@dsclancy

DS, may I call you DS? I am reluctant to share the link with you publicly so look for a private message to follow. A little background for you and I will keep it short as I am quite proud of what we have done.

Ours is a group of 21 heart transplant recipients. Most had their procedure done at Mayo-Phoenix but a few are under care of Mayo and had the transplant elsewhere (University of Chicago, University of Texas, for example). We grew out of an administrative decision last fall to change the Mayo Clinic Social Worker run support group via Zoom to once-a-month verses the original once-a-week

To be direct, the group was livid and among demands of who to-have-fired, and refusals to attend future monthly meetings, I suggested we form our own group. Our concern was without regular contact, and 12 times a year would just not do it, the group would fail. In short, we had grown to like each other and did not like the prospect of waiting to see each other only one-a-month. Therefore, as ringleader of the rebellion, I purchased a professional Zoom account, about $160 dollars, and gathered our respective e-mails and phone numbers. Mayo runs their meeting on the first Wednesdays of the month and we fill all the other Wednesdays.

We are coming up on one year of operating on our own. I maintain the mailing list. We have an active text chain, celebrate heart transplant anniversaries, and gather for team lunches whenever the out of towners (Anchorage, Dallas, Denver; even Tucson) come to Phoenix for our annuals. We have had two members pass from noncardiac ailments and held grief sessions for both. Most of the Phoenix locals attended the memorial services. Relatives have been most gracious telling us how much the group meant to their loved one.

There was resistance from Mayo at first and now we feel celebrated as we are somewhat well known on the Phoenix campus. Even the doctors have thanked us and told us to keep going. The social workers have also come around and indirectly support our efforts. We call ourselves The Beats and have our own logo. We have most of the markings of a true community.

The group is rather close though we have admitted two new members whom at least one of The Beats met on campus during various follow-ups.

Before I send the link, privately, I would like to know more about you. As with most tight groups we are cautious about new members but do not wish to be exclucsive.

Best always,
s!
Scott Jensen