Connie Prochnow's Transplant Story
Please click here to read Connie Prochnow's transplant story and find out more about her connection with Restoring Hope.
The Restoring Hope Transplant House in downtown Middleton, Wisconsin will soon offer comfortable and affordable housing to transplant patients and their caregivers while they are in the Madison area for life-saving procedures. This blog contains recent Transplant House Letters, Articles, Photos & Endorsements (click on photos to enlarge). For more information, please visit our website: www.restoringhope.org
Please click here to read Connie Prochnow's transplant story and find out more about her connection with Restoring Hope.
Students at Middleton Alternative Senior High recently held a spaghetti lunch fundraiser with the proceeds to benefit RHTH. They're pictured above presenting their check for $131.00 to Cindy Herbst.
Cindy Herbst, Susan Hamilton from the Organ Procurement Organization and Dottie the Dot recently visited Green Meadow School in Oshkosh. Thank you to Principal Patti Asmus for inviting us to this assembly and to everyone involved for supporting Restoring Hope!
Please join us for Restoring Hope group outing night with the Madison Mallards on July 7th. A portion of each ticket sold online in the RHTH group section will be donated to support the Transplant House. To order $6 tickets in this section, please visit www.mallardsgroups.com and enter "Hope" as the group password. We hope to see you all out at the ballpark again this year!
Please join our friends at Transplant Wisconsin for their upcoming sand volleyball tournament. Proceeds from this event will help support athletes attending the 2010 transplant games being held in Madison.
Please click the flyer above for more details about the Summer Bridal Show. Profits from souvenir photos taken at this event will benefit Restoring Hope Transplant House. For more information or to order tickets online, please visit wedplan.com
Shirley Schunk (center) from the Middleton Senior Center didn't have enough money to support the "Thirty Bucks for Life" campaign at Restoring Hope, so she came up with the idea to ask every senior at the center to contribute $1. We're extremely grateful for her heartfelt gift and happy that Shirley and Jill Kranz from the Senior Center were able to visit the Transplant House to present their gift to Executive Director Cindy Herbst.

We are very grateful for Deb and Marty Monroe and their kids Kyle, Alex and Cody along with many of their family and friends for their hard work on their bowling event. They raised over $3,000.00 for RHTH and again gave public awareness to the need for our House and transplant. Cody is a kidney transplant recipient from his father Marty. This is the 2nd event from the Monroe family with more events planned with Daddy D Dinner Theatre Productions in the future.
Thanks to the wonderful group of volunteers from Blackhawk Church that came to the Transplant House last weekend as part of their "Love Madison" program. The group cleaned, fixed, planted, painted, organized and even helped build the benches that the Transplant House will start using for fundraising purposes. Thank you so much for supporting Restoring Hope!
Emmy Fink from Madison's CW recently visited Restoring Hope to film an upcoming "Buzzed Into Madison" story about the Restoring Hope Ride. Stay tuned!



Transplant House Executive Director Cindy Herbst received this Certificate of Excellence for her commitment to organ donation at the 2009 Douglas T. Miller Symposium. She's pictured above at this event with Jeff Skiles, the heroic co-pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 that landed safely in the Hudson River in New York City.
Thanks to the students at Green Meadow Elementary School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for choosing to sponsor Restoring Hope during their recent April event.

Thanks to those of you that have taken advantage of the "Pay It Forward" campaign at Summit Credit Union to make a contribution to Restoring Hope. This campaign ends soon for those of you interested in getting involved.
Restoring Hope Transplant House has been blessed by the loyal support of so many people in the transplant community. Lauren Waller is a transplant survivor and a Friend of Restoring Hope. We thank her for taking the time to share her story and for offering her support for the "Thirty Bucks for Life" campaign.
The Power of One is a new UW Health video that features RHTH Board Member Hans Sollinger and includes several touching transplant stories.

Cindy Herbst accepts a contribution to the Transplant House from Sonic at a recent Middleton Chamber of Commerce event.
Hannah Rosenthal is a wonderful presence in the transplant community and a great friend of Restoring Hope. Click here to read more about her in the March edition of Brava Magazine.
Many thanks to Hannah for her continued support of Restoring Hope Transplant House. In addition to the above letter of support, please take a minute to watch her video message for the "ORGANize to Save Lives" campaign. Hannah also helped fund and create the always popular Dottie the Dot.
10% of your purchase from area Buffo Floral stores can now be donated to support Restoring Hope Transplant House. Click above to learn more about the "Pick Your Cause!" program and how you can support RHTH.
Few people know transplant better than John Flesch and his family. John and several members of the Flesch family have been both organ donors and recipients over the years and they know very well the many challenges that are faced by those in the transplant community. We're extremely thankful that John has taken the time to share his transplant story (click above) and grateful to everyone at Gordon Flesch for their help in providing Restoring Hope with the gift of written communication as they continue to help us spread the word on a daily basis.
We wish to thank Melissa and John Ernst from Harbor Athletic Club and Endurance House owners Jamie and Tara Osborn and Director of Operations, Justin Pernitz for all their hard work in organizing and hosting their 1st indoor triathlon celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Harbor Athletic Club. We're extremely grateful for their gracious gift of proceeds given to RHTH from this event. Congratulations Harbor Athletic Club.
Here's a collection of photos from last weeks enjoyable evening social with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce. We thank Capital Brewery and Vin Santo for partnering with us by providing a wonderful assortment of drinks and fabulous appetizers. The buzz amongst the over 100 people in attendance that evening to GET THE DOORS OPEN supports and mirrors why Middleton is indeed the Good Neighbor City.
Please click here to listen to Executive Director Cindy Herbst's recent interview on WIBA 1310 in Madison.
The UW Health Organ Procurement Organization is pleased to announce that in 2008 more people than ever in Wisconsin made the decision to donate their organs, helping the UW Health OPO reach a new milestone: 137 organ donors. These donors, through their beautiful gifts of life, made 541 organs available for transplantation in 2008.
The photo above features many of the physicians and staff of the UW Health OPO at a recent event held at Restoring Hope Transplant House.
Here's a collection of photos from the recent Marrow Donor Drive that was held in Evansville, Wisconsin. Many thanks to the Carlsen family, the wonderfully supportive community of Evansville and all of those that helped organize, promote, volunteer and register at this successful event!
Emmy Fink from Madison's CW recently had a chance to interview Ron Carlsen to help share his inspirational transplant story and to also help promote the upcoming Marrow Donor Drive that's being held in his honor in Evansville.
Video - Part 1
Video - Part 2
Please take a minute to read (click on above graphic) Channel 27's blog entry about Ron Carlsen, his transplant story and the upcoming Marrow Donor Drive that's being held in Evansville.
The recent Middleton Lions Club 10th Annual Wine Tasting was a huge success with over 300 hundred people in attendance. Thanks to everyone that made this fun night possible and for your generous contributions to Restoring Hope.
Many thanks to the great group of volunteers from the American Girl Marketing Department for all of their help at Restoring Hope this week!
Click on the poster above to learn more about Ron Carlsen, his transplant story and an upcoming Marrow Donor Drive that is being held in Evansville, WI in his honor. We hope that you will consider joining the Marrow Donor Registry!
Monday, March 9th, 2009
11am - 6pm
Union Mason Lodge #32
104 West Main Street
Evansville, WI
For more information, please call Pat or Ron Carlsen at (608) 882-0956

Learn more about Cody's upcoming Donate-A-Life Benefit that will support Restoring Hope Transplant House in this recent Appleton Post-Crescent article.
Several individuals, families and businesses have expressed an interest in making direct regular donations to support Restoring Hope on a weekly or monthly basis. We're pleased to announce that Restoring Hope has recently teamed up with Capitol Bank to now make this possible.
The direct deposit form and detailed instructions on how to fill the form out are linked below:
Donation Form

All proceeds from Cody's Donate-A-Life Benefit on February 8th in DePere will go to support Restoring Hope Transplant House. We hope to see you there!
Click here to read more about Cody's Law and his inspirational transplant story.
Please take a moment to read (click above to enlarge) the touching story of Kelly Nachreiner and learn how her decision to become an organ donor saved lives and even led to former Governor Tommy Thompson signing the Kelly Nachreiner Bill into law. Kelly will be honored in the 2009 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year's Day.
Mary Nachreiner, Kelly's Mother, will be at the the Transplant House this evening along with Lea Culver and Cindy Herbst to host an Open House. Please join us tonight between 4-6pm.

Lea Culver and Cindy Herbst invite you to attend an Open House to benefit Restoring Hope Transplant House. Enjoy a fun evening with friends, a warm drink, tour the House, try on awesome Silpada Designs jewelry and help raise money for the Transplant House. Please click on the above items to enlarge.
Thanks to everyone that came to the recent Marrow Donor Drive in Middleton. It was a great opportunity to add more names to the National Registry.
Click here to watch the story from the donor drive that aired on NBC15.
The Middleton Lions Club 10th Annual Wine Tasting on February 20th will benefit RHTH. Please click above for more details.


Please take a few minutes to read (click to enlarge) this touching letter from Curt and Nancy Kalies. Thanks for supporting Restoring Hope and best wishes!
The above article recently appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal. Click on the article to read an enlarged version about the Herb Heneman Story including his transplant story, recently being presented with the Michael R. Losey Award and the Heneman's donation to the Restoring Hope Transplant House.
Thanks to this great group of volunteers from Starbucks that stopped by the House last week to help rake. Great job!

The City of Middleton along with the Middleton Chamber of Commerce and Restoring Hope Transplant House would like to invite you to join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry to give “The Gift of Life”.
On November 20, 2008 from 9am-4pm, the Marriott Madison West is supporting the effort to recruit marrow donors from the Madison area. The Marriott Madison West is located at 1313 John Q Hammons Drive in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Click here to view the event flyer for more information.
This NMDP Video provides additional information about the entire donation process.
Dottie the Dot made her first appearance at the Transplant House on Halloween Night. Here are some of the photos of Dottie's visit to the House and her tour of downtown Middleton. Thanks to everyone that stopped by, honked or waved.
Click here to learn more about the new Donate Life Wisconsin license plates.
Stop by the Transplant House on Halloween Night for a treat and a chance to meet Dottie the Dot from 5-7 pm!

Photo of the High Point School volunteer day at Restoring Hope that appeared in a recent edition of the Middleton Times-Tribune.
UW Health's Organ Procurement Organization joins donation advocacy groups across the state in introducing Dottie the Dot.
Dottie is a custom-made mascot who will be traveling the state to promote the "Got Your Dot?" campaign at public venues such as parades, sporting events, race/walks and health fairs.
When Dottie is on the scene, she'll be accompanied by organ donation advocates with a thorough knowledge of our current, critical shortage of donor organs. Dottie's escorts will help make people aware of the importance of donation and how they can sign up to be donors themselves.
Click here to watch a message from Dottie and UW football coach Bret Bielema.
Thanks to the 17 great volunteers from High Point School that recently came to RHTH to visit, clean and enjoy a quick snack.
Many thanks to the two groups of UW School of Nursing students that came to visit the Transplant House. If you'd like to schedule a tour of the Transplant House, please contact Cindy Herbst at (608) 831-1726 or via email at restoringhope@tds.net
The HD Video production featuring the Restoring Hope Transplant House has received a Telly Award for outstanding achievement in a public service production as part of the 29th annual competition.

Thanks to the North Central Wisconsin Donate Life Foundation for their continued support and for their help in spreading the word about the Transplant House on their website.
Come and enjoy a day in the park. Meet some new friends. Learn more about transplantation. Celebrate Madison being chosen for the site of the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games or whatever other reason you can think of to get out and join the fun!
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When: Sunday August 24th, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM - until ?
Where: Marshall Park, Madison, WI

Transplant House Executive Director Cindy Herbst recently announced the addition of 5 new members to the Board of Directors & Advisors.
Click here to read Cindy's comments and to learn more about the new members.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced last week at the 15th annual Gift of Life Medal Ceremony that 45,000 Wisconsin residents joined the orange "donor dot" pledge program over the past six months.
Over 50% of Wisconsin residents have expressed their intent to donate.
Many thanks to everyone that sponsored, organized and attended the recent Radiate Hope event at Capital Brewery in Middleton!
Transplant recipient and WFRV (Green Bay) Anchor Erin Davisson was in Pittsburgh to participate in and cover the Transplant Games. Erin (pictured at the left) was in Madison this past April to do a story on the Restoring Hope Transplant House. Click here to access her archived stories from the Transplant Games.
Transplant House Executive Director Cindy Herbst accepts a donation from Glenn Welnak and the Modern Woodmen of America group at a recent event held at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells.

The 2010 Transplant Games are coming to Madison! Click here to watch the announcement story that aired on Channel 3 featuring our friend Erin Davisson.
Additional Links:
Madison Awarded 2010 Transplant Games - UW Health
Thanks to the H.R. group at American Girl for all of their help and hard work during their recent Volunteer Day at Restoring Hope Transplant House
Click here to learn more about Donna Katen-Bahensky, the new President and CEO at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.
Thank you all for making Restoring Hope Fundraiser Night with the Madison Mallards such a fun and successful event. Click here to watch the photo slideshow!
A group led by the Middleton Historical Society recently visited the Transplant House. This photo, taken at the Transplant House, appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Radiate Hope is an exciting family-oriented fundraising event established to raise money for local cancer research & support groups. The event features local bands, prize drawings, midway games and activities, and an opportunity to hear from patients about their quest to overcome cancer. Restoring Hope Transplant House is one of this years selected charities.
July 12th, 2008 - 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Capital Brewery in Middleton

Funds raised in this t-shirt sale will help buy uniforms for Team Wisconsin as they compete in the upcoming U.S. Transplant Games in Pittsburgh.
Click here for more information and to order t-shirts online.

WPS has started the "ORGANize to Save Lives" campaign. With your help, they hope to have 1 million new organ donors by 2010.
Thanks to Emmy Fink from Madison's CW for her help in making this commercial possible! For more information on Restoring Hope Fundraiser Night or to order tickets online for the Mallards game on June 17th, please visit the Transplant House website.
Thanks to the Wisconsin State Journal for their help in promoting the upcoming "Thanks Mom" Marrow Donor Drive. As mentioned, the usual $53 fee to join the registry has been waived for this special event. For more information, please call Transplant House Executive Director Cindy Herbst at 608.831.1726
Erin Davisson from WFRV-TV in Green Bay visited the Transplant House on April 28th to film a story for their local news. Erin is a liver transplant recipient. Click here to watch her story on Restoring Hope.
The WFRV Transplant Series also includes stories about Cody Monroe and his participation in the Transplant Games, Representative Steve Wieckert and his efforts on behalf of organ donation and the upcoming Transplant Games
Thanks to UW football Coach Bret Bielema for his continued support of the Transplant House. He's pictured here on the front page of The Democrat Tribune in Mineral Point along with Cindy Herbst at the recent Organ-Tissue Donor Awareness Bowling Tournament. All proceeds from this event were donated to the Restoring Hope Transplant House.
Cindy Herbst in front of the Transplant House booth at the 2nd Annual Donation Education Fair in La Crosse on April 22nd. Board of Directors member, Dr. Hans Sollinger, was one of the featured speaker at this event.
Kristina, recently named Miss Coulee Region 2008, was kind enough to send this letter of support. She stopped by the Transplant House this past winter for a tour as well.

Be part of the National Marrow Donor Program’s “Thanks Mom” campaign. Join the NMDP’s Donor Registry free of charge on May 9th and share the gift of life! Click on the flyer for more information and stay tuned for more details.

Patti Jackson from the Badger Aquatics Club presents a signed Swim-A-Thon t-shirt and donation to Cindy Herbst at the Transplant House. Many thanks for all of their hard work in organizing that event and raising funds for the Transplant House.
An article in the Wausau Daily Herald about the "Race for Life" event that will benefit the Restoring Hope Transplant House.
A portion of ticket sales from the Madison Mallards baseball game on June 17th vs. Eau Claire will be donated to the Restoring Hope Transplant House. Click here for more information and to order tickets online.
Wisconsin Public Television will be featuring A Science of Miracles: The History of Organ Transplantation on Tuesday, April 15th at 9:00 p.m. Don't miss it!
A recent article in the Wausau Daily Herald featuring Dr. Longo.

In 2004, Rep. Wieckert authored legislation commonly referred to as "Cody's Law," offering tax deduction for expenses of up to $10,000 for travel, lodging, and lost wages incurred in the process of donating an organ. The first year the legislation was in effect in Wisconsin there was a dramatic 20 percent increase in organ donation. Since then, 12 other states have enacted Wisconsin's "Cody's Law."
Thanks to all of the people that organized and participated in the Bowling Tournament Fundraiser at Midway Lanes Sports Bar and Grill in Mineral Point. It was a huge success!
Transplant Wisconsin Inc in conjunction with the NKF of Wisconsin proudly presents the following educational seminars as part of the Living Well after Transplant patient education series.
Transplant Medications:
What do you know about them.
What you need to know about them.
Presented By:
Laurie Schenkelberg, PharmD.
Transplant Pharmacist
Aurora, St. Luke's Medical Center
LOCATIONS:
Madison Area
March 27th, 2008
6:30 PM
For directions please click on the following link http://restoringhope.org/the_house/directions.php
April 10th, 2008
6:30 PM
Options for Independent Living Center -Green Bay WI
North Central Wisconsin Donate Life Foundation Presents:
2nd Annual "Race for Life" Scavenger Hunt to benefit Restoring Hope Transplant House.
Saturday, April 19th, 2008, The Rose Garden, Wausau, Wisconsin.
Click here for more information or print out your registration form at www.ncwdonatelife.org
Transplant Wisconsin Inc is having a meeting. All are welcome to attend.
When: Thursday March 20th, 2008 6:00 PM
Where: The Restoring Hope Transplant House
7457 Terrace Ave
Middleton , WI 53562
Pizza and refreshments will be served. Donations to cover food costs will be welcomed at the event.
Please e-mail Andrea Grosse at Andreagrosse@charter.net if you plan to attend so we can order enough pizza.
For directions please click on the following link http://restoringhope.org/the_house/directions.php
Nick-N-Willy's Pizza in Middleton will donate 5% of your net purchase on March 16th-17th to the Restoring Hope Transplant House.

"As I write this, 23 children await an organ transplant in Wisconsin. They are part of the almost 1,500 Wisconsinites waiting. Eighteen people in the U.S. will die today because they didn't get an organ in time. Every 13 minutes a new name is added to the national waitlist. That is two more people just in the time it takes to watch the news, or eat your lunch. For those who are more visual learners, picture this: we could fill every seat in Camp Randall Stadium and cover the entire field with the 98,000 people in the U.S. who are waiting for their gift of life."
Please take a few minutes to learn more about organ donation and how you can help!

Members of the Madison-Monona Lioness Club visit the Restoring Hope Transplant House to present their donation from a recent fundraiser to Executive Director Cindy Herbst
Watch the Restoring Hope Interview with NBC15's Carleen Wild and Transplant House Executive Director Cindy Herbst online.
The Restoring Hope Transplant House has been selected to participate in the YouTube Nonprofit program. Please visit the new Restoring Hope YouTube Channel and help us spread the word!

Executive Director Cindy Herbst with Sandy Zweifel at a recent fundraiser gathering to support RHTH with the Madison Monona Lioness Club. If your business or group is interested in scheduling a guest speaker for an upcoming event, please contact Cindy.

George Wilding, MD was named Director of the University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center in January 2004.
Transplant Wisconsin Inc Meeting
Transplant Wisconsin Inc is having a meeting. All are welcome to attend.
When: Thursday February 21st, 2008 6:00 PM
Where: The Restoring Hope Transplant House
7457 Terrace Ave
Middleton , WI 53562
Pizza and refreshments will be served. Donations to cover food costs will be welcomed at the event
Please e-mail Andrea Grosse at Andreagrosse@charter.net if you plan to attend so we can order enough pizza.
The Hughes Brothers
Date: 2/15/2008
Celebrate Sweetheart Weekend at "Branson's one true family show." From their own Hughes Brothers Celebrity Theatre in Branson, Missouri, the five multi-talented Hughes Brothers present From Country to Broadway, performing everything from today's country hits to the old western classics to Broadway and gospel favorites. Voted "Best Vocal Group" at the Branson Entertainment Awards Gala, you'll not only enjoy their rich harmonies and brilliant choreography, but each brother as a vocal soloist and a versatile instrumentalist as well.
Community Partner: Restoring Hope, and St. Mary's Golden Care Program.
Tickets on sale now at Middleton Community Bank (cash and checks only), or Nick-N-Willy's Pizza (cash, checks and credit cards) and online.
Tickets: Adults $27, Seniors $24, Students $12
14th Annual Organ-Tissue Donor Awareness 8 Pin Tap Tournament
Team and singles events starting on 2/22-2/24 & 2/29-3/2. All proceeds benefit Restoring Hope Transplant House.
Midway Lanes Sports Bar & Grill
1850 Mineral Point Rd.
Mineral Point, WI
For Reservations call 608-987-2668.
Kristina Gross, Miss Coulee Region '08, takes a tour of the Transplant House with Mary Baliker.