Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Organ donations can be bittersweet

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

During the 2006 National Donate Life Month, El Defensor Chieftain reported the story of Victor Chavez, a Magdalena man employed in Socorro at the Bureau of Reclamation whose regular nightly routine involved self-dialysis.

Now, a year later, thanks to an organ donor, Chavez no longer has to do that.

Chavez agreed last year to allow a very private part of his life to be made public in an effort to help others.

Chavez has polycystic kidney disease, a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. These cysts can slowly replace much of the kidney's mass, reducing its function and leading to kidney failure.

Transplanting healthy kidneys into patients has become a relatively common and successful procedure. Healthy transplanted kidneys do not develop cysts. Chavez had been on the list for three years. He had been told that the average wait time is five years but on June 14 it was his turn.

Chavez was called to the hospital for a possible transplant but was No. 3 on the list with two kidneys available. He believes the first person on the list was a young woman who received the first kidney. The person who was No. 2 on the list was too ill to undergo the surgery, so Chavez received the second kidney.

"I think the surgery took about four hours because I woke up in the recovery room about six hours later," Chavez said. "The kidney did great right away."

There were some problems along the way. Chavez said he was in and out of the hospital until November with problems of bladder infections and problems caused by the by the fact that the leader tube between the kidney and the bladder was short and had to be stretched. Chavez said that during those times, he sometimes wondered if it was all worth it, but now he acknowledges that it was and says he would go through it all again if he had to.

"My kids and my sister stood by me through the whole thing," he said. "I want to thank them all. The people at the dialysis center were great. The people at the Presbyterian Hospital really encouraged me. My co-workers supported me 100 percent. I'd get depressed. They were there boosting my morale."

But Chavez is especially thankful to Matthew McDaniel and his family for their priceless gift of a kidney.

Chavez said that the donor program does not notify the recipient of the donor's identity.

"But," he said, "It's a small town. I knew it came from someone locally. I knew that the donor was a 22-year-old male who had signed a donor card (on his driver's license). The only person that it could have been was Matthew McDaniel. Matthew was a thoughtful person to have donated his organs at such a young age. I wouldn't have even thought about it at that age."

Chavez contacted McDaniel's wife, Brandy, and his mother, Betty McDaniel.

"I feel sorry for the family and their loss," said Chavez. "I tried many times to write them a letter, but I just didn't know how to do it. I didn't know how to tell them that I'm so sorry for their loss and so thankful for my new kidney all at the same time."

Brandy McDaniel said she has always been an organ donor. Since she and Matthew McDaniel discussed it, he came around to see her point of view and changed his driver's license to allow the donation of his organs.

"He was so proud of himself when he came home with the heart on his driver's license," she said.

The heart on the driver's license indicates that the driver has agreed to donate his or her organs in the event of his or her death.

Betty McDaniel was unaware of the donation until the hospital told her that her son was a donor. She said it was difficult for her to see her son's body laying in the hospital while they kept it for two days to test and disperse the organs.

"All his organs were good," she said. "We have a list."

"We know that his heart was donated to a 63-year-old man and one kidney went to a 17-year-old female," said Brandy McDaniel. "His liver, lungs, corneas, even his bone marrow went to other people."

"He helped a lot of us," said Chavez.

"It's hard but it can be done," said Betty McDaniel. "I just want everybody to know that Matthew was a great person and that we miss him very much."

We want to thank everybody for everything that they did for the family. We didn't get to thank everybody when Matthew died. We'd like to do that now."

"I want to thank Victor for acknowledging him (Matthew McDaniel)," said Brandy McDaniel.

"I think it's important for people to think about it (being a donor). I know it's not for everybody, but it's important," said Chavez. "I think it's a wonderful thing that we can get this out to the public. I had a lot of positive response to last year's article.

"Somebody out there is going through something like this. I'm willing to talk to them. Somebody helped me and I want to return the favor. They can contact me in Magdalena. I'm in the book."

According to New Mexico Donor Services, nearly 50 percent of New Mexicans with a driver's license or state-issued ID card, that's 842,000, have already registered to be organ donors.

However, more people are urged to register since April is National Donate Life Month, and the urgent need for donors is increasing.

Currently, 95,154 patients are on the national waiting list, including nearly 500 New Mexicans who are waiting for a second chance at life.

One donor can save the lives of up to eight people through organ donation, and up to 50 more can be helped with eye and tissue donation.

As many as 18 people die each day in the U.S. waiting for an organ transplant.

"We urge every New Mexican to make a difference and 'Donate Life' by signing up to be a donor on their driver's license or ID card at the MVD (Motor Vehicle Department)," stated Executive Director of New Mexico Donor Services Patricia Niles in a news release.

Americans are realizing that you don't have to look far to find someone who has benefited from a generous organ or tissue donation.

There are now more than 400,000 people who have benefited from a life-saving organ transplant.

More than one million people each year receive tissue transplants, which include cornea, tissue, bone or heart valves.

To learn more about organ donation, visit www.DonateLifeNM.org or call toll-free 800-843-7672 to receive a free brochure.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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