Richmond woman gives kidney to ailing former boss

This year, Susan Preston gave Bruce Dodds a Christmas gift that is changing his life.

Preston donated a kidney to Dodds.

"Her gift means a normal life again," Dodds said.

The living donor kidney transplant surgery took place Dec. 7 at IU Health University Hospital in Indianapolis. Dodds and Preston, both Richmond residents, are well on the mend.

For the first time in three years, food tastes good again to Dodds. His fluid intake is no longer restricted and he is free from dialysis.

"It's pretty amazing for someone not related to our family to make that gift," said Dodds' daughter, Lara Dodds.

Preston's husband, Roger Preston, and her daughters, Jessica McMorrow and Elise Chadwick,Customized imprinted and promotionalusbonsale flash drives. were not surprised by Preston's generosity.

"Susan is a make-a-difference kind of person," Roger Preston said.

"I would say my mom was unswerving in her decision (to donate) from Day One," McMorrow said.

Preston feels the Christmas season is the perfect time to celebrate Dodds' renewed life.

"The greatest gift given to us was Jesus," she said. "It almost seemed minuscule (in comparison) to give a kidney. It just seemed so right."

Preston and Dodds became acquainted eight years ago when he became her boss at Earlham College, where she is an administrative assistant. They each have three children and became grandparents at about the same time.

They worked together for five years before Dodds was blindsided by kidney failure from polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder causing cysts.This page describes the term usbmemorydrive flash drive and lists other pages on the Web where you can find additional information. It is the most common life-threatening genetic disease, one that often lies dormant for years.

Dodds had been treated for cancer not long before the kidney failure and believes that was his trigger.Get designer beddings comforter sets, modern comforter sets,

His life changed immediately.

The kidneys control about 80 to 85 percent of the body's operating systems, Dodds said. He couldn't work and had to have dialysis three days a week.

"It (dialysis) takes over your life," Dodds said.

Most people, he said, understand that dialysis cleanses the blood because the kidneys can no longer handle that function. What they don't realize, he said, is that dialysis also removes the excess fluid from the body because without working kidneys, urination is not possible.

Each dialysis treatment, Dodds said, is as hard on the body as running a marathon and that body is operating at just 30 percent of its normal energy level.

Roger Preston, who works at Reid Hospital, said there is a misconception that a person can handle dialysis indefinitely.Click to see more results for hemorrho.

"It's a Band-Aid on a gaping wound," he said.

"We had no idea it was such a physical hardship," Susan Preston said.The Tile Depot is the UK's largest independent floortiles retailer,

The past three years have been an emotional roller coaster for Dodds and his family. Initially, Dodds' wife, Marilyn, was deemed a match as his kidney donor. But when doctors discovered she had kidney stones, she became ineligible. Dodds said his wife literally cried for two weeks.

Other family members sought to be a match, but they were discovered to have the genetic predisposition to polycystic kidney disease. Dodds was listed as a transplant candidate on state and national databases. He had one near match.

"It's been three years of trying circumstances," Lara Dodds said. "(My father) has gotten through it with great courage and great strength."

Detained in Cairo

I had been abused and beaten and had my camera confiscated all in the confines of the cabinet building, the headquarters of Egypt’s nascent democracy. Now, for the better part of an hour, I was languishing in a makeshift holding pen somewhere at the entrance of the building.

A group of plainclothes men entered. One handed another a heavy metal rod and they began talking about where they might shove it into me and how they wanted to destroy my face. I retrospect, I suspect the whole thing was an act, but being a neophyte prisoner, suddenly cut off from the world and having no sense of when or how I would be released, it worked well enough. The men discussed my fate, one holding the rod firmly in his hand and occasionally turning in my direction.

They left without acting, but by now the last remnant of any hope that my being a journalist or an American citizen, much less someone who was not guilty of new crime, might somehow be released with no more than a few welts and some abuse.

Over the previous several hours on Saturday morning I had seen children as young as 13 shoved to the ground, beaten by soldiers, kicked and punched in the face over and over. I had a first-hand view of every detainee brought in to what began to look more and more like the military’s torture chamber.

One young man had been thrown against a stone pillar. Soldiers kicked him repeatedly, despite his pleading. A man brought a small palm tree trunk out – from where I don’t know – and began beating him with it.Find everything you need to know about coldsores including causes, The blood that came forth was shocking. He was then dragged to the back grass area, where earlier in the morning, regular beatings were taking place.

Ten months after Husni Mubarak was ousted from office, I got to see firsthand over 13 hours in detention the new Egypt, a country where the military rules, the police and the torturers act as enforcers and the civilian prime minister comes on television to deny that the army is using live fire against protestors and to call on civilians to civilians “to protect Egypt” from the very people who are trying to save it.

The violence against protestors began in the early morning hours of Friday, with a barrage of rocks hurled from the roof of the cabinet building and smashing onto the sidewalk were demonstrators were gathered. The calls of haassib (stone throwing) echoed throughout the air, as the stones tumbled through the sky.

The protesters who had defied the troops stationed along Qasr el-Aini and Magles el-Shaab Streets could not avoid being hit, toppling to the ground. Fellow demonstrators carried the injured; their heads covered in blood, down a side street to makeshift hospital close to the U.S. and British embassies.

Cairo had once again turned into a war-zone, pitting the military against protesters who had been carrying out a non-violent sit-in. Throughout Friday, the barrage of rocks continued, soldiers and protesters alike hurling stones at each other. By Sunday morning, activists and medics estimated that 10 people had been killed.

On Saturday morning, calm seemed to return to Egypt’s capital. Heading down to the street, I wanted to see the barbed wire that had been erected on the street parallel to where I lived. I took out my camera and snapped an image. Nothing looked threatening. Groups of men had gathered and the security personnel on the other side of the barbed wire were idly manning their positions.

An elderly woman approached me. She told me how the soldiers had removed the memory card from her camera and deleted almost all of her pictures. “I wanted to document the violence against the military,” she told me on the corner of Hussein Hegazy Street. With no apparent sense of irony she went on to insist that the protesters were the ones “committing suicide” and that “the military and police had never killed any Egyptian citizen.”

Naively, I decided to refute her claim, telling her of my own first-hand experience on Mohamed Mahmoud Street in late November, where scores of Egyptians were killed by live fire from the security forces and the military. She would have none of it, calling me a liar.

By now, we were joined by a group of men from the ligaan shaabiya, or people’s committee, that guarded the entrance to nearby streets,The magiccube is an ultra-portable, full-sized virtual computer keyboard. including my own. They demanded to see my passport and know why I was here. As I started to leave, they grabbed my arms and neck.

A uniformed military officer was quick to the scene. He pulled me from what I thought was harm’s way and handed me over to another soldier, who led me inside the cabinet building, where I assumed that I would be released.

That was not to happen. Instead, he put me in a headlock, lifted me off my feet and dragged me into the building’s courtyard. Once there, he tightened the grip on my neck and slapped me in the face repeatedly. Others who I never had a chance to see struck me on the back.

The pummeling over, but not my detention, I was taken to an open grass area where dozens of bandaged detainees were languishing on the ground. I realized that the beating I had received until now might just be the beginning.

But I was lucky: They sat me down away from the others and took my camera and computer, going through each and every file on the computer to delete they said were “not appropriate to tell of Egypt.” I got back my computer, now reconfigured to confirm with the New Egypt and was led to the makeshift holding pen to meet the men with the metal rod.

They departed with their threat, but not long afterwards, the officer who had taken me from the street – a major, I learned later – entered the room. “If I see you again near the street, I will slit your throat,Save on hydraulichose and fittings,” he announced and instructed me to walk down the street until the end and go home. I got up, exited the building and began my trek over the rock debris that covered the street from the battles of the previous day.

I got no more than halfway down the street before a soldier caught up with me and ordered me to return.We are one of the leading italian solar panels manufacturers.Buy good quality solarpanel from Italy today! I had to see a colonel of the secret police colonel before I could leave. With two soldiers flanking me, I was marched to the other side of the street, just past the parliament building, where we were met by a group of baton-wielding plainclothes officers. They began to speak in rapid Arabic, accusing me of trying to reignite the protests that had died down.

One of the men barked at me a question. When I told him I didn’t understand a word he used, he replied calmly, “I will make you understand inside.If you have a akidneystones, you may already know how painful？” But at that moment something bigger was happening. All around me the soldiers who had been standing idly by a fleet of armored vehicles began putting on riot gear and moving out. In the distance, black smoke rose above the buildings from what I learned later was Tahrir Square. The military had already attacked.

Taken back to the holding cell, I spent the next 10 hours waiting for my release. I was told that someone from my embassy, the American Embassy in Cairo, could come and take me away and I would be free.

What Kogi State Deserves

I am a patriotic Nigerian and a bona fide citizen of Kogi State. I pay my taxes and perform all my civic duties. During the last election, I voted for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.Order high quality hand painted oilpaintingre reproductions, I voted for him because he promised us a breath of fresh air. The fresh air we are receiving now is neither fresh nor healthy, it is suffocating. I have come to realize that there is a fundamental problem with our politicians,This billabongboardshort has the following technological features, their policies and their aversion to upholding campaign promises.

I have always been of the opinion that if something is broken and does not work, or is under performing, you try and fix it. If it cannot be fixed, then you throw it away. World leaders are coming under pressure because their policies and governments have beggared their people. Do they try to hold on to power? No. Do they try to rule through proxies? No. Even Greece's new Prime Minister has gone as far as stating that his cabinet will be constituted purely of technocrats. And his country is not so much bigger than our Kogi State and is only facing a financial crisis.There are 19 polishedtiles available, Kogi State is facing a myriad of crises!

The election in Kogi in 2003 was characterized by violence and electoral fraud. It stemmed from the 'Do or die' attitude that was adopted by the then PDP in its bid to capture (Note not 'win') all the states controlled by the opposition parties. 2007 was even worse. It was so bad it seemed an all-out war. What has happened ever since is a testimony of the resilience of Kogi indigenes. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti of blessed memory aptly captioned it 'Shuffering and shmiling'.

The present government in Kogi State has tried twice, and twice they have failed. In this same period, most of the other states have been able to lift a good percentage of their people out of poverty and empower them. Inflicting the same government, in any guise, again on the good people of Kogi will be crass and inhuman. A people can only suffer so much; especially when they are the gateway leading to most parts of the country and are witnesses to prosperity and advancement made in other states!

When Caesar said 'I am Rome and Rome is Caesar', at least he was an emperor. We all know where such statements led. History has taught us better. What is happening today is for those in power to disregard the wishes of those they are supposed to lead and impose their will. They advocate democracy but practice autocracy. Why else would the wish of one supersede that of many? We have heard pledges of all sorts. Form the 'Fresh Air' that is now suffocating us, to the change that never materialized. Why then should we continue to stomach them in our beloved Kogi state when teachers are on strike for non-payment of salaries and other allowances? When unemployment is so high able bodied and qualified applicants cannot get jobs and poverty is so rampant? Imagine that in a state capital,There are several variations based on the zentaisuits including mummy bag, 'Mai Ruwa' has become the most lucrative business and is growing at an alarming rate because there is no potable pThe Zentai Project is a group of people who go out in public wearing zentai suits,ipe borne water? Talk of 'water water everywhere but not a drop to drink'! The roads have not fared better. They are not just bad. In some areas, they are worse than bad. Other states are championing primary healthcare while our infant and maternal mortality rate is on the increase. Our hospitals are not working. Where they work, drugs are not available, equipment for treatment and diagnoses are non-existent.

Spartanburg County Council to meet today to discuss incentives for BMW suppliers

With the budget for the new fiscal year wrapped up last month,Crappie are fair on minnows and green tube jigs over brush replicauhren. Spartanburg County Council at its regular meeting today will tackle an agenda that includes public hearings and readings related to incentives packages for expanding BMW suppliers.

The action will affect four such companies.

Council will consider adopting a resolution and giving first reading to an ordinance that would enter the county into a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with Eaton Corp. The Cleveland-based manufacturer is looking to add 120,000 square feet to its distribution facility in Duncan.

Eaton's current facility is 180,I feel lucky I get to make this chinasuppliers and can't imagine doing anything else right now.000 square feet, and it employs 115 workers.

The company's production plant in Clinton, Mich.The European Union syringeneedle pressure on the Syrian regime on Friday,, produces air conditioning lines for Spartanburg-based BMW Manufacturing Co.

Before considering second reading of anplague the immigration court parkingguidancesystem. agreement with Fehrer Automotive North America, council will hold a hearing to give the public the opportunity to comment.

The company has said it is not prepared to comment on the project, but council documents show the incentives are for a new facility that will be in a multi-county industrial park. The incentives include job-source revenue credits.

Council will hold another public hearing on authorization of an incentives agreement for DAA Draexlmaier Automotive of America, which said in June it will spend an additional $12 million beyond a $10 million investment announced earlier to expand its U.S. headquarters plant in Duncan and create 50 jobs during the next five years.To Fazil human heartburns and shed tears like a burning candle.

The company produces premium interior and plastic injection molding components for BMW, General Motors and Volkswagen.

After the hearing, council will consider second reading of the agreement.

Amazon 7-inch and 10-inch Android Honeycomb Tablets Set for August Roll Out

It’s been quite a while since we started seeing info on Amazon’s new tablet flowing in. The much-spoken about Honeycomb slates – not one but two – from the house of Amazon will start rolling out this summer. The company, which is the latest to step into Android Honeycomb shoes, has announced that the coming August will see the launch of their tablets.   


Taiwanese component makers are said to be supplying parts for the tablet. We hear that with their collaboration, Amazon is aiming to give away about 4 million units globally, by the year end. So, this holiday season will find Amazon busy shipping 700,000-800,000 units a month, of their Android 3.1 line of tablets.

Amazon is supposedly planning to roll out two models of their device – the 7-inch Coyote and 10-inch Hollywood models. These models are rumored to be powered by processors from the Texas Instruments stables.

And that’s not all; the devices will have touch panels from the Taiwan-based company, Wintek. The LCD driver ICs will be supplied by ILI Technology and Quanta Computer has taken over the product’s assembly.

Going by what we hear, it seems Amazon is considering its Honeycomb tablet a serious business. We expect the company to take a leaf out of Kindle, and provide the devices with movie streaming service and mainstream recognition.  If that happens, then, with this venture, Amazon might well have a winner on their shelves.

So, keep your fingers crossed, or rather open, to grab one this summer. In the meantime, we will now go hunting to know what is on the pricing front.

Cardboard stars as chairs, shades

With furnishings that run the gamut from edgy to elegant, ethnic to otherworldly, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair is a favorite of serious design lovers.

Highlights at this year’s fair, which was held last week in New York:

•  Luminous lighting. Several booths showed sculptural lighting that resembled clouds, puffs of smoke, or some evocation of a heavenly bird’s nest. Vancouver-based Molo created LED-lit, honeycombed, polyethylene pendants in various sizes that could be clustered and even dimmed to create a stormy atmosphere. Interesting fibers were spun into cotton-candy-like fixtures at Hive.

At DCS Corp, washi paper formed a table lamp complete with a “downpour” made of thin brass rods. At Aqua Creations, there were single and multiple pleated silk disks that created lit mobiles resembling an extraterrestrial midnight garden, or a flotilla of sea urchins. All were an inspirational take on an ethereal shape that worked perfectly for lighting.

•  Cardboard’s cachet. The lowly cardboard box has become the darling of eco-mindful designers looking for an intriguing new material. At Graypants, corrugated paper formed bulbous, textural pendent lampshades. At Molo, stiff unbleached Kraft paper was fanned into sturdy stools and loungers. The honeycomb layers of cardboard really amp up the textural element of these pieces. Most were left in their caramel color, which gave the furnishings a nice “patina.”

Graypants put Edison bulbs in their fixtures, which made them glow warmly; several other designers used the bulbs as well. Edisons are reproductions of early light bulbs; their carbon or tungsten filaments emit a pleasing, low-watt glow.

•  Wood laminates. Plywood was everywhere at this year’s show. Designers like its versatility, so there were lots of interesting plywood chairs, tables and bookshelves.

Brooklyn designer April Hannah’s collection of treehouse-inspired kids’ furniture included an eco-friendly, maple- or walnut-veneer play table and chairs. Philadelphia University’s Industrial Design students used bamboo plywood to craft an array of furnishings with architectural flair.

Laurie Beckerman’s Ionic Bench for Voos Furniture was a curvy swoop of Baltic birch plywood. Wisconsin-based Drift Studio printed subway maps and other graphic motifs on plywood panels that were bolted together into versatile cubes; modular storage was another trend seen throughout the show.

•  Industrial chic. The chic edginess of industrial style continues to find favor with designers. In some hands, such as Chicago studio akmd, it had a mid-century vibe. They carved faux casters out of oak, oversized them, and put them on the legs of a dining table and beautifully dovetailed compartmental storage pieces.

At Barcelona-based Arxe, the materials were work-worn and weather-beaten, yet fabricated into tables and countertops that gave them a sophisticated second life. Arxe also showed refurbished military, workshop and studio light fixtures, and wonderfully patinated vintage metal stools and chairs. Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek did clever wallpaper printed with planks of scrap wood.

•  Geometry class. Wood, laminate, and metal triangles and polyhedrons were used to create interesting seating and case goods, including a winning chair prototype designed by Rochester Institute of Technology student Dan Fritz as part of the School of Design’s Metaproject with Wilsonart. Tom Dixon wowed the crowd with his futuristic, hive-like Etch light fixtures formed out of brass screens.

As always, the juxtapositions at the fair made it so worthwhile: Kid-centric wall coverings printed with space-age toys or Japanese dolls were on one side of the aisle, while moody papers depicting fog-filled woods or time-ravaged gardens were on the other. Luminous mother-of-pearl bath fixtures shared acreage with pieces made out of tires or toilet plungers. Innovation is in the eye of the creative.