Herkimer woman awaits lung transplant
By DAVID DELLECESE
Observer-Dispatch
April 9, 2007
HERKIMER- Even with the community rallying to support Renee Bronson as she waits for a double lung transplant, the 51-year-old Herkimer resident remains humble.
"I'd rather the focus not be on me," she said. "It's overwhelming. It's a difficult position to be in. I've always been the type to be the one working to help someone else."
Bronson has been on a waiting list at the Cleveland Clinic for a transplant since Dec. 17. As she continues to work as a medical technologist at the Bassett Healthcare Herkimer Health Center, Bronson is determined to spread the word about the importance of organ donation.
"In many cases it's a lifesaving effect," said Anne Paschke, spokeswoman for United Network for Organ Sharing. "Almost 80 people every day get a lifesaving transplant. Unfortunately that's not enough - another 18 people die waiting on average every day."
Bronson was diagnosed in July 2005 with mixed connective tissue disease, an auto-immune disease. Her body is producing antibodies that are attacking her lungs, which caused them to turn to scar tissue.
Doctors tried to halt the progression of the disease through various medications, which proved unsuccessful. A transplant became the only option.
At first, Bronson, who's been on oxygen since July 2005 for activity and sleep, resisted the idea. But she changed her mind after meeting someone who had gone through a successful transplant.
"I met someone who had a lung transplant who was perfectly normal, perfectly healthy, wears no oxygen, has no physical imitations and is living a normal life," she said. "When I saw someone else who had it done and saw the quality of his life, I wanted to have the quality of my own life back."
April is organ donation month. In 2006, 28,931 people received organ transplants of some kind, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing in Richmond, Va., and today about 96,000 people are waiting for a transplant.
"There's so much good that can be done, so many lives to be touched and saved," Paschke said. "In fact, one person making the decision to be an organ and tissue donor could enhance up to 50 lives."
Everyday life has become a challenge for Bronson, from showering to getting dressed to walking to the car. Any kind of movement can be difficult, and even with the oxygen, she often needs to stop and rest.
"She has tried very hard not to let this get in the way of her life the way it could for many people," said Marianne Stalteri, a cervical cancer screening coordinator at Bassett and longtime friend of Bronson's.
Bronson admits she's "scared to death" of the prospect of missing out on events such as her high school daughter's senior prom and graduation if her time in Cleveland coincides with those milestones. But, she said, she can't wait to get back to the life she once had.
"As soon as I'm healthy enough physically and have my strength back, I want to be able to go on vacation," she said. "Things where I can hike and swim and keep up with my kids and be physically active with them and do the things I've either had to sit home or be lugged around in a wheelchair otherwise."
Her friends have organized a benefit from 4 to 9 p.m. May 31 at the Herkimer VFW on Bronson's behalf.
"I'm really hoping through all the publicity and the benefit that we can really raise awareness for people to sign up to be organ donors," said Stalteri, who is a member of the benefit committee. "You don't realize it as much until you're on the end of needing an organ just how important it is."
Observer-Dispatch
April 9, 2007
HERKIMER- Even with the community rallying to support Renee Bronson as she waits for a double lung transplant, the 51-year-old Herkimer resident remains humble.
"I'd rather the focus not be on me," she said. "It's overwhelming. It's a difficult position to be in. I've always been the type to be the one working to help someone else."
Bronson has been on a waiting list at the Cleveland Clinic for a transplant since Dec. 17. As she continues to work as a medical technologist at the Bassett Healthcare Herkimer Health Center, Bronson is determined to spread the word about the importance of organ donation.
"In many cases it's a lifesaving effect," said Anne Paschke, spokeswoman for United Network for Organ Sharing. "Almost 80 people every day get a lifesaving transplant. Unfortunately that's not enough - another 18 people die waiting on average every day."
Bronson was diagnosed in July 2005 with mixed connective tissue disease, an auto-immune disease. Her body is producing antibodies that are attacking her lungs, which caused them to turn to scar tissue.
Doctors tried to halt the progression of the disease through various medications, which proved unsuccessful. A transplant became the only option.
At first, Bronson, who's been on oxygen since July 2005 for activity and sleep, resisted the idea. But she changed her mind after meeting someone who had gone through a successful transplant.
"I met someone who had a lung transplant who was perfectly normal, perfectly healthy, wears no oxygen, has no physical imitations and is living a normal life," she said. "When I saw someone else who had it done and saw the quality of his life, I wanted to have the quality of my own life back."
April is organ donation month. In 2006, 28,931 people received organ transplants of some kind, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing in Richmond, Va., and today about 96,000 people are waiting for a transplant.
"There's so much good that can be done, so many lives to be touched and saved," Paschke said. "In fact, one person making the decision to be an organ and tissue donor could enhance up to 50 lives."
Everyday life has become a challenge for Bronson, from showering to getting dressed to walking to the car. Any kind of movement can be difficult, and even with the oxygen, she often needs to stop and rest.
"She has tried very hard not to let this get in the way of her life the way it could for many people," said Marianne Stalteri, a cervical cancer screening coordinator at Bassett and longtime friend of Bronson's.
Bronson admits she's "scared to death" of the prospect of missing out on events such as her high school daughter's senior prom and graduation if her time in Cleveland coincides with those milestones. But, she said, she can't wait to get back to the life she once had.
"As soon as I'm healthy enough physically and have my strength back, I want to be able to go on vacation," she said. "Things where I can hike and swim and keep up with my kids and be physically active with them and do the things I've either had to sit home or be lugged around in a wheelchair otherwise."
Her friends have organized a benefit from 4 to 9 p.m. May 31 at the Herkimer VFW on Bronson's behalf.
"I'm really hoping through all the publicity and the benefit that we can really raise awareness for people to sign up to be organ donors," said Stalteri, who is a member of the benefit committee. "You don't realize it as much until you're on the end of needing an organ just how important it is."
