Missed activities and canceled vacations was the
norm for Belinda Griggs while on dialysis for a rare
kidney disease attacking her immune system.
One transplant and four years later, a weeklong trip
to Virginia Beach became a major milestone for
Belinda in 2015.
“I shocked my husband by getting up at 6 in
the morning to walk on the beach,” Belinda says.
“This would have never been possible before the
transplant.”
Belinda says her experience in Virginia Beach was
such a stark contrast to her life pre-transplant, when
she was unable to travel for nearly 11 years.
just to be able to plan a trip without having to take
medical equipment and make arrangements with
the hospital in the area for dialysis treatment while
on vacation,” Belinda says. “Walking on the beach is
a major accomplishment when you consider not
too long ago it was a struggle to walk from your
bedroom to the kitchen.”
I am so grateful
for the simple things
in life,
“
Community Health
Center Challenge
The Community Health
Center Challenge encouraged
Pennsylvania community
health centers to increase
organ donation awareness
and designations within their
organization and community.
The challenge encouraged
Pennsylvania community health
centers to participate as part
of National Community Health
Center Week.
CORE partnered with the
Pennsylvania Association of
Community Health Centers,
the Pennsylvania Department
of Health and Gift of Life Donor
Program to support the effort.
INCREASING
DONATION AWARENESS
CORE’s Lisa Upsher with Marlene Jancel,
administrative supervisor of UPMC
Matilda Thiess Health Center, Pittsburgh.
Upsher with Dr. Anthony Snow, CEO
and president of Community Health Net
Medical Service, Erie.
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