The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-02-13, Page 5lirdmow Sentinel, Wednesday, Febniary 13, 1985—Page 5
• Five month old Paulette Martin is like any baby, Inquisitive, chewing on anything she gets
her hands on and she likes to suck her thumb. But unlike other babies Paulette has biliary
atresia, a fatal liver disorder. She will die if she does not have a liver transplant. A fund has
been eSitablished to .offset medical expenses when Paulette goes to Pittsburgh to have her
surgery. A benefit hockey game in Lucknow February 24, between the Kinsmen Warlords
and the CKNX Tryhards, will raise money for the Paulette Martin liver Fund.
(Photo by Ron Wassink)
Raise money for Paulette
•from page 1
Though Pauletteis a • liver transplant
candidate, Mrs. Martin, said .there's .a
desperate need for donors such as eye,.
kidney, liver and heart donors.
"Even if we had $100,000, the money
would do no good •if there's no liver
available. The need for donors is very
important." .
Paulette is like• any baby. She's inquis-
itiVe, her eyes . are questioning, taking in
her surroundings. She sucks her thumb
• and like any,normal baby, chews on any-
thing she .can get her hands on.
But because ' her liver isn't functioning,
her abdomen is distended from. a buildup
of fluid, her skin looks like she has a dark
suntan but with a tinge of green. ..
Not Critical
Doctors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
where the transplant will be performed are
aware of Paulette'e condition. She's not on
the waiting list to receive a liver because
she isn't in critical condition. (Such a
transplant has never been performed in
Canada on babies. )
When Paulette starts to deteriorate, she
will be transferred via air ambulance to
Pittsburgh where medical staff will start
the tissue matching process. And ifa donor
is found, the transplant will be done.
Even though they have nine children,
Mrs. Martin said the family isn't suffering
financially. Her husband is a pipefitter at
the Bruce Nuclear Power Development
(BNPD). Aside from medical coats which
are covered by OHIP, the Martins are
responsible for other expenses such as air
ambulance, accommodation, food, air fare
and lodging and those expenses could
exceed $20,000.
A new council of the Knights of Colum-
bus, formedpst April in Chepstow, Cargill
and Paisley areas, has initiated a fund
raising campaign for Paulette and her
family. The council which is in region four
has councils from Owen Sound to Fort Erie
to hell.) ease the financial burden :or the
• to help ease the financial burden for the
Martins.
"We thought it would be fitting to help
the family," said Paul Dales of Cargill and
a meinber of the Knights of Columbus.
"We 'started collecthig in mid December
and opened a trust account at the Bank of
Montreal in Walkerton."
So far over $9,000 has been raised. Over
$5,400 ,was raised at a gate collection at the
BNPD.
•Phenomenal Costs
"Costs will be phenomenal," sayd Mr.
Dales. "There will be a minimum three
month stay in Pittsburgh for Mrs. Martin.
Then there are costs for a beeper system
for the parents to keep them in touch rith
the hospital and costs to take care of the
other eight kids," he said.
Once a donor is found, Paulette and her
parents have • four haus to travel to
Pittsburgh.
The Knights df Columbus are hoping to
raise $30,000 by March or April, and to
reach that goal, the council will be holding
a Valentine's Dance in Walkerton on
February 16. All proceeds will go •to the
Paulette Martin trust fund.
"People have been .overwhelmingly
supportive," said Mrs. Martin. "But' the
money doesn't worry me, the need for
donors does. People just aren't aware of
the need. And it's even more difficult when
over half the hospitals in Ontario don't,
have a donor policy.y
• Long beforePaulette was born, Mr. and
Mrs. Martin both signed the donor section
of their drivers licences. And they're
hoping others are doing the same.
"There will never be an abundance of
organs, especially in young children. But
people are starting to become more aware
of the • need.
"Our daughter cottld have a full life
ahead of her if a liver is available. Prayer
means a lot to me. Prayer can move
• mountains and it will also find us a liver,"
she said.
• —Walkerton Herald -Times
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