UAW People

ISAE NEUTZLING
She's Fighting for Her Life

Isae Neutzling needs a gift: a kidney.

Isae Neutzling, a UAW member for 25 years who retired from the Delco-Remy plant in Laurel, Miss., has a terrible problem. The energetic 58- year-old mother of two was just beginning to enjoy her retirement and her new granddaughter when she began to feel tired all the time.

This deteriorated to a point where she could not walk up a flight of steps. Testing revealed that her kidneys were failing. Soon, doctors said, she would have to undergo treatment or die.

She went to Tulane University Hospital in New Orleans where surgeons began dialyzing her. Slowly a portion of her strength returned.

Then they began to test her for the possibility of a kidney transplant. She proved to be an excellent candidate. Her husband volunteered one of his kidneys, and it was a match.

During the surgery, however, it was discovered that, although functioning normally, his kidneys had been damaged as a child, and were not acceptable to transplant. So they sewed him up, and woke up Isae. She covered her great disappointment and went on.

A kidney transplant would put one normal kidney back into her. (A person only needs one functioning kidney to live normally.) Suddenly her life could be as it used to be.

There are some minimum requirements for anyone waiting to donate a kidney to Isae. She is blood type “B” and therefore can receive a kidney from any “B” type, or from the universal donor type, “O”. A donor must not have any type of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or serious heart problems. A donor will not be accepted if overly obese. And, of course, kidney functions must be within a normal range.

There are other tests involved, mostly blood work. Also, a CAT scan is done of the donor’s kidneys. These tests not only ensure a good match but also the safety of the donor. Tulane, of course, does all of these tests at no expense to the donor and even takes care of the air fare to and from New Orleans.

This tough woman wants to live fully, not merely exist. What a wonderful gift a kidney would be.

If you can help, please contact Isae Neutzling at 866-492-8370 (toll-free).

JOHN GARCIA
Red Cross Volunteer Is Ready to Help

photo courtesy of the Toledo Union Journal

John Garcia and local volunteer Elizabeth Couch Nordstrom at the Flight 93 crash site.

As a Red Cross volunteer since 1979, UAW Local 12 member John Garcia was ready to help after the 9-11 disaster. The Jeep Unit member was contacted by a Red Cross emergency specialist on Sept. 12. He arrived in Pennsylvania the following day, at the site of the Flight 93 crash, to begin a 13-day tour of duty.

“When I first got there and saw the wreckage, I saw cranes digging around the clock,” Garcia recalled. “Four words describe the moods of the many hard working volunteers. They were determined, focused, passionate and intense.”

Garcia provided support services for the disaster workers, firefighters, law enforcement officials, government workers, military and airline personnel, as well as for the families of people who died in the crash.
“There were 300 local, state and national Red Cross volunteers there,” Garcia explained. “We provided ‘mass care’ during that two-week period.” He and his fellow volunteers served more than 60,000 meals and snacks to the workers and victims’ families. Garcia also drove a 4x4 cart during night shifts and performed a variety of services for more than 400 family members and friends of the crash victims who attended two large memorial services at the site.

The victims’ families and friends “expressed their deep appreciation to the Red Cross, UAW and other organizations and individuals who made their time there a little easier to take,” Garcia said.

Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower and Red Cross Labor liaison Mark Buford noted that numerous UAW members volunteered in the 9-11 relief effort, helping out in person, donating money and provisions and offering emotional support.

“Our members are showing their concern on a daily basis,” Baumhower said, shortly after the disaster. “That is what UAW spirit is all about.”

Reprinted with permission from the Toledo Union Journal.