^ Herald & Lantern 30 May '84 p ■ ___ " ^

Hospital Unfolds Life-saving Drama

COURT HOUSE - Last week Tomlin Memorial Hospital was at the center of a tri-state lifejfljaving effort that involved close to 100 people. The results are impressive. 44-year-old man with less than a month to live now has a new "heart and the promise of a new life. Two individuals have benefitted from new kidneys. Pancreas implants will prolong the life of one or more persons suffering from diabetes and others will receive the gift of sight. The organ donor was Robert Hunter, tjie 22-year old victim of a motorcycle accident 1n North Wildwood. Every effort was made to save Hunter's life. The North Wildwood Rescue Squad arrived at the scene of the accident almost immediately after it occur"re d. Hunter was resuscitated repeatedly on the way to the hospital and "The effort continued-at the Hospital. He underwent immediate CAT Scan and cerebal monitoring. UNDER THE supervision of attending surgeon. Dr. Robert I. Salasin. a

tean^frf specialists worked to save Hunter's life. Tragically, he could not be revived from the coma that resulted from Tiis head injuries. On May 22, after a clinical examination confirmed by an EEC (electroencephalogram i showed no brain function, he was pronounced dead. When the family's wishes regarding organ donation -were known, Dr. Salasin contacted the Delaware Valley Transplant Program. A short time later two of its staff arrived to coordinate efforts to find suitable recipients. Hunter's undamaged organs were maintained on a respirator with IV support until arrangements could be completed. Hospitals in New York and Philadelphia responded to the life-saving calls. A four-member transplant team from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York flew into Cape May County Airport at 10 p.m. to recover the heart while the patient at the hospital was prepared for the operation to receive it. ALBERT EINSTEIN Medical Center in

Philadelphia sent a surgical team to recover the kidneys and pancreas. At approximately 10:30 p.m. the operation to recover organs began with Burdette Tomlin physicians and nurses cooperating with transplant experts to accomplish the delicate task Team work was essential as heart and kidneys has to be removed at the same time in order to save both. The heart was recovered at approximately 1:30 a m and the transplant team from New York speeded to Cape May County Airport in an ambulance. They took off immediately ir\ their Lear jet, which took approximately 25 minutes to reach Teterboro Airport. New Jersey. In an ambulance with policd escort, it took them another 12 . minutes to reach the hospital. The team was in constant communication with surgeons at Columbia Presbyterian, where the, recipient's heart was removed as soon as the plane landed. The recipient was then put on a bypass life-support mechanism. Transplants are most successful when accomplished quickly, so this was done to allow the new heart to be put in place as soon as it arrived.

IN THE MEANTIME, the Einstein Medical Center Team made arrangements for kidney transplants and placed the pancreas with the Hospital of the Unvirsety of Pennsylvania for its work with severe diabetics. "This challenging achievement was a first for Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital and is at tfye forefront of medical science," reports William H. Waldron III. ad- * ministrator. "Our staff was glad to be able to assist in the life-saving process " Robert Hunters family was also heartened by the , success of the effort that makes thqir tragedy just a little easier to bear. They have^-asked that a memdidal fund for their son be established to benefit Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital.

T S. ' 1 a TRANSPLANT TRANSPORT — Ms. Laura Seche, R.N.. one of four-member team from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, shows cooler used to transport organs for transplantation. Other members of team included a cardiac surgeon, medical transplant coordinator and a laboratory technician.

94 f v. 1 J1-- JBhKT- M. V « " ' " i m T I i 1/L If i k — Doris Ward INSTALL OFFICERS — Cape May County Legal Secretaries installed new officers at a dinner meeting at the Washington Inn in Cape May last week. Left to right, seated. Jane Clark, treasurer, Cape May: Donna Donahue, recording secretary. Villas; Rosemarie Hee, governor, Town Bank. Standing, Jane N'ieland, corresponding secretary. Stone Harbor; Martha Morsch, president. Wildwood Crest; installing officer Louis Hornstine of Wildwood; and Betty Ann Thornton, vice president. North Cape May.

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