‘The Park’ Family News
Lindorf Blakely’s Search for a Living Kidney Donor
Dear Family and Friends,
As you may or may not know, I have kidney failure and my doctor has recommended that I get a kidney transplant. This is the best option for me to have a better and longer life. A transplant from a deceased donor is possible, but could take many years. More than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney, and there is a very limited supply of donors.
A living donor kidney transplant has a lot of benefits. A kidney from a living donor is usually the best quality kidney. It begins to function more quickly after the transplant ans lasts longer and works better than kidneys from deceased donors.
You may think my donor has to be a family member, but actually, anyone can be a donor as long as our blood types are compatible. However, the donor cannot have diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney problems of their own.
Living donor transplant surgery can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for both my donor and me. Most kidney donor surgeries are performed laparoscopically, in which three or four small incisions are made to remove the kidney. Most donors are able to leave the hospital in two to three days.
Although this is hard for me to ask, if you feel this is something you could do, please consider becoming a living donor for me. I fully understand that this is a personal decision that isn’t right for everyone. Please know that if you don’t feel comfortable with a living donation, it will not affect our relationship in any way.
If you would like more information about a living kidney donation, please contact a living donor kidney coordinator at Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute.
Baylor University Medical Center (Dallas) at 214-820-4438
Baylor All Saints Medical Center (Ft. Worth) at 817-922-2990
Thank you for your caring and concern. If you wish to share, you may.
Sincerely,
Lindorf Blakely
Iota Phil Lambda Honorees of ‘The Park’
On April 28, 2018, our senior pastor and one of our amazing youth were award recipients form Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Sheron C. Patterson received the Joyce M. Jones Community Service Award for her tireless and faithful service in Ministry. This outstanding award was once given to another Hamilton Park UMC member in 1979 — Gloria Carter — for her outstanding contributing in the field of Engineering.
Brooke Steward was recognized as the Psi Chapter Essay Contest winner. Brooke is a member of Ignite Youth at ‘The Park’ and attends Berkner High School in Richardson.
Iota Phi Lambda’s current president is Brenda Jackson Napier, who is also a member of ‘The Park.’
Congratulations to all these amazing women!
Hamilton Park Childcare Center
Beverly Boudreaux was selected as Teacher of the Year for 2018 through Educational First Steps. Ms. Boudreaux won over the 120 nominees submitted for this prestigious award.
Educational First Steps is a nonprofit organization that assures all its affiliate centers strive and continue to provide the highest care and learning to its families. She has been employed at the Hamilton Park Learning Center as a Lead Teacher for twelve years.
The Hamilton Park Learning Center Governing Board and Staff congratulate Ms. Boudreaux on this award and thank her for her dedication, loyalty, and commitment not only to Hamilton Park, but to the early childhood education profession.