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FEBRUARY 7, 2024 Vol. 22, No. 3
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STARTS findINGONlong lost yearbooks online /15A SPOTLIGHT HOME GARDEN ON 11A
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248-920-8900 Erik Morganroth, from Birmingham, is a two-time heart transplant recipient.
Birmingham resident advocates organ Shelby and Utica put for part of water and sewer donation in afterescrow two heartuntil transplants payments state settles debt dispute Photo provided by Erik Morganroth
BY MARY GENSON
mgenson@candgnews.com
BIRMINGHAM — Shortly after graduating from the University of Michigan with his undergrad, Birmingham resident Erik Morganroth woke up and suddenly could not catch his breath. He decided to go to Beaumont Hospital for some tests. Morganroth was declining and they decided to move him to the University of Michigan Hospital. Both sides of his heart were kept pumping through a machine. While he was on life support, he was put in an artificial coma and was woken up every few days to make sure he was not experiencing brain damage. He was on the machine for 34 days, which at the time, was the longest anyone had ever been on it. “They didn’t really think I was going to make it based on how sick I was,” Morganroth said. After over a month on life support, he was able to receive a heart transplant.
When he returned home, he met his wife, with whom he has two children. About 12 years after his transplant, abnormalities to the structure of the heart were found during an annual checkup. After more evaluation from doctors, he was listed for another heart transplant. However, Morganroth shared how this time around was different. When he first got sick, his parents were the ones making most of the decisions for him. At the time of his second transplant, his parents were deceased and he had a wife and kids. “I had to be positive for my wife and I had to be positive for my children, even though they were very young,” Morganroth said. This time, especially, Morganroth was a very active participant in his own care. “Everybody knew that I wanted more information than most, and I was Googling everything and asking BY KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE questions and in a polite, respectful way, demanding
Event to raise money, awareness for Turning Point kdemske@candgnews.com
See MORGANROTH on page 21A
domestic and sexual violence through comprehensive services and resources. The agency provides emergency, support and prevention services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including an emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, advocacy, a personal protection order assistance program, and a forensic nurse examiners program.
MOUNT CLEMENS — Taking steps this month to highlight awareness of sexual assault, Turning Point Macomb is hosting its sixth annual fundraiser, Stepping Out With the Stars, April 29. Turning Point strives to empower survivors of See TURNING on page 18A Trustees Jan. 22. includes 3,500 linear feet of safety path that will connect to Bloomfield Township Director of Engineering and En- the existing path at West Surrey Road and extend westward vironmental Services Corey Almas said his department rec- to Franklin Road. Turning Point President and CEO Sharman Davenport stands at the 2021 event with Stepping Out ommended filling in the path along the north side of West Township officials said the path will safely connect to with the Stars emcee Evrod Cassimy, of WDIV-TV. Maple Road, on the south end of the township. Identified side streets and provide pedestrians the ability to access the Photo courtesy of Turning Point as “Route 25” in the 2008 safety path master plan, the route
SAFETY PATHS CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN THE TOWNSHIP
See PATHS on page 25A
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BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com