Date: Fri 10-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

rauner-blood-drive

Full Text:

Friends Turn Out For Rauner Benefit Blood Drive

(with cuts)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

While Richard Rauner spent his eighth week in Temple University Hospital in

Philadelphia waiting for a heart transplant, his friends from Newtown and

surrounding towns turned out Wednesday for a blood drive held in his name at

Edmond Town Hall.

A spokesperson for the American Red Cross's Blood Services Division said on

Thursday that 131 potential donors turned out for the blood drive; 123 units

were collected.

"That was definitely a good amount for a blood drive in July or August," said

Jamie Caldas of the Red Cross. "The summer months are the hardest to collect

blood in because so many people are away on vacation."

Most summer blood drives collect 50 to 60 pints, she said. The Red Cross

generally tries to collect 150 to 200 units of blood for organ transplant

surgery.

Mr Rauner, 57, who lives in Sandy Hook, retired from the Newtown post office

in March because of his failing heart. He has been in Temple University

Hospital in Philadelphia since May 4, waiting for a heart to become available

through the nationwide United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) program. While

he waits, he is receiving intravenous medication to keep his weakened heart

pumping. Mr Rauner wears a fanny pack, which contains a pump that feeds the

drug Dobulamine through a tube, and a Hickman shunt directly into his heart.

The process must be closely monitored and he must remain in the hospital until

the transplant is done.

Each year approximately 14,000 people in the United States are placed on the

list as potential heart transplant recipients. An average of 2,500 heart

transplants are actually performed. The heart transplant program at Temple

University Hospital began in April of 1984. Last year the hospital's Heart

Failure and Transplant Service performed surgery on 82 adults; 87 percent of

those transplants were successful.

An average of 20 patients are in Temple's heart transplant unit at any time

waiting for surgery. All are considered priority status with end-stage heart

disease (ESHD). Patients with ESHD have severe congestive heart failure that

is expected to bring death within two years; at this point, transplantation is

considered to be the only possible surgical procedure that can be used to

extend life.

Newtown Responds

"So many people have sent Richard cards and letters," said Barbara Nelson, a

former Newtown resident who now lives in Southbury and has been a close friend

of Mr Rauner for more than 30 years.

"This really helps keep him going and has made me very proud of our

community," she said.

Ms Nelson and Ellis Lewis of Sandy Hook have visited Mr Rauner at Temple

several times. They also have placed canisters in businesses around Newtown to

collect donations to help with Mr Rauner's medical and living expenses. Since

he left the post office he has been receiving only $130 a month in income;

Social Security disability payments will not begin until September because

there is a six-month waiting period.

"I'm getting letters from all over the United States from people who have

found out about me by reading The Bee, " Mr Rauner said in a telephone

interview late last week.

"I just wish I could thank everyone in person. We're hoping and waiting here,"

he said.

Contributions also can be sent to the Richard Rauner Fund, Box 111, Newtown

06470, or to the fund in care of Mary Herbert at Fleet Bank, 6 Queen Street,

Newtown 06470.

Cards and letters may be sent to Mr Rauner at Temple University Hospital,

Parkenson Building, Room 701, Broad and Ontario streets, Philadelphia, Pa.

19140.