LOCAL SHOPKEEPER HAS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT(*click title to read review of Fernanda's)

THIS WEEK MARKS 6 MONTH'S SINCE THE SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT OF ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PATIENTS, BETHANY JOHASKY. BETHANY HAS FOLLOWED WITH OUR GROUP SINCE SHE WAS A STUDENT AT FSU(GO NOLES)AND IS NOW THE OWNER/MANAGER OF FERNANDAS INTERNATIONAL FOOD MARKET.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER VISITED THIS FORT LAUDERDALE TREASURE, YOU ARE MISSING A TREAT. IT IS NESTLED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF OAKLAND AND FEDERAL WHERE IT HAS BEEN A LANDMARK FOR 31 YEARS(LONG BEFORE BETHANY WAS BORN!). IT PROVIDES ESOTERIC GROCERIES, SPICES AND WINES. THEY ALSO HAVE A DELI AND PREPARED FOODS DEPARTMENT-AND IS THE FAVORITE PLACE FOR THE KIDNEY GROUP TO ORDER SANDWICHES. THEY HAVE A FRESH BAKERY AND EVERYTHING IS PREPARED "HOMEMADE' INCLUDING FRESH MOZZARELLA, SALADS AND BROCCOLI RABE STEAMED AND TOSSED WITH GARLIC AND OIL. YUM! PETER THE CHEF HAS BEEN THERE FOR 28 YEARS FOLLOWED BY KENNY THE DELI MANAGER WHO HAS BEEN THERE 17 YEARS. MARIA, PETER'S ASS'T, HAS BEEN THERE 5 YEARS. TOGETHER THEY HELP BETHANY TO MAKE FERNANDA'S BETTER THAN EVER.

BETHANY, WHO YOU MAY RECOGNIZE FROM A STORY THE SUN SENTINEL DID ON HER BEING MENTORED THROUGH HER TRANSPLANT BY ALONZO MOURNING, IS ANOTHER PATIENT REMARKABLE FOR HER SUNNY, UPBEAT OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HER ZEST FOR LIVING.

EVEN WHEN ON DIALYSIS, OR FOLLOWING A FIRST TRANSPLANT THAT FAILED, BETHANY CONTINUED FIRST AS A STUDENT, DURING WHICH SHE JUGGLED SEVERAL JOBS, AND LATER AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER TOILING LONG HARD HOURS. SHE ALSO LOVE SPORTS OF ALL KINDS-SWIMMING, YOGA AND RUNNING. WHEN SHE COMES TO THE OFFICE YOU CAN HELP BUT THINK SHE LOOKS MORE LIKE SHE SHOULD BE ON A MAGAZINE COVER THAN IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

BETHANY, AND OTHERS LIKE HER, GIVE MEANING TO THE WORD PERSEVERANCE. SHE IS AN INSPIRATION TO US AT THE KIDNEY GROUP AND TO COUNTLESS OTHERS WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT WHO WILL FIND ENCOURAGEMENT IN HOW SHE LIVES HER LIFE. WE GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HER DAD, TOM AND AUNT, NANCY -THE DONORS OF KIDNEYS 1 AND 2.

WE INVITE YOU TO STOP BY FERNANDA'S(WE SWEAR WE DON'T HAVE STOCK THERE!!)AND MEET BETHANY YOURSELF. I HEARTILY RECOMMEND THE CHICKEN SALAD, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE!