One Womans Loss Becomes Gain For Many

Debbie Cenci lost her father because of lack of medical device knowledge. Cenci is now heads a non-profit organization on a quest to save thousands of lives worldwide.

Maywood, NJ (PRWEB) June 10, 2005 -- Nine years ago, Debbie Cenci, Executive Director of the Medical Device Industry Council of New Jersey and the Medical Device International Industry Council, sat at the bedside of her father who had a stroke. It was the first of many steps that would change her life and lives for thousands worldwide.

Doctors told us my father would be a vegetable and that there was nothing we could do. My husband and I refused to believe that so we decided to bring him into our home and learn how to care for him. Within the first year of being told hed never be the same, my father was able to talk, walk with assistance, laugh, have fun with my four-year old son and play ball. He got to enjoy and see five grandchildren born and go to my sisters wedding in addition to multiple family and friends functions. He was perfect just like before the stroke because he had the will to live and overcome his obstacles."

More obstacles, however, lay ahead for Debbie and her father. He became diagnosis with cancer but after radiation therapy that destroyed the tumor Debbie noticed that her fathers toe was becoming red. She mentioned it to the nurse who wrote it off as bedsores.

But, it wasnt bedsores," Debbie explains, It was the start of a major infection, gangrene. So my dad did not die of cancer. The red toe, was an infection that no one treated and that is how my father died. The gangrene spread to all of his vital organs."

Just weeks after her fathers death, Debbie found some medical devices that might have been used to help diagnosis his real condition sooner and quite possibly save his life. The problem, however, was the medical staff didnt know of this equipment. Under further examination she found out that many medical facilities across the state, and across the world, didnt understand all the equipment available and how it could benefit patients.

Debbie then began her mission -- a mission to make sure that no one ever lost a loved one because of lack of equipment knowledge. On November 8, 2004 the Medical Device Industry Council of New Jersey was born. Although Debbie knows she can never bring back her father, shes organizing and matching up medical device companies with care facilities from across the globe. Currently the organization is looking for large medical devices companies, government officials, and business industry leaders to step forward and help them spread the word. As she points out, her organization doesnt just help the sick alone.

I am hoping to help businesses grow and develop that specialize in medical devices. As a result well also be helping the manufacturing sector build and increase jobs within each state, giving displaced workers, women, minorities, youth -- disadvantaged and otherwise - the ability to create and develop a career that will help them support themselves. Our goal is to educate parents, children, seniors, medical professional, and hospitals on alternative methods of treating the sick."

The Medical Device Industry Council of New Jersey asks that interested parties in device manufacturing or care facilities call them at 201-556-1640.

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