They can never walk away. Soon after meeting Missy and Lynn, Viki learned Lynn, the donor, was also a competitive swimmer and invited her to practice with her team while she was in Baltimore. After the successful transplant, Viki invited Lynn to be part of the relay team for the 1996 Manhattan Marathon. So she established the Plunge for Patients where she vacations in Wildwood, New Jersey. That first race, in 1996, had 75 swimmers and broke even.
Several patients help with registration or by raising money.
Viki said last year a young patient died before the race. Her mother came in her place and donated the money she raised in her daughter's memory. Less Costly, More Effective Hopkins Nurses, National Assn. And she Is encouraging Missy, stronger than ever, to swim the one mile race. Since her transplant two years ago, Missy has been In total remission, but she s suffered respiratory and joint problems, a result of the high dosages of steroids and the immunosuppresants she takes.