Michael's last biopsy was a level A1.  This means that there are rejection cells in the heart.  The good news is that this is expected now and again.  The prendizone was reduced by 2.5 mg for a new dose of 7.5 mg per day [original post-transplant dose was 30 mg per day].  The other meds have remained the same with the addition of alopurinol for gout. 

To date, Michael has had two severe gout attacks that have resulted in hospitalization.  Each gout visit has meant a direct joint injection of cortizone.  The gout is common with the tranplant meds.  Next biopsey is in 6 weeks.

NEW Online Organ & Tissue Donation Registration in Ontario

Ontario's Trillium Gift of Life network launched their new online Organ & Tissue Donation Registration in Ontario.  Hopefully, this will be a more effortless & accessible approach to organ & tissue donation in Ontario!  One donor can save up to eight lives and enhance up to seventy-five more.  Watch the inspiring video below on how organ donation saves lives...

Here is a link to a great article written on the new registry by
Chris Powell:  http://www.marketingmag.ca/news/marketer-news/trillium-gift-of-life-promotes-new-online-organ-donor-registry-29078.  The article quotes Versha Prakash, vice-president of operations for the Trillium Gift of Life Network, that currently only 19% of Ontarians are registered organ donors.  The goal is to double that to 370,000 registered donors.

Chinese Teen Sells Kidney for iPad2

A Chinese teenager has reportedly sold one of his kidneys for 20,000 yuan ($3171) so he could buy an iPad 2.

The high school student from Anhui Province, Xiao Zhang, confessed to his mother that he was motivated to sell the kidney after seeing an internet ad offering cash to people who were prepared to become organ donors, according to the Global Times.  His mother had discovered the iPad 2 and forced him to reveal how he was able to afford the gadget.  "I wanted to buy an iPad 2, but I didn't have the money," the boy told Shenzhen TV. He also bought an iPhone and a laptop with the proceeds from the sale, his mother said.

Xiao Zhang, the iPad 2 and his scar.

Chenzhou 198 Hospital in Hunan Province, where the boy reportedly had his surgery, does not have qualifications for kidney transplantation. It has denied any connection with the organ removal however has admitted contracting out its urology department to a private businessman.

The buying and selling of organs is a growing issue in China and the government has so far failed to stamp out the practice. There have been many reports of "transplant tourists" who come from rich countries to buy much-needed organs from poor desperate people.  The blackmarket trade is driven by the fact that there are many times more people waiting for organs than there are legitimate donors.

Zheng's mother told Shenzhen TV that she took her son to report the matter to police but the agents who had organised the organ trade were uncontactable. Police are reportedly trying to track down the buyers.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/ipad/chinese-teen-sells-kidney-for-ipad-20110603-1fjsr.html#ixzz1OAhYHsJ8