well-organized… It will
greatly assist us in managing our patients more effectively.”
- “I wish [the Guide] was available when I was going through
my transplant… there was nothing available as comprehensive
as this!”
- Jill Q., kidney recipient.
- “[The Guide] is a very easy read, direct and to the point
and right on the money.”
- John S., heart recipient.
- “I can’t remember ever reading a more comprehensive guide
to organ transplantation.”
- Vicki K., Executive Director, NKF local chapter.
- “The book consolidated a wealth of information that I
has to dig out of the woodwork when I needed my transplant.”
- Jean H., liver recipient, support group President.
- “This readable and informative book will be a great resource
for patients and their families as well as professionals.”
- Ellen E., R.N., Clinical Coordinator.
- “The Board has read your book and think it is outstanding.”
- Don L., kidney recipient, support group Director.
- “What a great service you have rendered… by your outstanding
Guide. All of us have seen bits and pieces of much of the
information you presented, but never together in one publication.”
- Sidney L, heart recipient, support group President.
- “The Guide is an excellent reference for transplant patients.”
- Donna J., Group Coordinator.
- I was very impressed with your guide.”
- Howard K., CEO, transplant support group.
- “Our lung transplant population [is] exceptionally pleased
with the information and the format in which it is presented.
Please send us 120 more copies.”
- “I thought [the Guide] was well-written, informative without
getting too specific and covered a wide variety of subjects.
I finished the book within 3 hours of receiving it!”
- Linda J., kidney recipient.
- “The Guide is wonderful. Please send us another 200 copies
for our patients.”
- Scott S., transplant administrator.
- “God bless you for the Patient’s Guide!”
- John R., liver candidate.
Get your copy now!
A Patients Guide to Transplantation is free with membership
in ATA. It is also available for purchase for $9.95 + $3.00
S/H ($12.95 total). It is also available to transplant centers
and support groups at a bulk rate (minimum 20 copies). Contact
us and let us know your requirements.
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