[pud's friend]

I caught the tail end of 60 minutes last night and it talked about Michelle Eather who you may, or may not, have heard donated a kidney to a stranger.
The closing statement was that she was diagnosed with MS 12months ago and sadly died last week.

Could she really have died within 12 months from MS as they suggested? or its complications? Anyone know any more?

http://www.themercury.com.au/article...ania-news.html

[braingonebad]

Sorry, didn't see the show. This is the kind of thing that made me stop watching, the paranoia journalism.

I'd bet that girl could have died for any reason, and 60 minutes would have let you think it was ms, just to make it more sensational. Personally, I have a hard time seeing where even complications from ms could do her in in that short a time.

[Dejibo]

I find many reporters get many facts WRONG, and frequently give half truths.

She may have died from other things like a pnuemonia, or cancer, or hit by a bus. Its RARE to die from MS solely but the complications like "the ms hug" not allowing your diaphram to expand can set up a pnuemonia. If you have lesions in your brain stem, it can affect your heart/lungs/nervous system.

you can google the woman name and see if you can get more info.

[kicker]

I was DXed in '02, but Now look back and can see the begining was '94 with "strange" stuff that happened that I didn't think much about. Who knows? I consider my MS 15 years old, DH says he saw stuff earlier than that. I don't know, don't think it matters much now.

[AfterMyNap]

If those were the words used, they did not say that the MS was the cause of death. It definitely could have been made more clear, but in the article, it said that she had severe infections that were the cause of her hospitalization.

There is also a coroner's inquiry underway which tells me that there is more to the story than was disclosed at the time of airing the piece.

What we don't know is almost as compelling as what is known, it's definitely sensationalism, but, the business is driven by ratings, not integrity.

[DM]

As a kidney donor, I have to say that I highly doubt her donating a kidney took her life. We are nearing our 15 yr donation anniversary and if I didn't know I had done it, I wouldn't know it. A person really only needs 1/4 of a healthy kidney to live. I applaud her for saving a stranger's life and hope this doesn't harm organ donation until all the details of her passing come out. I am in awe of her work and generosity towards promotion of organ donation; such an inspiration.

Of course, it is a fact that any type of surgery can end badly. What also puzzles me is the amt of testing, tissue typing etc that a donor has to go through before donation can progress. I was put under a microscope, had every test imaginable before being considered, as the health/safety of the donor is the first thing they consider.

So, this is certainly a strange situation. I'm also surprised at her out of pocket expense, as the recipient's ins is charged for the surgery/service. And, $22,000 would not even begin to touch the cost, unless she paid some expenses for the recipient.

So, this woman was indeed, a champion. May she rest in peace knowing she helped this man and now will be helping research in the cause of MS.

[Riverwild]

People DO die from MS BUT it is VERY rare.
(think ~ Marburg variant, something you would be tested for and know if you were having a fast hard course of MS)

People die from complications due to MS.
(think ~ skin breakdown and ensuing infection, etc.)

Most people LIVE WITH MS.
( think ~ that would be most of us here)

Regardless of what she died from, she was a living organ donor and that makes her a hero in my book ~ just like our DM!

[hollym]

If you click on the related story "Courageous Donor Dies", here is what you read:


"Woodbridge mother-of-three Michelle Eather died at the Launceston General Hospital on Friday from symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis....."



http://www.themercury.com.au/article...ania-news.html

[Dejibo]

hmmm, almost hate to say it outloud, but I wonder if the stress of the donation on her body kicked off her MS sx....


things that make ya wonder. Had she not donated, would it have delayed her MS arrival?

I want to know what causes this stupid disease!

[LucyLuLu]

60 minutes certainly should never be believed. The coroner's inquiry is a firm indication there is more to it.
When someone does something as sensational as donating an organ it draws an immense amount of attention, and most of us believe that the donor is doing an amazing and honourable thing. Not everyone does something for nothing, there can be many motivations behind this decision. DM - You are correct the numbers ($ 22 000) just don't work.... the reason is that you will never know the truth if it cost anything at all. Was the motivation financial or maybe it was for the attention it gave to someone who always was so desperate to be noticed and the centre of attention?
Can you donate a kidney and undergo the rigourous testing required (particularly in a country like the US) , then only 6 months later find out you have MS?
I found it appalling that 60 mins even did the story portraying her to be a hero in the first place. They glossed over the criminal history that she had which was recent and not gossip, as it is a part of public record.
Of course the media attention will die and all will be forgotten when the coroner comes back with their finding that I would bet my house on that it has absolutley nothing to do with MS, kidneys etc but about a sad, manipulative woman who hurt herself one too many times.