Escambia Twin Sisters Share Many Things In Life, Including New Lungs
April 28, 2014
It’s often said that twins share similar traits and have unique bonds that other siblings simply don’t have. Sometimes those traits are things one would rather not share with their twin, especially when it comes to a potentially life-threatening medical condition.
Linda Foster and Brenda Santinelli, 60-year-old twin sisters from Escambia County are active women with a love of the outdoors. Hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and other activities were well-suited to both their lifestyles. Both sisters are in long-term marriages. Both have young grandchildren. They even both have 20-plus-year careers at Walmart in their hometown. Both were former smokers who quit several years ago.
So it was more than a coincidence that during separate hiking trips in 2011 both women found themselves experiencing shortness of breath and feeling more tired than usual. To their surprise, they were about to experience another commonality that neither ever imagined – both sisters were diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a potentially fatal lung disease that necessitated they receive lung transplants (or in Linda’s case, a double-lung transplant).
“This came as a complete surprise to both of us, as neither of us had really experienced obvious symptoms of this disease in the past,” says Linda. “But I guess we should have understood the possibility of an IPF diagnosis, since our mother died of the disease and our uncle succumbed to it as well.”
At the recommendation of their local doctors in Pensacola, Linda and Brenda initially sought an evaluation and diagnosis at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, since it was convenient to their home in the western Florida Panhandle. But because their employer-provided health insurance specified Mayo Clinic as their preferred provider for transplant cases, the sisters came to Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus for a full pulmonary evaluation. Both sisters’ conditions were deteriorating, although Linda’s seemed to be progressing more quickly, and they were both listed for lung transplants — Brenda in December 2012 and Linda in January 2013.
Linda was listed for a double-lung transplant as her condition worsened, requiring she receive continuous supplemental oxygen. Brenda was listed for a single lung, which she eventually received on Oct. 29, 2013. Linda received a double-lung transplant on Feb. 12, 2014. Another coincidence — both sisters’ new healthy lungs came from women in their 50s.
Linda and Brenda had virtually the same transplant team at Mayo Clinic in Florida managing their care. The team was led by Cesar Keller, M.D., and supported by Francisco Alvarez, M.D., David Erasmus, M.D., Jorge Mallea, M.D. and John O’Dell, M.D., as well as many of the same nurses, medical techs, transplant coordinators and even the social workers handling their cases.
“Our cases were almost identical, from when we first realized something was wrong through our diagnosis and care, up to and including our transplants,” says Linda. “Our team at Mayo Clinic was wonderful, and thanks to their care, we are both slowly getting back to normal.”
“I’m feeling great, walking an hour a day, shopping, exercising and stretching … living my life again,” says Brenda. “My sister and I are both grateful for this second opportunity at life thanks to the generous gift of our donors.”
Both sisters also say that their faith has played an important role in their recovery. “We’ve had quite a few prayers answered and have received support from all our church friends and people we don’t even know,” said Linda. “We’ve been truly blessed throughout this entire experience.”
April is National Donate Life Month. Sign up as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Visit www.organdonor.gov.
Published courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.
Pictured top: Linda Foster (left) and Brenda Santinelli (right), twin sisters from Escambia County who recently both received lung transplants. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview To Present ‘Shrek The Musical’ Friday And Saturday
April 28, 2014
The Northview High School Music Department will present “Shrek The Musical” Friday and Saturday nights. Performance time is 7:00 both evenings in the Northview theatre. Tickets are $8 in advance and are available in the school office.
Jim Allen Students Learn About The Lifecycle Of Butterflies
April 28, 2014
In partnership with the International Paper Foundation, the students at Jim Allen Elementary School received a classroom kit with Painted Lady butterfly caterpillars. The students watched and learned about the life cycle of the butterfly.
Mrs. Rhoda Greenwell, teacher at Jim Allen for more than 40 years, reads Charlie the Caterpillar to the students before releasing the beautiful butterflies.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Power Outage Causes Problems For Wedding, But All Ends Happily Ever After
April 27, 2014
When Nikki Burkett and Jason Jones planned their lakeside wedding in Molino for Saturday, they had no idea a five-hour power outage would hamper their plans.
The wedding was set to begin at 3 p.m. at the Gizmo Angus Farm lodge on Gibson Road, just off Highway 97. The bridesmaids arrived at 11 a.m. to find the power was out — the driver of a truck had lost control on Highway 97 and crashed through a power pole, cutting power to over 415 Gulf Power customers.
A quick phone call, and the bridesmaids found a friend on Highway 95A in Molino that had power.
“We loaded up the bride and all beauty supplies and proceeded to move Operation Glamour to another location,’ said bridesmaid Mary Land. The wedding start time was pushed back an hour to 4 p.m., and the DJ, Tom Swartz, set up a mobile sound booth in the back of his truck running off axillary power.
But weddings are all about happy endings. Just after 3 p.m., the power was restored, and the wedding went on in picture perfect splendor for the new Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
Nikki Burkett of Cantonment is the daughter of Ms. Mickey Burkett. She graduated in 2000 from Tate High School. Jason Jones is from Tennessee. They met last year through a mutual friend and were engaged last Easter. Nikki is the procedure supervisor for Gulf Coast Pain Institute, and Jason is an Escambia County Corrections Officer and a volunteer firefighter for the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. He has a 9-year old son named Camden.
Pictured top: The power outage delayed wedding of Nikki Burkett and Jason Jones Saturday in Molino. Pictured inset: The bridesmaids moved “Operation Glamour” to another area of Molino with power. Pictured below: The DJ, Tom Swartz, set up a mobile sound booth in the back of his truck running off axillary power. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barrineau Park Community Teams Up To Clean Up
April 27, 2014
Members of the Honeysuckle Garden Club, the Barrineau Park Historical Society, the Barrineau Park 4-H Club and Clean and Green teamed together to beautify Barrineau Park during the community’s annual trash pick up day Saturday.
Barrineau Park 4-H has set a goal this year for each participant to pick up at least 100 trash items in celebration of their 100 years as the oldest continuous 4-H Club in the State of Florida.
Pictured top: Members of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Birth: Brandan Ray Cole
April 27, 2014
Jennifer Lynn Coon and Steven E. Cole are proud to announce the birth of their son, Brandan Ray Cole, born March 31, 2014, at 5:18 p.m. at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton.
Brandan Ray weighed seven pounds, three ounces and was 18 inches long.
Grandparents are Ray and Cathi Coon of Atmore and John and Cynthia Cole of Molino. Great-grandparents are Betty and Floyd Adams, Jerry and Ginger Cochran, and Dale C. Fiveash, all of Atmore and Dorothy and the late Elbert Montgomery of Molino and the late Pearl Wiggins.
Greater Escambia Relay At Tate Raises Money For A Cure (With Gallery)
April 26, 2014
The annual Relay for Life of Greater Escambia got underway Friday evening at Tate High School.
The event began with a special lap around the track for survivors and caregivers, and the evening included a Luminaria Ceremony to to remember people lost to cancer, to support people who are currently battling the disease, and to honor those who have won their battle.
For a photo gallery, click here.
There were 37 registered teams that had raised just over $70,000 for the American Cancer Society before Friday night. The Relay for Life of Greater Escambia at Tate High, formerly called the North Pensacola Relay for Life, has raised well over a half million dollars for cancer research.
Pictured: The 2014 Relay for Life at Tate High School Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Relays For Life (With Photo Gallery)
April 26, 2014
The annual Relay for Life of Atmore was held Friday evening at Tom Byrne Park in Atmore.
The event began with a special lap around the park for survivors and caregivers, and the evening included a Luminaria Ceremony to to remember people lost to cancer, to support people who are currently battling the disease, and to honor those who have won their battle.
For a photo gallery, click here.
There were eight registered teams that had raised just over $22,600 for the American Cancer Society before Friday night’s relay, which ended at midnight.
Pictured: The Atmore Relay for Life gets underway Friday evening. NorthEscambia.com photos by Bethany Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Goodyear Blimp Spotted Over North Escambia
April 23, 2014
The Goodyear Blimp was spotted over the North Escambia area Tuesday. Numerous people reported seeing the blimp in the area of I-10 north to Muscogee Road. The blimp was on the way to Mobile for an overnight stop. Pictured top: The Goodyear Blimp over International Paper in Cantonment (by Josh Black). Pictured inset: The Goodyear Blimp over Muscogee Road (by Mona Baker)Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Senior Wright Accepts Air Force Academy Appointment
April 22, 2014
Northview High School senior Victoria Anne Wright has accepted an appointment to The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.
The United States Air Force Academy offers a four-year program of instruction and experience designed to provide cadets the knowledge and character essential for leadership, and the motivation to serve as Air Force career officers. Each cadet graduates with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.
Pictured above are: Victoria Wright (center, seated), her parents Joseph and Tami Wright (seated): (back row, L-R) cousin Jessica McCullough, her grandparents John and Brenda Ekstrom and sister Elizabeth Wright. Pictured inset: Wright with her NJROTC instructors Charlie C. Code, Capt USN (ret), and Jeffrey D. Simpkins, CPO, USN (ret). Pictured below: Northview Principal Gayle Weaver and Assistant Principal Gerry Pippins presented Wright with a mountain bicycle to navigate between classes. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge. Pictured bottom: The Wrights with Lt. Col. David Landfair, USAFA’s admission liaison officer.
