Section E

DOWNRIVER LIFE
Sunday, July 1, 2012

www.TheNewsHerald.com

Nancy Bunch (seated) marks her 20-year transplant milestone with her ve children, Lynn Dumas (back row, left), Susan Dluzniewski, Judy Bunch, Sherri Howard and Bob Bunch.

Staying strong
By Constance York
The News-Herald

Nancy Bunch of Southgate is the states longest-living lung transplant recipient. She celebrates her 20th year of survival this year.

Transplant survivor marks 20 years with new lung

wenty years ago, Nancy Bunch received the gift of a lifetime. The gift of time and of life. She was 53 then and became grateful for every day, every minute, every breath. Now 73, Bunch is Michigans longest living recipient of a lung transplant. The Southgate mother of five was on the transplant list for six months when another mother made the decision to donate her sons organs after he suffered an aneurysm. All they know is that his name was Tony, he was in his 30s and he was the father of three young children. His wife couldnt make the decision to donate his organs, so his mother made

it. And Bunch has been grateful to her and to him every day of her second life. At first it was difficult, Bunch said of knowing that a father of young children had to die for her to live. She tried to ease that bittersweet feeling by contacting his mother through the donor center. They corresponded for awhile until she, too, passed away. That mothers decision to donate her sons organs saved the lives of 17 people. Bunch received one of his lungs. A man received the other, but lived less than five years. Bunch said its difficult for some people to follow all of the guidelines and to take all of the medication. She said the 23 antirejection drugs she has to take every day come with their own risks and side effects side effects such as cancer. Bunch needed the sur-

gery after being a cigarette smoker for 30 years. She finally quit smoking when her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease became so severe that she eventually couldnt draw enough breath to inhale a cigarette. She weighed 85 pounds. Even to raise my arms was a complete chore, Bunch said. My lung capacity was at 10 percent. A year after she quit smoking, Dr. Mark Pensler referred her to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor for a transplant. The hospital had done only 28 at the time and was the sole one in Michigan doing them. In 1992, the life expectancy was five years. The operation took about three hours. Bunch said that since then she has rejected her lung, but it hasnt failed. You know when its rejecting, she said. You have more tiredness, breath-

ing becomes more difficult. Its a matter of alternating the medicine. And it hasnt been an easy road. Mostly due to her medicine, she has had to have two hip replacements. Shes also had cancers of the throat, lung, skin and vocal cords. Shes had heart stents, and a kidney transplant. Her daughter, Sherri Howard, gave her the kidney. But still, She never complains, Howard said. Shes a miracle. Bunch also credits the support of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Southgate with keeping her going. She said she wasnt even a member of the church when it adopted her and her family. She said the pastors came to visit her in the hospital and the whole congregation prayed for her. She also tries to attend transplant support meetings. I went more in the

beginning, she said. It was a big help for me to see those survivors. And she knows that it helps others going through it to see her. She said it offers them hope that they, too, can live 20 more years. Currently, about 67 percent of transplant patients will live for three years. The Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic and most other transplant hospitals list only six-month, one-year and three-year survival rates. Anything after that is considered beyond a success. According to the University of Michigan Health System, an estimated 17 people die every day waiting for a transplant. Theres not enough people donating, Howard said. But she believes the wait will be shorter now that Michigans motorcycle helmet law has been repealed. Most donations come from closed-head injuries, Howard said. So, more

people not wearing helmets will result in more organs available for transplant. Bunchs second chance at life might have brought difficulties, but she knows shed be dead without it. And shes grateful to have been there for the births and graduations of grandchildren, the weddings and cruises. Shes been there and been healthy enough to enjoy the times with her 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Every moment with them has been cherished, she said. And every year they celebrate her second chance. This year, her 20th since the transplant, they invited 107 guests to help her celebrate. All 107 showed up including her doctor and nurse. Bunch says every day she is healthy enough to get out of bed is a reason to celebrate. Every minute is a gift, she said.

Vista Maria honors top volunteers

volunteer Merri Reasor has found. One of her mentees loved to crochet, so they worked on afghans together. Another grew Vista Maria, a nonprofit that empowers up on a Chippewa reservation, so their sesvulnerable and victimized girls, publicly sions would be spent talking about Native honored its volunteers who have gone American culture. Sometimes sessions are above and beyond the call of duty during a filled with laughter, while others are quiet. breakfast June 14 at the Dearborn Inn. Ive learned that its not as important The awards, which were tied into the what we do each week together as much organizations public annual meeting, rec- as how we do it, said Reasor, who was ognized individuals and companies who honored as an Outstanding Mentor. The have contributed their time, talent and promise that I make to each girl, I will treasure to support Vista Marias goal of hold, and that is that I will show up each providing a safe haven for girls and young week on the day I say and at the time I say, women with nowhere else to turn. and well spend that time together. The Epitec Group, a Southfield-based Regardless of what else has happened technology staffing and consulting comin her life that week, Im happy to be there pany, was among the list of honorees for and happy to be with her. Outstanding Corporate Partner. Other honorees included: Harold When I was researching charities to Dubrowsky, Outstanding Board support, it was very important to me to not Leadership; Daniel Chaney, Outstanding only deal with a childrens charity, but girls Child Advocate; Eartha Gee, Outstanding in general, said Maria Sitarski, a retired Community Volunteer; Kimberly Glenn, Epitec project specialist who attended Outstanding Heartmover Volunteer; the breakfast to represent the company. Vance and Keila Terry, Outstanding Foster Parent; Kristin Cook, Outstanding Staff Without good, supportive, strong women, Dedication; and Recreational Therapy there will not be a very bright future. Since 2003, Epitec has worked alongside Team, Outstanding Team Dedication. Vista Maria president and CEO Angela Vista Maria to brighten the lives of young girls by putting on barbecues, helping with Aufdemberge described her organizacrafts and hosting Christmas parties, com- tion as a force of care and support. The plete with appearances by Santa Claus and Dearborn Heights-based nonprofit, which presents. Last year, Sitarski said, Epitec helps more than 1,000 families, has served sponsored 40 girls during Christmastime the metro Detroit area for 129 years, making to give them items on their wish lists. it the oldest nonprofit in the state, she said. We think its important for the girls to She highlighted recent accomplishinteract with the outside world because of ments, including the more-than-a dozen graduates from the Clara B. Ford Academy, the circumstances they come from, she a strict discipline academy in Dearborn said. I wanted them to see and interact with other successful women and the pos- Heights for girls aided by Vista Maria. The nonprofit was also awarded a $500,000 sibilities that are out there for them. grant by the Kresge Foundation after raisFinding the best way to reach each girl differs on a case-by-case basis, Vista Maria ing $4.5 million in funds in part to help
Press & Guide Newspapers

By Emily Morman

Photo by Emily Morman

Michelle Roberts (middle) accepts a plaque on behalf of The Epitec Group for Outstanding Corporate Partner from Vista Maria chief operating ofcer Stephanie Miller (left) and Vista Maria president and CEO Angela Aufdemberge (right). build a child and family resource center, for which ground is expected to be broken soon, Aufdemberge said. Another of the organizations major plans, through collaboration with Amerisure, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis and the Wayne County HOME Program, is to build 22 dorm-style studio apartments for girls who age out of the foster care system. They are turning 17, 18, 19, 20 years old, and they have no family support system, but theyre expected to go on in education and careers and be successful. Thats very hard to do, Aufdemberge said. The hope is that by providing young women with housing and other assistance during the transition period out of foster care, they will be able to focus more time and energy on finding work or attending school, she said. In closing, Aufdemberge thanked the audience for their continued work and belief in Vista Marias mission. You help rebuild families, she said. You help create new beginnings, and if that doesnt make your day, I dont know what does. Emily Morman can be reached at emilymorman@gmail.com.