Meet Ron Taubman

Age: 63 Transplanted Organ: Kidney

Receiving an organ transplant not only gave Ron Taubman the gift of life; it also gave him a special mission: to help other transplant patients become advocates for their own health.

As President of the Ventura, California, chapter of Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) and as a participating member of numerous other transplant organizations, Ron has worked diligently with people pre-transplant and post-transplant to help them understand that, as he puts it, “Recipients need to look after themselves because transplant success ultimately comes down to the actions individual patients take to guard their own health.”

Ron strongly recommends that transplant recipients actively participate in transplant organizations of all kinds. Through his own activities in TRIO and other groups, Ron learns about advancements in transplantation and always follows up with his transplant team to see if what he has learned might help in his own treatment. He has also developed close personal friendships with several members of his transplant team, which makes him feel comfortable calling for their assistance when he needs it.

Ron says that “Building a close transplant-team relationship makes it easier for recipients to get to the right people when they need advice or help; and this in turn helps to alleviate stress and worry.”

One of Ron’s recommendations concerns hospital stays and trips to the pharmacy. As Ron says, “Before you take medication in the hospital, or pick up a refill from the pharmacy, check the pills or capsules you are given for size, shape, and color—also check the expiration date on the bottle. Don’t let the hospital staff change your medication schedule either. Instead, speak up. This will help to prevent any treatment changes that your doctor has not approved.”

Ron believes that anytime transplant recipients feel different from normal—perhaps tired, feverish, or just generally out of sorts—they should take action and call their doctor immediately. “Don’t take chances with your health—only your doctor can determine if the way you feel is the sign of a serious problem,” observes Ron.

Taking medication as prescribed and keeping up with doctor appointments and lab tests are vital. As Ron notes, “Transplant recipients can experience rejection without having any outward symptoms, so it’s very important to keep your appointments.”

Today, Ron feels that he has accomplished the goal he set for himself seven years ago when he first underwent transplantation—to help other transplant recipients learn how to achieve healthy, positive transplant experiences. By meeting this goal, in small and large ways every day, Ron believes that he honors the gift of his transplanted organ.