With husband Greg as her "miracle" donor, Cindi Hilfman counts the days before her lifesaving kidney transplant.
Just days after her fabulous fundraiser at Froggy's, Cindi Hilfman is doing great – she came through a preliminary surgery on June 30 to remove her most damaged kidney and will undergo dialysis to prepare for a transplant on July 20. A second event featuring a concert by the Bangles is scheduled for July 30 at Theatricum Botanicum. (See related article, "The Bangles Play Theatricum," page 8.)
"Cindi came through the nephrectomy well," husband Greg wrote via e-mail. "She'll be in the hospital for about a week, then home, before going right back in the joint [for the next phase]. The doctors seem pleased with this first round and are hoping she avoids any complications."
The surgery was a welcome gift for her 44th birthday on July 5. That is because Cindi Hilfman has
PHOTO BY ANNMARIE DONKIN  (Left to right) Ruth Lundi, Greg and Cindi Hilfman with Eliza Jane Schneider at the "Freedom of Speech" fundraiser at Froggy's on June 24. |
After being rejected for a transplant by medical clinics across the country, the Living Donor Team at the UCLA Kidney Transplant Center finally accepted her. Ironically, after nearly a year of testing as her condition worsened – it turned out her best donor was her husband, Greg.
Not surprisingly, considering all she had been through, Cindi expressed some fear mixed with elation at the prospect of yet another surgery combined with the hope of full recovery.
"The truth is I am now terrified and can't sleep," she e-mailed to friends on June 17. "I am trying to be brave but the truth is I am not brave at this moment and I can't talk about it without falling to pieces and crying, I don't know what else to say. I love you, xoxo, Cindi."
Yet if all goes as planned, on July 20 Greg will provide a healthy kidney to replace Cindi's damaged one and all hope is it will put her on the permanent road to recovery.
"The obvious fear is that of rejection," said Ruth Lundi, who is Cindi's friend and full-time caretaker through both surgeries and recovery. "Such a tremendous amount of time, money, energy and emotion brings them to this moment and that has to be their greatest fear. Greg is the silent sufferer in all of this. It greatly affects the quality of his life, too."
And yet, Greg, the perpetually cheerful and energetic keyboardist for the Bangles, whom they call "Harpo," feels there was simply no other way to go than to give his wife the kidney that will ultimately save her life.
"It's such a wonderful thing, really a miracle," Greg said. "In most cases, they are able to extract the kidney with laparoscopic surgery that requires only a one-night hospital stay."
From Pro Trainer to Transplant
Despite her condition, Cindi pursued a high-level career as a physical therapist to actors and athletes and made the cover of Sports Illustrated with PGA pro Rocco Mediate during his comeback tour in 2008 when he came within one shot of beating Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open.
But as Cindi's condition worsened last year, she had to give up her physical therapy business just as her medical bills began skyrocketing – her IV medication alone averages about $3,000 per month.
"Without dragging politics into this, it's outrageous that two well-employed, insured people risk losing everything due to a chronic health condition," Lundi said. "Anyone who thinks healthcare reform is not necessary has never had a catastrophic claim."
Froggy's Fundraiser
To help out, more than 150 of the Hilfman's family and friends gathered at Froggy's for an evening of food, music and comedy on June 24 to raise funds for Cindi's expenses.
Lundi coordinated the evening with help from Catherine McClenahan, Janis Liebhart and Donna McDaniel-Pavlock.
"We raised about $5,000 at the Froggy's event," Lundi said. "What about the people who don't have this great circle around them – who makes sure they don't lose everything?"
At Froggy's, Cindi sat quietly near the stage, her IVs hanging from a light post as she received healing hugs from friends and neighbors including Peter Alsop, Melora Marshall, Rick and Calli Moos, Elizabeth Howard and Geoff Forward; Suzanne Teng and Elizabeth George.
Froggy's donated some outstanding dishes, including fresh salmon, chicken and pasta, cheerfully served up by Ruth's boys, Joey and Zack, and Greg and Cindi's sons, Abe and Michael.
The evening opened with the "Spaghetti Night Players," a talented group of professional Topanga musicians who regularly perform Wednesdays at Ruth Lundi and David Chadwick's house.
Lending their time and talents for some outstanding classic Rock ‘n Roll were Jon Shea, guitar and vocals; Chris Shea on bass; Debbie Ryder of Blues Ryder on vocals; Rick Ryder on bass and mandolin; Gene Williams on lead guitar; Greg Hilfman on keyboards; Brad Swanson on drums; and Doug Braun on 12-string.
Then, Topanga resident Eliza Jane Schneider hit the stage with her brilliant, award-winning, one-woman show, "Freedom of Speech," in which she portrays 34 people she met while driving 34,000 miles across the United States in a used ambulance.
"I never met Cindi, but when Ruth saw my benefit show for Haiti at Yoga Desa and asked me to do one for Cindi, it was pretty much a no-brainer," Schneider said. "I think it's beautiful that people can come together for some theater and contribute $60 towards saving someone's life. I've never felt better about promoting my show."
