"Where there's life, there's hope" - Cicero
 

Welcome to Eccoblue's Fight for Survival web site,
dedicated to help with her battle against heart and liver disease

 
 
 
 

Introduction:  Eccoblue is the nickname and moniker used by Kelli Jaunsen on the internet and as a signature for her artwork.
After a lifetime of fighting for survival, Kelli has learned she will need a heart-liver transplant. Although thousands
of organ transplants have become commonplace, the heart-liver combination is rare, only 50 have ever been done,
which includes 4 in the Western U.S., according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

Kelli's story is one of amazing courage in the face of incredible odds, where each one of her multiple, open-heart surgeries
brought new complications for her to overcome. In spite of physical and mental adversity, Kelli has produced award-winning
photographic images and creates unique, digital art as well. Much of her work may be seen on this site.

New: On February 1, 2007, Kelli underwent successful heart and liver transplants at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
Due to her delicate condition, two surgical teams took 16 hours to complete the operation.
The page link below includes snapshots from the 49 days she was hospitalized.

For information on the Donate Life Float in the 2008 Rose Parade click on one of the logos below.

         

Check out Kelli's story in the Reader's Digest, November 2007 issue
http://www.rd.com/transplant
New: Watch the recently added video

American Heart Association, 16th Annual Desert Heart Walk
October 20, 2007 - 7AM to 11AM

Click on this line for pictures from the 2007 Desert Heart Walk


Sonnet to Eccoblue

Born in distress as if cursed by her genes,
Struggling to breathe, congenital defects,
Taking their toll, cyanotic as queens,
Many strong and noble minds she infects;
Despair is seen on the brow of their faces,
Yet hope and the scalpel soon came to her,
To save and change her heart, leaving their traces,
Four times under the knife was the answer;
Mental scars etched deep from fright's visit,
Lots of needles scaring the child with pain,
Fear came like a serpent out of its pit,
All the sunshine fled, days turned to rain;
Her spirit annealed itself in flame,
Life's spark glowed within--living's her fame

                                                              - Dad

(written after her last open-heart surgery, 1997)

 

 

For information on organ transplantation click on:
 http://healthinfo.cedars-sinai.edu/healthnews/medicineonthehorizon/moth042004.htm

Sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor in California here:
http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org

All images, except of Eccoblue, © 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07 Kelli Jaunsen (Eccoblue)
Images of Eccoblue © 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07 Robert Jaunsen
All rights reserved.
Web site design by Kelli Jaunsen (Eccoblue)

Image Gallery  Fight to Survive  Medical Relief Fund  Snapshots of Eccoblue
 Questions Answered  News Media  Chronology  Notes & Comments