Miraculous New Lease on Life - by Anne Mason
Paramedics had brought me back to consciousness and hustled me to an ambulance leaving behind a crime like treatment scene. This crisis episode had been preceded by many other paramedic calls from home, highways and restaurants in Chicago, western suburban Chicago, Mexico and Ireland and Freeport, Illinois. The 911 calls were almost always followed by Emergency Room visits. Over the years, the story was similar – I would have an extremely low dip in blood sugar level punctuated by irritability, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness and EMTTs would be summoned.
My friends and family gave me unwavering support throughout all of these episodes but nevertheless I was left feeling anxious and guilt-ridden. I had no shortage of cutting edge health care professionals from world class hospitals. There were nurses, doctors and an exhausting array of endocrinologists, nephrologists, ophthalmologists and cardiologists. After 33 years of having diabetes, my damaged kidneys had finally begun to fail dramatically reaching a dangerously low level of 14% function.
Two Freeport, Illinois physicians were instrumental in changing my quality of life. Dr. Terry Miller, my FHN family doctor and Dr. Farhan Khan, my FHN nephrologist, stressed my essential need for kidney transplant and counseled me about qualifying for the transplant list. When I met with my University of Wisconsin (UW) Endocrinologist Melissa Meredith, M.D., she said, “Let’s just throw in a pancreas and give you a pancreas/kidney transplant.” UW surgeons were early pioneers of the surgery. Transplant Surgeon Dr. Hans Sollinger of UW performed the first pancreas/kidney transplant on June 30, 1982. I still had to qualify to be considered for the transplant list.
An entire army of doctors examined me from stem to stern including my feet and teeth.
I was nervous about having cadaver organs placed in my body but buckled down and began a battery of monthly viral and enzyme blood tests to prove I was a viable transplant patient. The fact I wasn’t currently on dialysis made me a more attractive recipient. By early summer, I became severely depressed because I believed I would never receive the call from the UW Transplant Department that my organs had been procured. Despite the optimism of my support team, I remained gloomy. Then I got the call.
The UW contact person informed me they had two infant kidneys available. It turned out that my surgery didn’t occur because the kidneys weren’t viable. The whole family was left shell shocked. I looked at my parents’ faces, and I pulled myself up in my hospital bed and said brightly “I guess this is just a dress rehearsal!” It was a case of divine intervention and a moment of much needed grace.
Six days later, I awoke to the Commodores soulful rendition of “She’s a Brick House! “
“Hello, Anne? It’s Tom from UW Transplant. “Are you ready?” “Ready? Of, course!”
My son, Matt and I, hopped in the car and sped up to Madison. Once in Madison, I was expediently prepped for surgery.
They wheeled me down the hall to the operating theater bay, I remember kissing my Mom and praying with her beforehand. A cheerful nurse injected me with pre-op anesthesia and my surgeon, Dr. Jon Odorico asked me what I expected. And I said “New parts” with a wink! .I remember his warm smile and calm reassurance.
On Dec. 11, 2012, I received my miraculous gift of a life-saving pancreas/kidney transplant. Within four short days, my recovery had quickly progressed, and I was eager to go home and apply all my prescribed health regimens. Dixon Kaufman, UW Transplant Department Director, told me I looked too good and discharged me. My extended healing process continued at my mother and stepfather, Dick’s home. The two took compassionate and loving care of me. They helped me through tears, pain, nausea and daily consumption of 34 pills. UW Visiting Nurse Jeanie Tamesko offered assistance three times a week, with medication management, vitals and as well as an excellent dose of talk therapy.
By virtue of my pancreas kidney transplant, I was able to witness my daughter, Molly and Son-in-law Chris get married and live happily together and taking jobs on both coasts. Also, I vicariously experienced my son, Matt hike from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails and fight wildland forest fires. I’ve actively resumed teaching special education students.
I am grateful to my Mom, Dick, my children Matt, Molly and Chris as well as my siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends, but I am most grateful for the precious gift of life given to me by my donor family.You, too, Can Give the Gift of Life. Become an Organ Donor.