AUSTIN GIVES BACK PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Title: Local Student Sponsors Plasma & Blood Drive After Rare Life-threatening Illness

On Monday, July 12 – two day after being a groomsman in his sister’s wedding, Austin Hochstelter, a 22-year-old Goshen College student and Goshen resident, began a journey into a life-threatening illness, which began with flu-like symptoms. By Tuesday, July 13, Austin left his summer job at Lowe’s early due to nausea and by the next day, severe abdominal pain led to a doctor visit and two trips to the emergency room at Goshen Hospital, where he was admitted and placed on IV's for observation.

As Austin’s condition continued to deteriorate and doctors were searching for answers, a colonoscopy and series of blood tests were ordered. On Monday, July 19, Austin was moved to the ICU at Goshen hospital where a team of doctors and specialists came to the same diagnosis - Austin had contracted a rare blood disease HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) and/or TTP (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) most likely from e coli bacteria that traveled through his digestive system and into his bloodstream. HUS/TTP destroys healthy red blood cells and causes extensive microscopic clotting to form in small blood vessels throughout the body and, if not treated, destroys the kidneys and brain. Austin and his parents were told that the only remedy for this condition is a unique blood treatment called Plasmapheresis (a procedure where a person’s blood is pumped out of their body, cells and plasma are separated, then cells are re-combined with fresh plasma - from donors, and pumped back into the body.)

This procedure is performed at only two locations in the state of Indiana – IU Medical Center in Indianapolis and Saint Joe Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. On the afternoon of July 19, Austin was transferred to Saint Joe by ambulance where he was admitted to the ICU and began receiving daily Plasmapheresis treatments that required 14 to 18 bags of plasma each treatment. Slowly, Austin’s body began responding to the plasma treatments along with additional units of blood and blood products which he received daily during his hospital stay until July 31. Austin continued plasmapheresis on an outpatient basis through August 26 while gradually decreasing from daily treatments to two to three times per week. Currently, Austin’s blood numbers have normalized and he is enrolled as a student in the fall semester at Goshen College, with bi-weekly blood tests to monitor his progress toward a full recovery.

Because of his gratitude, after receiving 8 units of blood and over 300 units of plasma, Austin, along with his family, are dedicating a plasma and blood drive “AUSTIN GIVES BACK” on October 15 at Goshen College with a goal of replenishing all the plasma he was given, as well as to provide an additional 100 units of blood. We encourage everyone interesting in donating blood or plasma to check with your local Red Cross on times and locations if you cannot make it to Goshen College on October 15. Anytime the week of October 10 to 15 would be great, and we would love to know if you gave. You could let us know either by posting to this blog or emailing ritch@leadership3.org. Thanks for your support and for helping us give thanks for all that we received to help Austin recover from this illness. ritch

September 29th, 2010

Hello Everyone, I apologize for the delayed update on how I am doing. My recovery is continuing to go well. I have been to the cancer center in Goshen two times to get labs drawn and both times my blood tests were positive. This week when I got my labs drawn my levels were mostly all improved. My white blood cells level is at 2.9 which is the highest it has been in a while, I also had an increase in granulocytes, which are immature white blood cells so that is very good as well. My hemoglobin was at 12.1, that is an increase as well. My platelets went down a little bit but are still in the normal range. Things are still not where they are supposed to be but they are moving in the right direction which is encouraging. It is rather crazy thinking that a little over a month from today is when I got my catheter out, it seems like it has been a lot longer than that and I am continually grateful to be where I am today and as healthy as I am today.

Thanks for your continued support

Austin

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September 4, 2010

I was thinking today how fortunate I am to be where I am now in my recovery process, it has not even been two months since I started to get sick and I have came a long way. I am very thankful for the way my recovery has went, I know it could have went a lot differently. I have just begun another year of college with a new outlook on life, one that embraces each day of life I am given with a lot more awareness of what a blessing my health is.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support

Like my dad said, the blood and plasma drive details will be up on the blog soon

Austin

September 1 Post

Bone marrow test results were normal...cause for celebration! The plan for now is by-weekly blood tests to monitor levels. We continue to ask for prayer for Austin's full recovery as he deals with some lingering digestive issues as well as low energy level. At the end of the day, we will never know the cause of this whole ordeal, but we have been reminded that all of life is gift and how important it is to live each day to the fullest.

Austin is currently enrolled full-time in the fall semester at Goshen College with classes starting this week. Char and I are working with friends on details and setting a date for "Austin Gives Back" plasma and blood drive sometime in October. We will try to get this nailed down in the next week and will post the details on the blog. Ritch