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Profiles in Giving: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
The Maahs family |
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Sometimes, a good response to grief is having fun with friends and family. Thus was born the annual Clownin' Around Golf Open, which in three years has raised almost $40,000 to support the Martha Maahs Hepatitis C Research Fund at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. When Martha Maahs of Epworth, Iowa, was diagnosed in 1998 with Hepatitis C, her family physician referred her to Dr. Michael Voigt, a clinical specialist at UI Hospitals and Clinics and an associate professor of internal medicine in the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. The disease, which Martha had contracted from a blood transfusion in 1981 (blood products are now routinely screened for the virus), had caused cirrhosis of the liver. Sadly, Martha's condition was too far advanced to be cured, and she died in 2000. During the time she was treated at the UI, however, she received compassionate care that significantly eased her and her family's suffering. "My mother spent many weeks in the hospital under Dr. Voigt's care. She respected him and trusted his opinion, and she always felt she received the best care from him," said Martha's daughter, Niki Perrenoud of Farley, Iowa. "Dr. Voigt was always happy to sit down with the family and explain what was happening." To show their gratitude, Perrenoud and her family -- Mike Maahs of Dyersville, Iowa; Tony and Bruce Maahs of Epworth; and her father, Dick Maahs, also of Epworth -- established the research fund in Martha's name with the assistance of the UI Foundation. To support the fund, the family holds the annual golf outing, named in honor of Martha's fondness for clowns and clown memorabilia. Friends, family, and community members join in the fun, and area individuals and businesses sponsor holes. The golf event is followed by a dinner, raffle, and silent auction, with entertainment for the guests. Those interested in making reservations or donations for future golf outings may contact Niki Perrenoud at (563) 744-3081 or snperren@aol.com. Martha's death was a tragedy for her family (shown below), but now future patients will benefit from the family's desire to give back to UI Hospital and Clinics. 
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