James Jones Makes A Special Pledge

By Curt Sylvester

Free Press Sports Writer

James Jones hasn't gotten around to checking the box on the back of his driver's license, but don't worry. He will.

The next time he goes to the Secretary of State's office to renew his license, the Lions' tackle said, he will exercise a private decision to offer himself as an organ donor.

"I haven't had to renew it yet," Jones said, "but it comes down to your family members knowing your wishes, and First Family Pledges knows where we stand."

Jones has come to stand squarely in favor of the organ donor program in recent years. Not only is he offering himself, he also is urging others to consider it.

Jones became acutely aware of the need for organ donors when his wife, Son-Ja, waited several months for the kidney transplant she needed to save her life.

Son-Ja, a diabetes patient, finally got the transplant last January. The surgery was performed the week of the Lions' playoff game, and she is on her way to leading a normal life.

And the Joneses -- James, Son-Ja and their daughter, Morgan -- have become the poster family for First Family Pledges, working actively to stir awareness of the need for organ donors.

"The biggest thing I've come to see by going through the situation I did with my wife was that if we could just educate people wherever we are -- whether it be here in the state of Michigan or back home in the state of Iowa or when we were in Wisconsin -- the more knowledge you get to the people about what organ donation is about," Jones said.

"Hopefully you can increase those pools, because there are people who are waiting and dying every day because they were unable to receive organs."

Having seen the organ donor program from both sides, Jones understands that it is a sensitive subject.

"It's tough even being a recipient," Jones said. "We struggled, because a lot of times the person receiving an organ feels like they're saying, 'Well, I'm waiting for someone to die so I can live. Am I being selfish? What kind of person am I to think that way?'

"One of the scenarios you have to look at is, regardless of whether you receive the organs from a person or not, their death was going to happen. You're not causing this person to have an accident or to die, it was a natural act that was going to happen. That helps you cope with that situation."

For several months last year, the Joneses kept Son-Ja's condition quiet, with only teammates and friends aware of her growing need for a kidney transplant.

Eventually the word got out, and when Fox did a TV feature on the family during the Thanksgiving Day game, it drew national attention and a large response to First Family Pledges.

A brochure featuring Son-Ja's story was published this summer, and the Lions included it in a mailing to their season-ticket holders.

Son-Ja is doing well, although Jones said she had a minor setback last month, and they try not to expose her unnecessarily to cold or flu germs.

"If I'm not feeling well or I'm sick, I make sure I just kiss her on the cheek instead of a regular kiss," Jones said.

Not a bad sacrifice to make.

More information on the organ donor program is available at

• http://www.helping.org/
• 1-800-848-8836.

Copyright © 2000 Detroit Free Press.

This article posted September 28, 2000.