http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/macias-2121-dialysis-transplant.html
Above is a link about Linda, her sister, and her cousin having kidney failure. It has a nice photo of them.
Here is a copy of that article from the Telegraph.
The waiting game
May 29, 2007 4:43 PM
By Jill Moon
Members of one Alton family discovered a deadly common thread after facing other health conditions.
Sisters Linda Seago, 54, and Patty Bergfeld, 52, and their cousin Rick Macias, 34, experienced kidney failure in the last 10 years. Bergfeld received a kidney transplant successfully in 2004, but Seago’s transplant in 2005 failed and Macias awaits his first — and hopefully only — transplant in August.
“I’m currently on the list again to find a kidney,” Seago said. “Doctors are puzzled as to why this one didn’t work because it was such a match. They’re still scratching their heads to this day.”
Macias’ sister, Gina Allen, 35, plans to donate her kidney to him. He said it takes a blood type match and only one of six entegins in the blood to have a match to attempt a transplant. Generally, parents are the first choices to test for organ and tissue matches, but siblings are second barring any other diseases and health problems that run in a family.
“Shortage is a big problem right now,” Seago said. “People need the education about organ donation. It’s just a matter of education. It’s as simple as signing your driver’s license.”
Last month, Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled an ad campaign to kick of Donate Life! Organ and Tissue Donor Month for April, but the campaign should go on indefinitely.
Although almost 2 million people have signed up at the state’s new registry, approximately 4,500 people in Illinois are on waiting lists for an organ transplant like Seago is.
“Public awareness is crucial with organ and tissue donation,” said Jarold Anderson, president and CEO of Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network. “We commend campaigns such as this one launched by Sec. White. These efforts have made and continue to make a tremendous impact in our efforts here in Illinois to save and improve the lives of as many people as possible.”
Potential donors can register at www.lifegoeson.com, call (800) 210-2106 or visit any state driver’s license facility.
Seago and Macias undergo dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time. Seago usually sleeps after dialysis but Macias has been able to go for a bike ride after his therapy needing a short nap only sometimes. However, the first four months he barely left his home, he said.
“I feel great,” he said. “I’m in the best shape of my 34 years. I’ve been pushing myself a lot more than the doctors wanted, but I’m healthier than they expected me to be. They wanted me at my ideal body mass index (for the surgery required for the kidney transplant).”
Dialysis recreates in 12 hours a week what it takes healthy kidneys to do in 100 to 120 hours per week. Dialysis cleans the blood of toxins that the kidneys’ function normally handle.
“Dialysis takes such a toll on your body,” said Macias, who manages the Firehouse Tavern in Alton and bartends in Grafton at The Loading Dock on weekends. “It feels like you just got off work for eight hours.”
Macias has received dialysis since July 2006 while Seago started dialysis in 1999. She received a kidney transplant in February 2005 but had to resume dialysis that same year in October.
“My mornings are rough sometimes, but after a while I’m fine,” Seago said. “It depends because every day is different. I can do just about everything, but get tired a lot easier and quicker.”
As Seago found out, an organ transplant does not instantly mean healthy, functioning kidneys. Even when organ transplants succeed, recipients have to take anti-rejection medications called immuno-suppressives for the rest of their lives.
These drugs suppress the immune system to help the body accept a foreign organ into its DNA’s territory. While the drugs are helping the body accept an organ, they also are compromising the body leaving it vulnerable to infections and viruses.
Bergfeld, who had a cadaver transplant from someone unrelated to her, takes the anti-rejection medications.
“They are ‘have-to’ medications,” she said.
Bergfeld needed dialysis from 2002 until she received a kidney two years later.
“At first I didn’t want to have a transplant done because I was too afraid,” she recalled. “But since having a transplant and visiting the nurses where I had dialysis, I realize how hard it would be to do the rest of my life. It’s a sad situation especially at my young age.”
Macias was lucky to have many siblings volunteer to donate their kidney for him. Including Allen, they are brother Jesse Macias, 33, Erica Beiser, 21, and David Beiser, 20, all from Alton. Physicians tested Allen first and she matched. Macias credits his family, friends and his girlfriend, Amy Frey of Edwardsville, for getting him through this time in his life.
Friends and family held four fund-raisers for Macias to help with his medicines and care that Medicare does not pay. Being on dialysis automatically designates an individual as fully disabled and qualifies them for every plan in the Medicare program.
“We have a very big family and a very strong family with an enormous support system,” he said. “I had many, many people step up and say they would be tested to donate. My friends and family have been phenomenal.”
Macias started dating Frey three weeks before needing dialysis.
“It was a very unorthodox way to start a relationship,” he said. “She met my family in the hospital and has gone through every ache, sickness and nausea. She’s been the strongest support of all this.”
http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/alton-30319-seago-macias.html
Above is a link to Linda's obituary.
Here is a copy of that obituary from the Telegraph:
Linda Seago
Godfrey
August 19, 2009 4:25 PM
Linda M. (Macias) Seago, 56, passed away at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at St. Louis University Hospital, with her family by her side.
She was born Nov. 5, 1952, in Alton, the daughter of Cecil M. and Pat (Carmona) Macias.
She married Jim Seago on July 13, 1971, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Alton. He survives.
Linda managed Golden Chain at Alton Square until 1998.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mindy Seago of Wood River; a son and daughter-in-law, James D. and Shelly Seago of Godfrey; four grandchildren whom she adored, Andrew and Ally Howell and Emma and Cecil Seago, all of Godfrey; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Bridget Macias and Cecil and Diana Macias Jr., all of Alton; a sister and brother-in-law, Patty and Kevin Bergfeld of Alton; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Neal Yenne.
Visitation was Thursday, Aug. 20, at Staten-Fine Funeral Home in Alton.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton.
Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Alton.
Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.
Online tributes and a guestbook may be found at www.staten-fine.com.
Ruth E Mitchell (Bell)
http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/macias-2121-dialysis-transplant.html Above is a link about Linda, her sister, and her cousin having kidney failure. It has a nice photo of them. Here is a copy of that article from the Telegraph. The waiting game May 29, 2007 4:43 PM By Jill Moon Members of one Alton family discovered a deadly common thread after facing other health conditions. Sisters Linda Seago, 54, and Patty Bergfeld, 52, and their cousin Rick Macias, 34, experienced kidney failure in the last 10 years. Bergfeld received a kidney transplant successfully in 2004, but Seago’s transplant in 2005 failed and Macias awaits his first — and hopefully only — transplant in August. “I’m currently on the list again to find a kidney,” Seago said. “Doctors are puzzled as to why this one didn’t work because it was such a match. They’re still scratching their heads to this day.” Macias’ sister, Gina Allen, 35, plans to donate her kidney to him. He said it takes a blood type match and only one of six entegins in the blood to have a match to attempt a transplant. Generally, parents are the first choices to test for organ and tissue matches, but siblings are second barring any other diseases and health problems that run in a family. “Shortage is a big problem right now,” Seago said. “People need the education about organ donation. It’s just a matter of education. It’s as simple as signing your driver’s license.” Last month, Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled an ad campaign to kick of Donate Life! Organ and Tissue Donor Month for April, but the campaign should go on indefinitely. Although almost 2 million people have signed up at the state’s new registry, approximately 4,500 people in Illinois are on waiting lists for an organ transplant like Seago is. “Public awareness is crucial with organ and tissue donation,” said Jarold Anderson, president and CEO of Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network. “We commend campaigns such as this one launched by Sec. White. These efforts have made and continue to make a tremendous impact in our efforts here in Illinois to save and improve the lives of as many people as possible.” Potential donors can register at www.lifegoeson.com, call (800) 210-2106 or visit any state driver’s license facility. Seago and Macias undergo dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time. Seago usually sleeps after dialysis but Macias has been able to go for a bike ride after his therapy needing a short nap only sometimes. However, the first four months he barely left his home, he said. “I feel great,” he said. “I’m in the best shape of my 34 years. I’ve been pushing myself a lot more than the doctors wanted, but I’m healthier than they expected me to be. They wanted me at my ideal body mass index (for the surgery required for the kidney transplant).” Dialysis recreates in 12 hours a week what it takes healthy kidneys to do in 100 to 120 hours per week. Dialysis cleans the blood of toxins that the kidneys’ function normally handle. “Dialysis takes such a toll on your body,” said Macias, who manages the Firehouse Tavern in Alton and bartends in Grafton at The Loading Dock on weekends. “It feels like you just got off work for eight hours.” Macias has received dialysis since July 2006 while Seago started dialysis in 1999. She received a kidney transplant in February 2005 but had to resume dialysis that same year in October. “My mornings are rough sometimes, but after a while I’m fine,” Seago said. “It depends because every day is different. I can do just about everything, but get tired a lot easier and quicker.” As Seago found out, an organ transplant does not instantly mean healthy, functioning kidneys. Even when organ transplants succeed, recipients have to take anti-rejection medications called immuno-suppressives for the rest of their lives. These drugs suppress the immune system to help the body accept a foreign organ into its DNA’s territory. While the drugs are helping the body accept an organ, they also are compromising the body leaving it vulnerable to infections and viruses. Bergfeld, who had a cadaver transplant from someone unrelated to her, takes the anti-rejection medications. “They are ‘have-to’ medications,” she said. Bergfeld needed dialysis from 2002 until she received a kidney two years later. “At first I didn’t want to have a transplant done because I was too afraid,” she recalled. “But since having a transplant and visiting the nurses where I had dialysis, I realize how hard it would be to do the rest of my life. It’s a sad situation especially at my young age.” Macias was lucky to have many siblings volunteer to donate their kidney for him. Including Allen, they are brother Jesse Macias, 33, Erica Beiser, 21, and David Beiser, 20, all from Alton. Physicians tested Allen first and she matched. Macias credits his family, friends and his girlfriend, Amy Frey of Edwardsville, for getting him through this time in his life. Friends and family held four fund-raisers for Macias to help with his medicines and care that Medicare does not pay. Being on dialysis automatically designates an individual as fully disabled and qualifies them for every plan in the Medicare program. “We have a very big family and a very strong family with an enormous support system,” he said. “I had many, many people step up and say they would be tested to donate. My friends and family have been phenomenal.” Macias started dating Frey three weeks before needing dialysis. “It was a very unorthodox way to start a relationship,” he said. “She met my family in the hospital and has gone through every ache, sickness and nausea. She’s been the strongest support of all this.”Ruth E Mitchell (Bell)
http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/alton-30319-seago-macias.html Above is a link to Linda's obituary. Here is a copy of that obituary from the Telegraph: Linda Seago Godfrey August 19, 2009 4:25 PM Linda M. (Macias) Seago, 56, passed away at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009, at St. Louis University Hospital, with her family by her side. She was born Nov. 5, 1952, in Alton, the daughter of Cecil M. and Pat (Carmona) Macias. She married Jim Seago on July 13, 1971, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Alton. He survives. Linda managed Golden Chain at Alton Square until 1998. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mindy Seago of Wood River; a son and daughter-in-law, James D. and Shelly Seago of Godfrey; four grandchildren whom she adored, Andrew and Ally Howell and Emma and Cecil Seago, all of Godfrey; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Bridget Macias and Cecil and Diana Macias Jr., all of Alton; a sister and brother-in-law, Patty and Kevin Bergfeld of Alton; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Neal Yenne. Visitation was Thursday, Aug. 20, at Staten-Fine Funeral Home in Alton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Alton. Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Online tributes and a guestbook may be found at www.staten-fine.com.