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Hester Clark can merely wait for a liver transplant that may save the life of her four-month-old son Jonathan. Glenn Moore/ The Daily Cotle%ian CSUF student's baby awaits liver transplant By Tamara Toller Staff Writer Hester Clark, a CSU F graduate student studying communications disorders, is no longer learning about audiology. She and her husband John are learning what it takes to save the life of their four-month- old son. Jonathan. Jonathan suffers from a rare disorder called biliary artesia in which bile ducts are absent from the liver. An attempt to surgically create bile ducts when Jonathan was three weeks old failed. Only a succesfiil liver transplant can save Jonathan's life. The Clarks have learned that their insurance will not cover the S300.000 cost of thc operation. "The only type of organ transplant they cover is kidney." Hester said. The Clarks are appealing the insurance company's decision and are setting up a trust tund in the event they lose thc appeal. The Jonathan Clark trust fund was set up two weeks ago. Hester said. About 30 people met in the Clarks' home to discuss what they could do to help. "There are a lot of really good people out there." she said. Hester believes there are no strangers. So many people she never knew have stepped forward to lend a hand, she said. "I know we couldn't do this on our own." She believes with the help, and prayers of others their battle will be successful. The Clarks' struggle began when Jonathan was- one week old. Tests and examinations run by the pediatrician and Valley Children's Hospital showed a liver dysfunction. "Biliary artesia is a progressive illness. The only side effects Jonathan has now are the yellowing of his eyes and skin." Hester said. Her doctors said complications can set in. "We do not know when. It usually happens at about six months." she said. "One morning we could wake up and he could just be worse" Hester said babies with the disorder usually don't live past one year without a liver'transplant. Jonathan's condition* is constantly monitored. Tests are run on his blood and heart on a regular basis. Hester said. Since the establishment of the trust fund the Clarks have received a great deal of help. A local high school held a car wash and donated the proceeds to the fund. Hester said Denny's and Carl's Jr. are planning to contribute to the trust. Several CSUF students and clubs have joined in the effort. According to Hester, they are planning activities to help pay the Clarks' expenses. "A lot of things go on that we don't know about," Hester said. "And we greatly appreciate them." In addition to the monetary support, the Clarks have received input from the family of a valley child who was diagnosed with a liver malfunction and went through the process of a liver transplant three years ago. Money is not theonlvconcern in Jonathan's situation. His cond^ion determines, his position on the national priority list of li\er recipients'. To be considered for a liver transplant. SAGE Is Now Accepting Student Submissions STUDENT AWARDS $50.00 EACH CATEGORY Art & Photography Poetry Fiction Non-Fiction Deadline October 30, 19Q£.For more information, contact SAGE, through the EnglisfWepartment Saft Ramon, Rm.212 All submissions must be accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. >♦♦«-« ♦«■»♦«<>»>»♦♦<♦> the recipient must be evaluated at the medical center where the transplant will take place. Because it is not known which center will be able to perform the surgery, more than one evaluation must take place. After the evaluation, Jonathan's name will be added to the recipient list, said Hester. Currentlystherc are 400 names on the list. The morevcritical the case, the higher the priority, Hester said. "Unfor¬ tunately, they wait until the child is dn death's door before they do surgery," Hester said. When questioned about thc risk of a transplant in a child as young as Jonathan, Hester said. "The transplant is not a risk because of what he does not have now." Hester is'sure the outcome will be positive. She is adamant about not thinking negatively. Your contribution can be sent to: JONATHAN CLARK TRUST FUND. 3556 E. Ventura Avenue. Fresno, CA 93702. For additional information call 268-094I. SOCIETY OF HISPANIC—. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS Pancake Breakfast Sale <£§ Free Speech Area <§§ Wednesday morning (7:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.) • • .
Object Description
Title | 1986_10 The Daily Collegian October 1986 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1986 |
Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | October 14, 1986, Page 5 |
Alternative Title | Daily Collegian (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Associated Students of Fresno State, Fresno, Calif. |
Publication Date | 1986 |
Description | Daily (except weedends) during the school year. Microfilm. Palo Alto, Calif.: BMI Library Microfilms, 1986- microfilm reels; 35 mm. Vol.1, no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodicals. |
Contributors | Associated Students of Fresno State. |
Coverage | Vol.1 no.1 (Feb 8, 1922)- to present |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35 mm. |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Full-Text-Search | Hester Clark can merely wait for a liver transplant that may save the life of her four-month-old son Jonathan. Glenn Moore/ The Daily Cotle%ian CSUF student's baby awaits liver transplant By Tamara Toller Staff Writer Hester Clark, a CSU F graduate student studying communications disorders, is no longer learning about audiology. She and her husband John are learning what it takes to save the life of their four-month- old son. Jonathan. Jonathan suffers from a rare disorder called biliary artesia in which bile ducts are absent from the liver. An attempt to surgically create bile ducts when Jonathan was three weeks old failed. Only a succesfiil liver transplant can save Jonathan's life. The Clarks have learned that their insurance will not cover the S300.000 cost of thc operation. "The only type of organ transplant they cover is kidney." Hester said. The Clarks are appealing the insurance company's decision and are setting up a trust tund in the event they lose thc appeal. The Jonathan Clark trust fund was set up two weeks ago. Hester said. About 30 people met in the Clarks' home to discuss what they could do to help. "There are a lot of really good people out there." she said. Hester believes there are no strangers. So many people she never knew have stepped forward to lend a hand, she said. "I know we couldn't do this on our own." She believes with the help, and prayers of others their battle will be successful. The Clarks' struggle began when Jonathan was- one week old. Tests and examinations run by the pediatrician and Valley Children's Hospital showed a liver dysfunction. "Biliary artesia is a progressive illness. The only side effects Jonathan has now are the yellowing of his eyes and skin." Hester said. Her doctors said complications can set in. "We do not know when. It usually happens at about six months." she said. "One morning we could wake up and he could just be worse" Hester said babies with the disorder usually don't live past one year without a liver'transplant. Jonathan's condition* is constantly monitored. Tests are run on his blood and heart on a regular basis. Hester said. Since the establishment of the trust fund the Clarks have received a great deal of help. A local high school held a car wash and donated the proceeds to the fund. Hester said Denny's and Carl's Jr. are planning to contribute to the trust. Several CSUF students and clubs have joined in the effort. According to Hester, they are planning activities to help pay the Clarks' expenses. "A lot of things go on that we don't know about," Hester said. "And we greatly appreciate them." In addition to the monetary support, the Clarks have received input from the family of a valley child who was diagnosed with a liver malfunction and went through the process of a liver transplant three years ago. Money is not theonlvconcern in Jonathan's situation. His cond^ion determines, his position on the national priority list of li\er recipients'. To be considered for a liver transplant. SAGE Is Now Accepting Student Submissions STUDENT AWARDS $50.00 EACH CATEGORY Art & Photography Poetry Fiction Non-Fiction Deadline October 30, 19Q£.For more information, contact SAGE, through the EnglisfWepartment Saft Ramon, Rm.212 All submissions must be accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. >♦♦«-« ♦«■»♦«<>»>»♦♦<♦> the recipient must be evaluated at the medical center where the transplant will take place. Because it is not known which center will be able to perform the surgery, more than one evaluation must take place. After the evaluation, Jonathan's name will be added to the recipient list, said Hester. Currentlystherc are 400 names on the list. The morevcritical the case, the higher the priority, Hester said. "Unfor¬ tunately, they wait until the child is dn death's door before they do surgery," Hester said. When questioned about thc risk of a transplant in a child as young as Jonathan, Hester said. "The transplant is not a risk because of what he does not have now." Hester is'sure the outcome will be positive. She is adamant about not thinking negatively. Your contribution can be sent to: JONATHAN CLARK TRUST FUND. 3556 E. Ventura Avenue. Fresno, CA 93702. For additional information call 268-094I. SOCIETY OF HISPANIC—. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS Pancake Breakfast Sale <£§ Free Speech Area <§§ Wednesday morning (7:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.) • • . |