Released on: October 22, 2007, 10:36 am

Press Release Author: Jennings Public Relations & Advertising

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: In Brevard County a shortage of some types of tissues
continues to drive a partnership program between South Brevard Funeral Home and
Southeast Tissue Alliance (SETA). Despite a shortage, these two organizations have
enhanced the lives of 10,000 Fla. recipients from severe burn victims to cancer
patients.

Press Release Body: Melbourne, Fla. - In Brevard County a shortage of some types of
tissues continues to drive a partnership program between South Brevard Funeral Home
and Southeast Tissue Alliance (SETA). Despite a shortage, these two organizations
have enhanced the lives of 10,000 Fla. recipients from severe burn victims to cancer
patients.

Michael Scott, vice president of operations of SETA, said more than 490 families
have had their donation wishes realized thanks to the support of South Brevard
Funeral Home. \"This translates into as many as 10,000 patients who benefited from
tissue transplants. The number of people helped through research for Alzheimer\'s,
cancer and other diseases, is immeasurable,\" said Scott.

Michael Ammen, president of Ammen Family Funeral, an umbrella company that owns
South Brevard Funeral Home, said the partnership was a win-win-win situation. \"It\'s
a win for the families who wish to see good come from the loss of their loved one;
for SETA because it allows them to offer an option of donation that they might
otherwise not have; and for South Brevard because it is consistent with our
commitment to the local community and helping families.\"

For Mattie Owens, a Jacksonville, Fla., resident, tissue donation meant regaining
her independence. Owens suffered from a degenerative disc disease that led to pain
in her back, shoulders and neck. She experienced numbness and tingling in her right
arm. These were the beginning signs that she would eventually lose use of her arm
and it made everyday activities like fixing her hair and using a computer mouse
difficult.

In 1995, Owens received her first disc transplant using allograft tissue. The
procedure was a success, but years later she was diagnosed with another herniated
disc. In April of 2001, Owens received her second disc transplant, and the pain went
away immediately. \"The tissue transplant changed my life and the life of my son,\"
said Owens. \"I never knew that bone or tissue could improve the quality of someone\'s
life so much.\"

South Brevard Funeral Home facilitates SETA\'s program by offering them an
opportunity to learn about their donation options. More than 100 funeral homes in
Fla. work with SETA to ensure that the wishes of families are carried out. Many
funeral homes throughout the country are participating in donation programs with
tissue banks resulting in more than three percent of donors being identified in
funeral homes. Donation is a nation is a national medical priority. By law,
hospitals are required to work with donation banks; however, more than 50 percent of
deaths occur outside of a hospital and families may not be offered a donation
opportunity.

SETA is among the top tissue recovery programs in the nation and is accredited by
the American Association of Tissue Banks. SETA makes certain the gift of tissue is
maximized and helps to guarantee that the tissue is cared for following recovery.

Southeast Tissue Alliance (SETA) is a non-profit foundation, accredited by the
American Association of Tissue Banks, licensed by the State of Florida and
registered with the Food and Drug Administration. The organization has offices in
various regions in North and Central Fla. The organization is committed to providing
safe allograft tissue that will ultimately be used to enhance life through
transplantation, research and medical education. For more information, visit
www.donorcare.org or call 1-866-432-1164.

South Brevard Funeral Home is a division of Ammen Family Funeral and has been
serving Brevard County for 40 years. Ammen Family funeral is dedicated to caring for
the deceased with respect and dignity and the living with compassion and
understanding- and to accomplish this goal with the highest professional ethics. For
more information, visit www.affuneral.com or call 1-800-329-2232.

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Web Site: http://www.affuneral.com

Contact Details: For more information about Ammen Family Funeral, visit
www.affuneral.com. For media inquiries, please call Valerie Jennings at
816.221.1040.