THIS IS FEATURED ON THE LIFELINE OF OHIO WEBSITE!
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Miracles and Memories:
Personal Stories About Organ and Tissue Donation
Click here to view a list of all available stories. The Most Courageous Person |
Donor Family |
- Gary Balser |
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 | In January of 2000, my vibrant, blonde, fun-loving 11-year-old daughter was admitted to Children's Hospital. Doctors were puzzled, and had a very hard time diagnosing her illness. She took everything so valiantly, and never ever complained, she just would ask "how long would it take?"
Day after day for 4 weeks, I would spend my hours talking to doctors about my daughters condition, some days were great and others not so good. The rare blood disease Thrombotic Thromboycytopenic Purpura (TTP) had taken over her blood cells, and it did not want to leave. She spent her 12th birthday in ICU. Hours of aphresis with over 45 treatments, and then chemotherapy would not get it to leave.
After telling us that her condition was getting better, the disease counteracted sending 3 blood clots to her brain. My family and I stood by her bed for 5 days while she was in a coma, and on February 11th, 2000 they gave me the news that my beautiful 12-year-old daughter was now brain dead. My entire body went numb; I was sick, and devastated. I thought to myself that this couldn't be real. Tragically, it was.
Britt was such a beautiful girl inside; who loved everyone that she met. I knew that she would want her organs donated to save other people. We kept her on a ventilator, and contacted the Lifeline of Ohio person about about how to go about organ donation. She was so wonderful, explaining the whole procedure as we cried. Our wonderful daughter would be helping others after she left this life, and in some way that helped us deal with her loss. I came back to the hospital right before the surgeons flew in from out of state to say my final "goodbye" to the most courageous person that I will ever know in my life, my daughter.
After the loss of my daughter to the rare blood disease, I have started a foundation to raise funds to battle the disease. The foundation is called the Britt Balser Foundation for TTP. We hope to raise funds for further research and awareness of this deadly illness, and save as many lives as we possibly can. We also promote Lifeline of Ohio at the benefit concerts that we produce.
The knowledge that my young daughter, who now resides in Heaven, saved 4 people's lives gives me an inner peace about losing her, knowing that those people thank her everyday of their life. Brittany not only lives on in hearts of those who knew her, but she enables others to live now . Jaimie Gilbert, who is a TTP Survivor Pictured with 38 Special at Foundation Show
Jaime's Story
After a trip to her doctor for migraines and abnormal bruising, her doctor had blood work done to find a dangerously low platelet count, and she was admitted to Children's Hospital in Columbus.
The doctors worked to find out the cause, and after a 2 week stay in the hospital, she was diagnosed with TTP. They treated here with "experimental" treatments for 3 months when she finally went into remission. Despite her low energy level, nerve damage to her legs, and hair loss,Jaime went back to college.She was able to finish college with a BA in Psychology, and two Masters Degrees in School Counseling and Health Psychology. Things were going well in her life, but that did not last as TTP attacked her again almost 10 years later. The disease emerged due to her pregnancy, and it would cause her to lose her baby daughter via miscarriage. Jaime was life-flighted to the hospital where she spent the Christmas Holidays on a emotional rollercoaster while hospitalized fighting this rare disease. In May of 2005 she had another unexplained relapse, was treated, and went into remission. Dr. Cataland is her current Hematologist that monitors her health.
She is a full-time Assistant Director of Partial Hospitalization Program for Youth with mental health and behavioral challenges. Jaime is a vital part of The Britt Balser Foundation for TTP as a spokesperson and vital volunteer. Her time is also spent talking to others about the disease on internet information boards.
Carla's Story
While preparing her first music project, Carla developed an extremely rare blood disorder known as TTP. After a three month hospital stay following a near death experience, she completed her first project titled, “Fall Into Place”. This was produced by Brian White at Benson Music Group in Nashville. Carla then began performing nationally with great success as an independent artist.
Unfortunately, during the production of this project Carla was once again stricken with TTP. She spent five months in the hospital where she received chemotherapy and daily blood transfusions that were essential to sustain her life. During this life threatening illness and Carla refused to give up. Carla, pregnant at the time, also rejected the doctor's advice to abort her baby in order to survive. She gave birth to her son, Korbin, who weighed only 1lb. 5oz. at birth and quickly fell to just 1lb. 2oz. Both Korbin and Carla were only given a 5% chance of survival. At that time, Korbin was the only baby in the world known to survive birth from a mother with active TTP.
Due to this rare disease, Carla put her music career on hold and began to wonder if God would ever call her to sing again. In 2006 her prayers would be answered when award winning songwriter/producer Felix Weber (Chaka Khan, Toni Braxton, Paul Anka, Leo Sayer and many more) asked her to begin a project with Felix Weber Productions titled, “Reach Out”. She has a beautiful testimony and is a walking miracle. Carla and Korbin are proof of what GOD can do in the lives of those who trust and obey.
| ANOTHER YOUNG GIRL LOSES HER LIFE TO TTP!!!
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 Brooke
A. Bassler, 20, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away March 27, 2008. She was
born May 28, 1987 in Mesa, and was a graduate of Westwood High School
and a student at MCC. She worked in the entertainment industry as a
collector. Brooke is survived by her parents, Kim Bingham (Steve), and
Grant (Fonda) Bassler; brothers, Cole and Taylor; Papas' Bob, George
and Larry, Nana Cheri, Aunt Paige (Tim), and cousins Leandra and
Daniel. She had many passions in life, but the most fun was had with
her friends ~143~. Visitation is Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 6-8:00 p.m.
and Funeral Services are Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., both
at Bunker's University Chapel, 3529 E. University Dr., Mesa. Graveside
Prayer and Interment immediately following at the City of Mesa
Cemetery, 1212 N. Center St., Mesa. In lieu of flowers the family is
asking that donations be made in Memory of Brooke to further research
of TTP. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
Published in the East Valley Tribune on 4/1/2008. | David is our first male survivor featured in our Stories Section. He was afflicted with TTP while serving our country in the Armed Services. His company, IntegrateIT, is major contributor to the foundation.
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David Baldini, Project Management Consultant, CFO David graduated with a Bachelors Degree from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with concentrations in finance and business administration. After graduation, David worked as a financial analyst at KPMG and as a financial consultant with Accenture and Booz Allen Hamilton. Now focusing in project management, David presents a fresh perspective and enthusiasm for delivering value added solutions to integrateIT clients. |
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