Women work to start transplant support group

Two people who have received kidney-pancreas transplants are starting a support group after the transplant facility temporarily closed at University Medical Center.

Karen Lawrence, 55, and Lisa M. Raco, 36, expressed concern that as a result of the closure, many people who have received transplants or are awaiting one may not be able to receive information and emotional support they need during a stressful period of their lives.

"We feel that because we have experienced it, we can be of help," Lawrence said.

"It's a very stressful time for them," Raco said. "We want a support group to help these people.

"We're doing this because we both empathize with the people. We feel for them," Lawrence said. "We want to help them through this."

Those interested in joining the support group should call 658-7406.

Both women were active in the UMC transplant support group, even though their operations took place several years ago.

Dr. Jose Zamora, reportedly the only surgeon in the state who performs the double transplant, operated on both women -- Lawrence in 1994 in Loma Linda, Calif., and Raco in 1997 at UMC.

Two years ago Zamora became director of the UMC transplant center, a joint operation of UMC and the University of Nevada School of Medicine. The facility did kidney and kidney-pancreas transplants.

The transplant facility closed its doors last week after Zamora, who is going into private practice, left.

A Sunrise Hospital spokeswoman said many of UMC's transplant patients are coming to it. Others are going out of state.

UMC reportedly had 34 people on its waiting list when the facility closed. Sunrise has about 95.

UMC patients have been referred to the Champions of Organ Sharing support group at Sunrise, which performs kidney transplants. The center's support group will remain disbanded until a new director is found and the center is reopened, UMC spokeswoman Trish Lampro said.

However, Lawrence and Raco want to start a group not affiliated with a hospital.

"A support group is an important resource for information," Raco said.

Raco, a registered nurse, said the UMC support group met monthly, bringing in guest speakers and exchanging valuable information.

"A lot of people are questioning why UMC is closing its support group," Raco said, noting that the hospital could continue the group even if no transplants occur there.

Zamora said he offered to postpone the launch of his practice and stay on as interim director until a replacement is found, but UMC declined and closed the center.

Dr. Alex Little, chairman of the school's department of surgery, has declined to comment on Zamora's departure.

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