Program for brain
patients extendedIsland girls help promote
By Helen Altonn
need for organ donors
Star-BulletinAn outpatient treatment program for brain injury victims at the Hawaii State Hospital that was to close this week has been extended until June 30.
Patrick Johnston, state Health Department spokesman, said the services are being continued while patients are shifted to private programs.
He said the department wants to assure that patients are transferred smoothly into community facilities or programs and have the right support and treatment.
The department also will look into some means of helping people pay for the services, he said.
One main problem is that insurance plans don't reimburse patients unless they are in a hospital, he pointed out. "Nobody is doing it for free like the hospital is."
About 40 people have been attending the State Hospital program, which offers neuropsychology treatment and training.
The Health Department said it is closing the program because it doesn't fit into the State Hospital's mission to help patients with mental illness.
Tove M. Nicholson, a medical social worker and family member of a person served by the program since last August, questions where the neuropsychology patients will be transferred.
"My colleagues and I can attest that this is the only resource available in our state providing cognitive retraining for persons who have suffered brain injury," he said when the issue was discussed at a legislative hearing.
Johnston said the department has continuing discussions about setting up a neurotraining program within the state, but cost is an issue because of insurance limitations.
Nicholson said brain-injured people can lead productive lives with cognitive retraining.
Island girls help promote
By Pete Pichaske
need for organ donors
Phillips News ServiceWASHINGTON - Aileen Waiau knew it was going to be a good trip when she and her foster daughter, Raelyn Naleaieha, 10, ran into Pam Kaapana and her 9-year-old granddaughter, Ka Leo, at Honolulu Airport.
Pam Kaapana gave Waiau a lei for the trip. And the two girls _ both recipients of organ transplants and on their way to Washington for a national meeting of young organ recipients - were able to travel together.
"They'd never met before, but they got along like they'd known each other their whole lives," said Waiau.
But the plane ride was just the start.
Raelyn, who had a small-bowel transplant in June 1997, and Ka Leo, who received a new kidney in September 1997, spent Wednesday with 198 other children from all 50 states. The occasion was the First Family Pledge Congress, a campaign to raise awareness of the need for organ donors. The campaign was organized by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
According to the society, some 60,000 people are on waiting lists for organs.
"It was an unprecedented, historic moment," said James Minichello of First Family Pledge. "They did a lot of good, increasing awareness about organ and tissue donation."
The children, ages 2-10, staged a mock congress to approve a resolution honoring members of the U.S. Congress for supporting organ transplants. The children shared a picnic lunch with Donna Shalala, secretary of Health and Human Services, and visited Congress to thank members.
"It was fun," said Ka Leo. "This Washington trip is fun. I like to be out of school."
For Waiau, "it was really emotional. It really touched the heart. All those children and their parents, we talked and traded stories with each other.
"At the congress, Raelyn had to give a speech and go on stage. It was so cute. She was quite proud of herself, and I was proud of her."
For Pam Kaapana, the trip is just a beginning.
"I wanted to show my appreciation and be a part of this celebration, and I wanted Ka Leo to be part of the celebration," she said. "People need to be educated and this was the best way to do it.
"But the education has to be ongoing. Hawaii is one of the lowest states as far as donors. People have the feeling that if it doesn't happen to one of your own, you don't have to get involved. But that's not true."
