A daughter’s
love, and the “heart” to prove it
 |
| Dorothy Maks and Cheryl Chonoles. |
In February 2004, Cheryl Chonoles’ mom, Dorothy Maks, was in a desperate
place. At age 62, she had experienced two heart attacks, three stent placements,
and was now experiencing end-stage congestive heart failure.
Arriving at a Denver area hospital, she learned that her cardiologist had
retired and that she had not been assigned to a new physician. With no doctor’s
orders she was kept in the emergency room for 12 hours before being seen by
a physician. Then came the devastating news – she was told she had no
options – she was going to die, probably within three days.
Cheryl was desperate, too – she had to do something. She felt strongly
that her mother would get more attention at University of Colorado Hospital
– the place where Cheryl worked as a senior medical assistant in the
Orthopaedic and Podiatry Clinic at the Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion.
Cheryl made a decision – making a life or death determination for her
mother. She arranged for her mother to be transferred to University of Colorado
Hospital, where Michael Bristow, MD, PhD, professor and co-director of the
CU Cardiovascular Institute, was assigned to her case. After examining her,
Dr. Bristow said, “we need a heart – now,” and she was immediately
put on the waiting list for a heart. She would be hospitalized until a match
was made.
Four months later, in May 2004, the family received the news that a match
had been made. The operation went well.
In December 2004, seven months after the transplant, Dorothy had been on two
vacations, and is now considering going back to work as a nurse, her lifelong
career.
Cheryl is very grateful to the staff at University of Colorado Hospital who
treated her mother. “They are remarkable,” she says.
Dorothy is grateful that her daughter Cheryl made the decision to transfer
her to University of Colorado Hospital.
Workplace for Life Kickoff Event Schedule:
Wednesday, 1/19
10:30-11:45 a.m. RC1 Bldg. @ Fitzsimons (1st Floor Atrium)
3:30-4:45 p.m. Courtyard Café in AOP/AIP @ Fitzsimons
Thursday, 1/20
10:30-11:45 a.m. HSC Bookstore (Ninth Ave. campus)
2:00-3:30 p.m. Ninth Ave. Bistro (UCH cafeteria)
Friday 1/21
University Family Medicine-AF Williams, Garfield, Park Meadows
University Sports Medicine Clinic
Monday, 1/24
University Family Medicine- Boulder and Westminster
Warehouse
More than 85,000 people in the United States are waiting for life-saving transplants, and of these, more than 1,400 are Coloradans. While these numbers continue to grow, an average of 16 people die every day waiting for transplantation.
The need for organ and tissue donation is urgent.
During January, University of Colorado Hospital, University of Colorado Denver and University Physicians, Inc., employees will have an opportunity to learn more about donation when Donor Alliance, the federally-designated organ and tissue recovery organization for Colorado and Wyoming, will present the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPL) program. Created by Health and Human Services, the program seeks to generate a "donation-friendly" environment in the workplace.
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