Christmas Transplant Story Moves Reader

By Brenda Donegan

January 4, 2004

Lifeline of Ohio and other organ procurement centers received thousands of calls from potential kidney donors when it was first announced that NBA great Lorenzo Mourning would need a kidney transplant. Many of them also offered that if they were not compatible with Mourning they would like to give the gift of life to someone else in need.

In a story that ran Christmas Day about Cynthia Imbody needing a lifesaving kidney transplant, a 19-year-old female called The Star to say she was seriously considering undergoing the testing to see if she could be a donor for Imbody. We'll keep you posted on this.

On the message she left on my voice mail, the potential donor said, "I feel so bad for this little girl and her mother. It's Christmas and I want to give her a gift of life, if I can."

What an unselfish offer.

There are 55,000 men, women and children nationwide who await a kidney transplant including Imbody and possibly others of the Marion area. Every day 17 Americans die waiting for an organ that never comes. These are preventable deaths. The science of transplantation has been perfected and the technology exists to save these lives. The missing component is human. It is compassion and commitment. It is people helping people in the most basic and altruistic way. Most living donors are relatives or long-time friends of the recipient, but a growing number of people have become donors without previously knowing the person they are helping. I applaud their unselfish generosity.

And then some, like Johnny Layton of Waldo, gave a co-worker a new lease on life and a new outlook for the new year. Layton, 39, and his friend and co-worker had surgery Dec. 3 at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Both are doing remarkably well and were dismissed to their homes four days later. Layton is a regional data specialist with Time Warner Telecom in Worthington where his friend is a sales manager. Congratulations, Johnny, for giving the gift of life. As Latyon told me on the phone, the decision was a matter of prayer and discussion of the pros and cons with his wife, Lisa. May this new year bring both of you and your families good health, prosperity, happiness and the warm feeling that has to be tucked inside your heart knowing your gift was indeed the gift of life for your friend.

And earlier this year, I reported on the successful transplant between siblings Carl and Roger Delawder. Roger said he didn't hesitate a second when he learned his brother needed a transplant. There have been numerous others through the years who have done the same.

Again, what unselfish offers. You can become a potential donor, too, by designating so when you renew your driver's license.

...Until next week.

Brenda Donegan is a columnist for The Marion Star. If you have tidbits of information you would like to share, she may be reached by phone at 740-375-5150 or by e-mail at BDonegan@nnco gannett.com

Copyright © 2003 The Marion Star.

This article posted January 31, 2004.