Bride Needs a Liver Transplant

I read this in the newspaper today and then came to find out that she is a client of our company. It's heartbreaking. I don't know if anyone can help, but I feel I have to pass the information on. If anyone can help, please ...

The email I received:
'Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues --

I am asking for your help to save the life of my colleague at Ogilvy PR. Her name is Shari Kurzrok and she is a 31-year old woman who is fighting for her life. She is need of a full liver transplant. If she does not get one within the next few days, she will die. The preference is to find an organ donor with blood Type A or O. Shari is a vivacious, young women who supposed to be married this October. We want to make that happen.

We at Ogilvy are mounting a full court press to get the word out about Shari's need. I'm asking you to please forward this e-mail on to as many friends and family members as you can. We just need one person who knows someone who is dying and is willing to donate their liver. The wider we cast the net, the better our chances.

The link below will take you to a blog and web site to get more information. I have also pasted in a press release that was distributed to the media today.

If you know of anyone that can help, please have them respond to the following 800# or e-mail address:
(877) 223-3386 or email [email protected] '

HER WEBSITE


DAILYNEWS ARTICLE LINK

OMG! how sad!!!!!!!!!!

I hope and pray that she gets a liver

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Contacts:

LOCAL PR AGENCIES ASK FOR HELP TO SAVE LIFE OF COLLEAGUE IN DIRE NEED OF LIVER TRANSPLANT
31-Year-Old Shari Kurzrok Will Die Unless She Receives Complete Liver Within Days


NEW YORK (July 20, 2005) - Shari Kurzrok is two months away from her wedding. The 31-year-old PR executive recently spearheaded the largest-ever national blood drive. Today, she is fighting for her life. Her doctors say she will not live if she doesn't receive a complete liver transplant within days, and her colleagues in the PR industry are urgently mobilizing to help her.

'I just pray that what Shari has loved to do for a living comes back to help her,' says her fiancée Robby Schnall, 35, a marketing executive at Cole Haan. Their wedding is planned for October 15 at Woodbury Jewish Center in Long Island.

Shari's sudden illness has taken her family, friends and doctors by surprise. She was admitted to New York University Medical Center last weekend, and within 24 hours she was told she needed a liver transplant to save her life. Her illness is still unexplained.

Kym White, managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, says the news has shaken Shari's colleagues and friends, as well as the extended communications industry. All are quickly rallying to spread the word through PR and advertising in order to draw attention to Shari's plight. 'Shari is a phenomenal friend and colleague, and it is hard to imagine that someone who only recently led the largest-ever blood donor initiative for the American Red Cross with such energy and enthusiasm, is now in vital need of a liver donation.'

Shari led the 345-city Save-a-Life-Tour, which featured two convoys that traveled across the country to raise awareness about the importance of regular blood donation and to attract new donors including a younger and more ethnically diverse demographic. The campaign collected more than 3.2 million pints of blood and registered more than 38,000 new potential donors. Kamenna Lee, Director, Sales & Marketing for the American Red Cross, said, 'Shari poured her heart, soul and life into one of our largest initiatives and truly helped save lives. I urge the public to help Shari the way she helped so many people.'

Shari is a native of Great Neck, Long Island, and the daughter of Gloria and Mort Kurzrok. Her father says, 'This is a race against time. We want to draw attention not only to Shari's cause, but also to the urgent, ongoing need that challenge families like us every day.'

Potential donors must be Type A or Type O blood. Anyone wanting to help Shari with a liver transplant referral should call: 877-223-3386 or email: [email protected]

LETS KEEP PRAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just pasted that in an email and sent it to everyone i know.

i would encourage everyone to do the same.

That's horrible!!! I feel so bad!!! Hope they find someone who can help quick!!!

me too. It's jut heartbreaking. This could be one of us girls on here.

That is terrible. I am saying lots of prayers for her

I just heard the story on the news and i am speechless. It is so horrible. It makes you think sooo much!!! All my thougts and prayers are with her and her family during this time!!!!! I just emailed the sory to everyone i know!!!!

she works for Olgivy Mather which is an ad agency for Z100, she does not work for Z100/Clear Channel.

From her website

July 21, 2005
Support continues to pour in
There continues to be an outpouring of calls and emails to the 800 number and email address that have been established for Shari. Words cannot describe how grateful everyone is for the support we are receiving. We want to remind everyone that Shari needs a complete liver. As such, families who have experienced an immediate tragedy or have a loved one on life support can designate a liver to save Shari's life. If you are in such a situation and are willing to help, please call (877) 223-3386 or email: [email protected].

Dailynews Article

Shari's kin renew plea for a liver



By ELVA RAMIREZ
and MAGGIE HABERMAN
DAILY NEWS WRITERS

With hearts heavy yet hopeful, friends and relatives of Shari Kurzrok made a public plea yesterday for help finding a liver donor for the young woman who doctors say has just days to live.
'All we need is one liver to save her life,' said Marnie Keane, Shari's older sister, fighting back tears at a rally in Union Square, where the family hoped for a miracle as the situation for the 31-year-old grew dire.

The Manhattan public relations executive, who was finalizing plans for her October wedding just last week, was felled by a mystery illness last week that rendered her liver just 2% functional.

Even without knowing the cause, doctors are certain about one thing: Her time is short unless she gets an immediate transplant with Type A or O blood.

With 2,195 people waiting for liver donations in New York State and another 15,000 nationwide, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, the family decided to wage its own public campaign.

'We only found out yesterday that we didn't have to sit back and wait' for the donor registry, said her 36-year-old brother, Michael.

She is being kept alive in the NYU Medical Center intensive care unit, her brother said. It was unclear where Kurzrok is on the donor list, which officials said is set by medical criteria, but she is at the top of NYU's list.

At the rally, posterboards were set up featuring a phone number, (877) 223-3386, for liver referrals.

Kurzrok's plight has become part of an ongoing controversy over whether people should bypass donor registries and make direct appeals for organs. The United Network for Organ Sharing generally does not support direct appeals because it can create inequities.

'There's a real concern about 'bypassing the list,' ' said Elaine Berg, president of the agency. 'Everyone's heart goes out for this young woman . . . [but] there are other people that probably need the liver as badly.'

Celia Fisher, head of the Fordham University Center for Ethics Education, said there's no 'clear ethical answer.' She noted that such campaigns may tap a donor who otherwise would not have participated.

'If this is going to help save lives, then this is a good thing,' Michael Kurzrok said. 'Maybe something good can come from our misery.'

Originally published on July 22, 2005

The Lord is able to do miracles.