The Gift Of Life - WASHS Grad Donates Kidney To Co-Worker

By Nancy Mace

Staff writer

Omar Magallon received the best Christmas present ever from friend and co-worker Brian Newcomer -- the gift of life.

The two San Diego residents are linked forever by Newcomer's donation of a kidney Dec. 4 to Magallon.

Newcomer, a 1987 graduate of Waynesboro Area Senior High School, is visiting with his mother Bev in Chambersburg for the holidays.

"I just think it's wonderful," Bev said. "Brian was surprised by my reaction, but I still worried. I'm a mother. I have a right."

"I'm completely indebted to him," said Magallon in a telephone interview. "I have my life back."

Magallon, 30, says he was amazed that his friend was willing to make such a gift.

"It really takes a special person. I can't say enough about Brian... and his family. They supported this generous act."

Newcomer, 34, has known Magallon for two and a half years.

Newcomer earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in psychology from Shippensburg University before he moved to California eight years ago. Newcomer also has a master's degree is clinical psychology and studied at the California School of Professional Psychology.

He's an intensive case manager at New Alternatives, a private company affiliated with Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services at the University of California at San Diego. Magallon is a mental health worker for the same firm.

"We're part of the transition from the hospital to home," according to Newcomer. "Our job is to prevent children and adolescents from being rehospitalized and to integrate them back into the community."

Magallon was diagnosed four years ago with lupus, a chronic, inflammatory disease, and opted for a treatment of chemotherapy and Prednisone that he knew might cause kidney damage.

"He was aware of the risk, but the lupus had begun to impair his daily functions. After one strong bout, he couldn't walk," Newcomer recalled.

Magallon eventually went into kidney failure and had to undergo four-hour dialysis treatments three times a week for the past two years.

"It's hard for anybody to understand dialysis unless they've actually gone through it," Magallon said. "It's like going to war. On your best day, you feel like you have the flu, and on your worst, like a car ran over you.

"In terms of family, I was absent from home a lot," said Magallon. "I missed out on a lot."

Since the surgery, Magallon's headaches and body pain have disappeared, and his blood pressure is finally regulated.

Newcomer was reluctant to accept Magallon's invitation to visit him during a dialysis treatment.

"I don't do well with needles. But to fully comprehend what he was living with, I had to see it."

Newcomer planned to be with his friend for 20 minutes. He ended up staying two hours.

Magallon said he passed the time writing progress notes with his free hand.

"He'd call me with updates on our cases," Newcomer said, "and one of the things that always struck me was that I could hear the beeping and other noises from the dialysis machine in the background."

The subject of organ donation came up for the first time while the two were sitting in the car after an appointment with a client.

"I asked him what the criteria was," Newcomer offered.

"You have to be the same blood type," Magallon responded.

When the two learned they both had O positive blood, "Omar kind of laughed and said 'well, give me yours,'" Newcomer remembers.

No one in Magallon's family was eligible to donate. His only sibling is 16, too young to donate, while his wife Kathryn has a different blood type. Magallon's father was ineligible because he has cancer, and his mother was not a good match because of her weight and poor health.

"I never looked into it, but I always kept it in the back of my mind," Newcomer said.

"Then one day, I walked into his office, closed the door and asked 'what do I need to do to find out if I'm a compatible donor?'"

Newcomer underwent a battery of blood and other tests for several weeks.

"This was all totally new to me. I'd never been in the hospital, never had a broken bone."

Newcomer also learned that 45,000 Americans are on the donor list for a new kidney. Only half will get an organ before they pass away.

"It is so much better to receive a kidney from a living donor rather than a cadaver," Newcomer added. "At the 16-year mark, a kidney recipient has a 50-50 chance for survival. It's much lower with a cadaver."

Magallon's transplant nurse informed Newcomer Monday, Oct. 21, that he was a good match.

"I thought about it and told him Tuesday afternoon," Newcomer said. Magallon was speechless.

"I don't know what to say," Magallon responded.

"I told him he didn't have to say anything," Newcomer said.

Magallon initially wanted to postpone the transplant surgery until after the holidays. But Newcomer called him the same day and said, "Let's do it."

Newcomer was in surgery four hours, and Magallon about the same.

"We were in separate but adjoining operating rooms. My kidney fit just perfect," Newcomer said.

Newcomer was in the hospital for four days and experienced a few complications.

Magallon, who was hospitalized until Dec. 13, showed some signs of rejection on the fourth day after the surgery.

"They just gave him some more anti-rejection medication and he was fine," Newcomer said.

Magallon is relishing his renewed energy.

"He's out running around having a great time," his friend said.

"I am so much better now," Magallon related. "This is what I used to feel like.

"We were good friends before..." Magallon added. "It really takes a caring and special person to do that."

"His family has adopted me," said a grinning Newcomer.

Now the Magallons, who have a daughter Savannah, are hoping for another child.

"It was out of the question before," Newcomer said. "That makes this even more special."

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This article posted January 17, 2003.