
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 17, 1993                   TAG: 9309170122
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: TOPEKA, KAN.                                LENGTH: Short

HEARTS OPEN TO MAN WHO LOST TRANSPLANT

A man who missed a chance for a heart transplant when his phone service was cut off due to unpaid bills now has a pager - thanks to an outpouring of support from people who read about his plight.

Richard Miller was still waiting Thursday for the one thing he needs the most - a new heart.

A heart had become available Tuesday at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, but Miller was unreachable because his phone had been disconnected.

By the time officials contacted him through messages left with his sister and police, it was too late to do the transplant.

After people across the country read about his plight this week, good fortune seemed to return.

Officials halted eviction proceedings against him begun when the owner of his rental home failed to make loan payments. Telephone service has been restored.

One donor paid half his $608 telephone bill and others have contributed money to a fund set up for his other expenses.

"We've had numerous calls from Maine to California from people wanting to know where to mail their contributions," said Kathryn Clark, marketing director for Bank IV of Topeka, where Miller's account was established.

- Associated Press

by CNB