Carol Offen and Betsy Crais know all too well the exhilaration, separately, of being a living donor and a 2-time organ recipient.

Carol’s adult, college-age son was in need of a kidney. Carol became his donor.

Betsy Crais’s evaluation for gastric problems in her thirties revealed polycystic kidney disease. When she was in her fifties she became the grateful recipient of a kidney donation from a living donor. Many years later, she required a 2nd kidney and, to everyone’s surprise, a liver. Again a living donor stepped up to donate a kidney but because she needed a liver at the same time, she needed a deceased donor. Not receiving them would have committed her to dialysis indefinitely while also risking death from liver failure.

These two expressive women knew each other since their daughters childhoods. They came together again after their own kidney experiences when they decided to collaborate on authoring a book that would lay bare the plight of recipients and the path of becoming a living donor.

"There is a 6-8 yr. wait for a deceased kidney donor and 90,000 people on the waiting list."

CONNECT WITH CAROL & BETSY:

Carol: carol.kidneydonorhelp@gmail.com; her website: www.kidneydonorhelp.com

Betsy: bcrais@med.unc.edu

Book: The Insider's Guide to Living Kidney Donation: Everything You Need to Know If You Give (or Get) the Greatest Gift

Barbara Ellison always wanted to have a TV show. Since waking up from her widow’s fog after her husband died when she was in her early 60’s, she has not stood still. She says, “I had no idea who I was, or what I was meant to do. The labels attached to me - mother, daughter, wife, those I understood but who was Barbara?” The Ultimate Game of Life coaching program gave her a lifeline and she has not stopped since. From traveling via RV to co-hosting a radio show and streaming live on Linked In, Barbara is a motivational speaker who opens her heart and shares her wisdom. Today she is the co-host of a TV show, coaches new retirees and knows exactly who she is.

" I love being in my 70’s. Age is just a number. "

Connect with Barbara:

Email: inspeakermode@gmail.com

LinkedIn Live: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-ellisonwellnessplayroom2024/

Time to Shine Happiness Show: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZdIhuyltJew?si=YMspxN8qrM6lapw4

People4People Community: www.people4peoplenow.com/referral/ZBkCwbmRlZJW?utm_source=referral_program

Jane Seskin, a licensed clinical social worker, is a prolific poet who, at age 80,

published a collection of 89 poems in the book OLDER WISER SHORTER: The

Truth and Humor of Life After 65. With humor and insight, Jane observes

how she is learning to acknowledge, accommodate, and accept the

vulnerabilities and new-found joys of aging. Early in her career as a therapist

for crime victims, Jane witnessed people’s resilience to survive. As a therapist

and writer, she advocates “talking to each other rather than being alone with

our scary thoughts.” For older women, one area of interest might be

discussions on health fantasies and fears. Jane is at work on a new book

about aging, focused on Taking Inventory: what’s past, dealing with the

present, and planning for the future. She also explores “what brings one

comfort when the sky is falling.”

Connect with Jane:

Instagram: @oldershorterwiser

Website:

https://www.olderwisershorter.com/