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By Linda Franz
October 17, 2005
John Gatten and Dennis Negley |
Newville Mayor John Gatten now advocates living donor transplants after he recently donated a kidney to his brother-in-law.
Gatten, 45, already was listed as a potential organ donor on his driver's license. When his brother-in-law, Dennis Negley, 57, needed a new kidney, Gatten was one of three relatives tested as donors.
"All of us were matches to varying degrees," Gatten says. "We just decided that I was going to do it."
Gatten had two healthy kidneys.
"If I'm already going to be an organ donor, why not give it now?" he says. "The important thing that I look at is, why wait till you're dead? You don't see many people sharing the information that if you can donate now, do it."
He has no regrets.
"I'm glad I did it and I'm glad Denny is doing well," he says.
(Terrie O'Neal/The Sentinel) |
Gatten underwent laparoscopic kidney removal Aug. 31 at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he was later recognized as the 1,000th such patient. The less invasive laparoscopic technique requires a smaller incision and shorter recuperation time.
"This technique has made a tremendous impact on our ability to help more people who need a kidney transplant," says Dr. Stephen T. Bartlett in a press release. He is chief of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center and performed Negley's transplant.
"Since the laparoscopic procedure enables donors to get back to work and caring for their families in a short period of time, we have found that people who need a kidney are much more likely now to ask a family member or friend to donate."
Negley, who grew up in West Pennsboro Township and graduated from Big Spring High School in 1965, has lived in Gettysburg since 1970.
"John gave me the gift of life. I really appreciate it," Negley says. "I can't believe how I feel so great. I've got energy.
"My kidneys, when I went to the hospital, were working at about 15 percent."
Working as a cable splicer with Sprint, Negley says that before the surgery he would come home from work and fall asleep.
"I was just tired all the time," he says. But with the new kidney, "I feel 100 percent different."
Negley has suffered from diabetes for 32 years. About 15 years ago doctors told him his kidneys were beginning to be impaired. His kidney function was at the point where he would have been placed on dialysis if he didn't receive a transplant.
Negley says he appreciates the public's support.
"I've gotten so many cards and I know I was on so many prayer chains," he says. "I never dreamed I would be recovering this quickly."
Just six weeks from the surgery, Negley has been cleared to drive and faces several more weeks of recuperation. Gatten has returned full-time to his job as a children's mental health case manager for Dauphin County.
Gatten's wife, Duryea, also was tested as donor for her brother.
"John had really no fears about it," she says. "His whole heart was in it."
The transplant brought the families even closer together. "We have little inside jokes that are going on," Gatten says.
For instance, "My brother-in-law loves chicken and I don't like chicken." So Gatten told Negley he wouldn't like chicken either after he received the new kidney.
While recuperating in the hospital, Negley was served a meal with chicken.
"He said, 'Man, that chicken was tough and just didn't taste right,'" Gatten recalls. "I told him, 'That's my kidney talking to you.'"
Copyright © 2005 The Sentinel, Carlisle PA.
This article posted November 1, 2005.