Metro BUYING BIRTHDAY GIFT Cover Story from page 19 "She would never have made it if she had left the hospital," said Arianne's Aunt Gerrie Spalter of West Bloomfield. 5 C Happy Birthday, Arianne COLLECTIBLES Marrella Cot FINE JEWELS 248.549.9100 32889 woodward avenue royal oak west side of woodward — one block south of 14 mile hours: Tu 10-6 W 10-6 Th 10-8 Fr 10-6 Sat 11-5 923340 METAMORPHOSIS LAWYER BECOMES REALTOR! 1:131 R.ALTOR. Leon Weiss REALTOR® Largest Real Estate Office in Oakland County 32961 Middlebelt Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248 851-4100 office 248 568-7453 cell 248 851-9965 fax ljweiss@realestateone.com A successful lawyer for 28 years, Leon Weiss is now fighting for his clients in a new arena — real estate. After careful review of the leading real estate companies in Michigan, Weiss says he is very proud to be associated with the best... Real Estate One. A tough and tireless lawyer who always put his clients first, Weiss promises to deliver the same loyalty, tenacity and integrity to each and every one of his real estate clients. Weiss is working in the largest real estate office in Oakland County, Real Estate One at 14 & Middlebelt. On Nov. 10, Arianne's 14th birth- day, she received the gift of a life- saving new heart. "Before Arianne was taken into surgery 25 people — family and friends — surrounded her singing `Happy Birthday,"' Spalter said. "And they stayed with her right up to the door of the operating room. It took them two elevators to get there. But when they got to the operating room door, Arianne was smiling. Next, the group all went up to the rooftop of the hospital to watch the landing of the helicop- ter transporting Arianne's new heart. "It was an extremely scary time," Andy said. "It doesn't get much more serious than heart transplant surgery." Just 10 days later, Arianne was home. With a high susceptibility to infection, Arianne stayed out of school for three months following her surgery "During that time, she home studied, mostly on her own to stay caught up," Andy said. Last week, Arianne finally returned to classes. At first, Arianne was seeing her doctor each week and undergoing heart biopsies twice a month. Now her checkups and biopsies, which have shown no rejection, take place only once a month; she's down from 50 pills a day to 35. "It is so very important that peo- ple are aware how critical it is to support the organ donor program and how many lives one person's organs can affect," Spalter said. "I'm sure she will be an inspiration to others who face difficult situa- tions." Both Andy and Diane were both registered as organ donors before Arianne got sick. "But before, the donor system was just a medical process," Andy said. "It was something we wanted to do because when we die we know we won't need our organs anymore — and we would want them to save someone's life. But now, we know the inner workings of the program and that it really, really does work. "While we were waiting during Arianne's surgery, there was man with us whose wife was having a lung transplant from the same donor. We were also told that other transplant teams in other hospitals transplanted the kidneys and liver of the same woman. She saved four lives that night." The Schuurs are not sure if they will contact the woman's family, which they can do through a hospi- tal program. "But to us, she is an angel," Andy said. Arianne's experience was life changing for those who love her. "It certainly made me change my pri- orities and values," Spalter said. "Things that I thought were so very important suddenly take a back seat." "To look at her, she is so beauti- ful," Spalter said. "You would never know she has been going through so much trauma. You know there is a God when you see someone you love receive a mira- cle that saved her life." El Integrity and Committed Service Still Matter. 925310 Mounting Medical Bills Arianne's medical expenses up to this point have been mostly cov- ered by her family's health insurance. But future medications, which currently are costing close to $2,700 per month, are not covered by insurance. Arianne, like most transplant recipients will have to take many expensive medications for the rest of her life, said her parents. A fund-raising campaign called "Project Heart Strings" has been set up to help cover future medication and medical costs for Arianne. A goal has been set of raising at least $250,000 to be invested for Arianne medical expenses. Tax-deductible donations may be made by electronic transfer to any Washington Mutual Branch location using account number 0980078531. Wedding And Party Specialists Flowers For All Occasions G OF NATURE T FLOWERS STATE (248) 559-5424 (888) 202-4466 Fax: (248) 559-5426 29115 Greenfield, Southfield, Ml 48076 JN 2/10 2005 20 V 866910