Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) announces a new support group for organ transplant patients and their families. The support group will focus on the "whole health" approach - including medical, nutritional, emotional and spiritual health - which is vital to those patients and families during this challenging time. The Organ Donor Support Group will also provide guest speakers, such as doctors, social workers, nutritionists, ministers and attorneys, who will give vital information medically, socially, legally, spiritually, and provide encouragement and hope.

The group is lead by Dave and Debbie Hagnes, who are licensed ministers with the United Evangelists Association in Torrance, CA. Dave has been a volunteer Chaplain at Antelope Valley Hospital for several years ministering to the sick. Debbie spent the last 17 years ministering to single moms and their children through support groups. Their passion for helping people has grown immensely in the past year, especially after Dave was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and was told that he needs a liver transplant to continue to live.

Since Dave and Debbie are living this, too, they know what these patients and their loved ones are experiencing. "We really saw a need in the Antelope Valley for a support group for organ transplant patients and their families," explained Dave. "UCLA has one and other hospitals in Los Angeles have them, but those support groups are really out of reach for most of the Antelope Valley community. This is the main reason why we wanted to start one here so that anyone in the AV has access to group support."

The groups will be held every 1 st and 3 rd Saturdays of the month. They will all be held at Antelope Valley Hospital in Conference room 4 (next to the cafeteria).

Upcoming dates include:

Saturdays: May 3, 17; June 7, 21

Time: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

"Whether you are awaiting a transplant, or have already had one, please come," explained Debbie. "It doesn't matter whether you waiting for a liver, heart, lung, kidney, or other transplant - everyone is welcome! Dave and I look forward to getting to know you, and being a part of your support group. You do not have to face this alone!"

For more information, call (661) 726-6210.

About Antelope Valley Hospital
Celebrating more than 50 years of caring for the community, Antelope Valley Hospital, a facility of Antelope Valley Healthcare District, is a non-profit, 420-bed hospital that was founded in 1955. The hospital is dedicated to providing quality care and services to everyone in the Antelope Valley. AV Hospital is located at 1600 West Avenue J in Lancaster, California. For further information, please visit www.avhospital.org or call (661) 949-5000.

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