www.GivetoUHF.ca
March 2015
Dear Supporter,
Today you have the chance to help patients with liver disease get the diagnosis and
treatment they desperately need. Many, like May, may not even know they have any health
issues yet.
May thought she was in perfect health. After a routine physical in 2005, she
travelled to Mexico to get married. She returned to a voicemail message from her doctor
saying she was concerned about one of her blood tests. A second test revealed that May’s liver
enzymes were dramatically elevated.
That’s when May was referred to me. My name is Dr. Mang Ma. I’m a hepatologist at the
University of Alberta Hospital, where I specialize in treating people with liver conditions. I’ll
tell you more of May’s story shortly. But first…
I’m writing to urge you to renew your generous support of the University
Hospital Foundation today. You’ll help purchase equipment that is essential to patient
care, such as a new and improved Fibroscan technology used to diagnose and monitor patients
like May.
You may have received a letter a few weeks ago from Kim Wheaton, Board Chair of the
University Hospital Foundation. If our letters have crossed in the mail and you’ve already
renewed your support, please accept my sincere thanks! If you haven’t yet sent your generous
gift, I hope you’ll do so right now.
Now back to May’s story… A liver biopsy revealed that May had a life-threatening
condition known as primary biliary cirrhosis. May’s bile ducts were damaged and her liver
was badly scarred. This is a serious and chronic condition and May will require monitoring
for the rest of her life.
With your support of the University Hospital Foundation, May can be monitored using a
quick and painless device called a Fibroscan. The scan takes just two minutes and provides
more detailed information than a biopsy.
Over please ...
1H1.91 WMC, 8440 – 112 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7
Telephone (780) 407-7007
Fax: (780) 407-6603