Candlewood Suites Takes Care of Its Own; Hotel Supports Team Member Who Donates Kidney to Sister.

Business Editors

WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2000

Candlewood Suites  (CNDL)

-- A sister's heroine

-- Team support

-- The happy ending

-- How you can help save lives too

-- Helpful links

Balancing the demands of a career with a strong commitment to family can be a difficult, sometimes overwhelming, responsibility. And when a family crisis strikes, professional work requirements and personal responsibilities often add yet another layer of stress and concern.

Fortunately, when Denise Troche learned she could save her sister's life by donating a kidney, she never had to worry about her job. In fact, she had the support of both her employer and fellow employees across the country -- every step of the way.

National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week began yesterday, but Troche's special story started long before.

It was, in all respects, an amazing year and a half for the 29-year-old Candlewood Hotel Co. employee.

In late 1998, Troche learned her sister would likely die without a new kidney, for which no donor match had been found. In January 1999, Troche was promoted to director of sales for the Irving (Las Colinas), Texas, Candlewood Suites. This past January, she won several national sales awards. Then, several weeks later, she underwent surgery to have a healthy kidney removed -- and gave her sister the best gift she ever received.

A real-life heroine, Troche is quick to credit others for supporting her choice. "I owe Candlewood everything," says Troche. "They told me to do what I thought was best and they supported me 100 percent."

A sister's heroine

Candlewood team members learned early last year of Troche's decision to help her 34-year-old sister, Peggy Hay. Hay's lifelong medical ordeal had begun when she was five years old. She contracted hepatitis C during a blood transfusion. The hepatitis attacked her liver, requiring a transplant in 1994 and then a second transplant in 1995 when the first liver failed. Then, in late 1998, her kidneys began to fail because of the liver medications.

About the same time, Troche was offered a promotion that she had worked hard to earn. But she also knew that organ-match testing would require frequent trips to Houston -- a 250-mile journey from her job near Dallas. If she were a match, surgery would then require a six-to-eight week recovery period.

With more than 45,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant, Troche knew her sister needed her. Without a new kidney, Hay faced grueling dialysis treatments.

Troche went to Candlewood management and explained the situation.

Team support

"Candlewood never hesitated. It was just natural for them to support me," says Troche. Candlewood's assistance was important in several ways. When Troche learned she was a match, the doctors explained that a successful recovery depended on her being stress-free. Candlewood helped see to that.

At the corporate level, Troche was eligible for short-term disability. In her case, she was able to take six weeks off at full pay - at no cost to her. Her local team gladly agreed to fill in while Troche was recovering. They accompanied her on sales calls to familiarize themselves with client needs. They made Troche's return to work easier by setting up a phone line and mini-office at her mother's home in Houston, where she was recovering. Candlewood Suites team members across the country lent their support through phone calls and emails.

Still, the Candlewood team wanted to do more. Through the leadership of Las Colinas general manager Gigi Newbern, the hotel organized a blood drive as part of the year's community service project. The blood center gave points for the blood donated in Troche's and Hay's name. The points were then converted into free blood during the surgery. The corporate office in Wichita and several other Candlewood Suites also held blood drives. The Las Colinas hotel, in particular, had tremendous support from team members, clients, guests -- and even competing hotels. Newbern attributes that to Troche's personality.

"Denise is bright, bubbly and extremely professional. She's an easy person to love," Newbern said.

During the blood drive, Newbern and her staff set aside a guest room to promote LifeGift. LifeGift is a Texas-based organ donation organization that served as a knowledge base for Troche and her family. The Candlewood team sold t-shirts and encouraged drive participants to sign donor cards.

"We're very lucky to work for a company that allowed us to undertake such a project," said Newbern.

The happy ending

The long wait culminated with a successful transplant last January. Troche's Candlewood friends in Dallas traveled to Houston for the surgery. "Candlewood is a huge part of my life. Everyone that I've come in contact with has become a friend," Troche said.

Troche finished her recovery with a trip to Hawaii in March - on Candlewood's tab. She won the trip for her outstanding sales year and her contribution to the Las Colinas hotel's high room revenue and occupancy rates. She was also named director of sales of the year.

"What a great company. I get rewarded for having a great time," said Troche.

Candlewood Suites serves mid-market business travelers and others on short or long-term stays. Candlewood's value pricing, quality lodging and extra amenities make it the hotel of choice for many travelers.

How you can help save lives too

Non-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) such as LifeGift have made great strides in educating the public about organ and tissue donation. The good news: Organ donations have increased by 43 percent over the last 10 years. The bad news: The number of persons waiting for organ transplants has increased by 300 percent.

"It's definitely become a need versus availability issue," says Ron Ehrle, LifeGift's managing director for the north Texas region. Ehrle cites other sobering statistics. About 69,000 people are now on the transplant waiting list. Other studies show that about 57 people receive an organ transplant each day, but another 13 people die because not enough organs are available.

Ehrle says misconceptions are partly to blame for the lack of organ donors:

Myth: My hospital care will be compromised if they know I'm an organ donor.

Fact: Death is not pronounced prematurely so the individual can become an organ donor. The medical team treating the patient is separate from the transplant team. The transplant team is only consulted after the patient is determined to be dead.

Myth: I have a history of illness, so I'm not a good candidate for organ donation.

Fact: At the time of death, the OPO will review medical and social histories to determine donor suitability on a case-by-case basis. Organs that can be donated include heart, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and intestines. Tissues include bone marrow, skin, corneas, heart valves and connective tissue.

Myth: My family will have to pay for the donation after I die.

Fact: The donor or donor's family does not pay for the cost of the organ donation.

Myth: My driver's license says I'm an organ donor, so my doctors will know my wishes if I'm fatally injured.

Fact: A donation cannot occur until the deceased's family gives permission, regardless of what is stated on a driver's license. And it is often too late to donate by the time a will is read. Be sure to let your family know of your wishes to be an organ donor.

     Helpful links

    There are numerous resources that dispel other myths and provide
support for those considering organ or tissue donation. Some good
starting points:

    -- LifeGift Organ Donation Center
       www.lifegift.org
       5615 Kirby Drive, Suite 900
       Houston, Texas 77005
       1-800-633-6562

    -- United Network for Organ Sharing
       www.unos.org
       1100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500
       P.O. Box 13770
       Richmond, Va., 23225-8770
       1-888-TXINFO1 (1-888-894-6361)

    -- Hepatitis Foundation International
       www.hepfi.org
       30 Sunrise Terrace
       Cedar Grove, N.J. 07009-1423
       1-800-891-0707

    -- www.organdonor.gov

    -- www.transweb.org

    -- www.shareyourlife.org