A Friend Gets Kidney-Better Life

By Donnie Douglas

Editor

When my time is done here, and I'm off to my great reward, I'm leaving behind my organs - assuming they are in sufficient shape to benefit someone.

The cornea would have to come with accessories.

The heart, big as it is, is a bit leaky.

My kidneys are on time, about 2 a.m.

And the liver? A medical miracle.

I did the honorable thing, which was to say "of course" when the smiling face at the Department of Motor Vehicles, while issuing me my driver's license, asked if I wanted to be an organ donor.

Then, so there would be no misunderstanding, I added that I was in no rush to save some stranger's life.

And I'm hoping that, when the time comes, whoever mines for organs isn't in too big a hurry either. Before any of my parts are excavated, I expect the attending physician - there will be one there, right? - makes sure that movement was just a post-mortem muscle twitch.

I didn't take the time for this column to surf the Internet to research just how many people in this country are awaiting an organ transplant. But it's a lot - and, unfortunately, for many the time ran out today.

Time didn't overrun Scott Witten, whose name you might recognize. Scott has been a staff reporter at The Robesonian for about 16 years. But more importantly, Scott is a good guy, soft-spoken, with a positive word when he feels like offering one - and a wit, dry as it is, that works full-time. Unfortunately, because of his health, Scott himself has only worked part-time in recent years. Let me assure you, we are a better newspaper when he is here - and the newsroom is a much better place to spend time.

Last week, Scott got a call from Duke University Medical Center and was told that there was a kidney that might be THE ONE. It was a call that Scott has received several times in recent weeks, but for various reasons, things didn't break his way - until Friday.

I talked to Scott on Tuesday, and he was in tremendous pain. But it is also obvious that Scott is looking forward to a life without dialysis.

I have watched in recent years as dialysis ruled Scott's life, robbing him of several hours thrice a week while he was hooked up to a dialysis machine, and otherwise keeping him in chains. Dialysis certainly beats the alternative, but it's no way to live.

For too many, however, it's the only way to live.

Several people have called to ask about Scott, wondering how he is doing. When it was mentioned at the Robeson Community College trustees meeting on Monday that Scott had received a kidney, he got a heartfelt ovation from about 20 people in attendance.

Several people have sent us cards, which we will forward to Scott. If you want to get a card to him a little quicker, his room at Duke University Medical Center is 2320, but know that Scott hopes to leave the hospital on Friday.

If all goes well, Scott will return to work in about six weeks. In the meantime, we will simply do the best we can while an important member of our staff regains his health.

I mainly wanted to use this column to tell people who know Scott that he has received a new kidney, and is recovering nicely. But it also seemed an appropriate time to remind you that the next time that a smiling face at the DMV asks if you wish to be an organ donor, yours could be a life-altering answer.

Email Donnie Douglas or call 749-4322, Ext. 104.

Copyright © 2004 The Robesonian.

This article posted April 2, 2004.