Organ-transplant support group celebrates sixth anniversary

LaSalle News Tribune | Craig Steretter


Submitted photo
Some of the members of the Live Life transplant support group that meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Illinois Valley Community Hospital celebrated the group’s sixth anniversary earlier this year. The group encourages people to register as organ donors. Pictured are the recipients of one heart, two livers, and five kidneys, including (front, from left) Jean Reger, Peru, (liver transplant recipient); Nancy Rager, Peru (kidney transplant); and Butch Plochocki, La Salle (heart transplant). Standing (from left) are Sharon Scully, LaMoille (kidney transplant), Bill Pelszynski, La Salle (on a liver transplant waiting list); Willa Dellinger, Peru (liver and kidney transplant); Sharon Pyszka, Spring Valley (kidney transplant) and Cary Benner, Peru (kidney transplant). Also in the group are, waiting for a kidney, Don Halstead of Dalzell; and organ recipients Chuck Mueller Jr., La Salle, liver; Mary Bienemann, Peru, liver; Joan McGuire, Peru, kidney; Barry Mahar, Mendota, liver; Mike Cunniff, Ottawa, liver; Pat Hughes, Utica Township, kidney; Lori Nelson, Utica, liver.

Illinois Valley residents may not realize how many of their neighbors have had or need an organ transplant.

Willa Dellinger of Peru launched the Live Life pre- and post-transplant group, a group that celebrated its sixth anniversary this spring.

“After I had my transplant, I got to thinking that I wanted to do something to give back, and I was talking to George Maze about it and said I’d like to have a support group. He said it was a good idea and to go ahead and call Gene Vogelgesang,” Dellinger said, referring the IVCH public relations chief. “He put something in the paper, and people came, it’s really been wonderful for us.”

She said the group has lost some people, but most of the regular attendees and supporters are still around.

The group often invites experts from hospitals and health systems to talk at meetings. Also, the group members discuss their own experiences. A Deerfield pharmacist who specializes in anti-rejection medicines for Walgreen’s has talked to the group.
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"You have the power to SAVE lives."
To register as a donor in California:
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org
Outside California:
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.

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