A Christmas Blessing: Following Two Organ Transplants, Teen's Positive Outlook

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A Christmas Blessing: Following Two Organ Transplants, Teen's Positive Outlook Remains

By: Janine Davis, Record Staff Writer
12/24/2009
 
While many have decked their halls and every other space with wreaths, trees and ornaments for the holidays, a glowing white Christmas tree stands alone in the living room of Isaiah Burridge's home perhaps as a reminder about focusing on blessings of the season and year.

It has been quite a year for 16-year-old Isaiah and his family. Looking at him, you'd never know that a little more than two months ago - Oct. 17 to be exact - he had a kidney transplant and that every Thursday, he and his mother Carlene make the trek into St. Louis Children's Hospital for a battery of tests to make sure his recovery is going according to plan.

In fact, the only sign that Isaiah might have gone through a serious medical ordeal is the large water bottle he keeps close at hand, the way most kids his age might sip on a super-sized Coke.

"It helps his kidneys filter," says Carlene, who homeschools Isaiah, "and we're all trying to get in the habit of drinking more water along with him."

Isaiah, his family and team of medical experts are doing a good job in making sure he stays healthy. He's a fit and trim young man who is back on his near-regular workout routine, lifting his T-shirt to show off his abs. He lifts weights, but says the surgical knife through his abdomen has interfered with his sit-ups.

"It still hurts," he says, "but I'm getting back to the rest of my routine."

His kidney transplant was Isaiah's second major organ transplant in his young life and one of several other major related health mountains he and his family have scaled, including two skin cancers.

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Isaiah's family knew before he was born that his best chance of long-term survival would be a heart transplant. After six weeks in the hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a donor baby heart became available, and that summer in 1993, Isaiah was on his way to becoming one of St. Louis Children's Hospital's earliest - No. 28 - child transplant patients.

A baby boy named Checotah born in Kentucky had died from sudden infant death syndrome, and Isaiah was next in line to receive the infant's heart. The two boys had been born only a day apart. It is no coincidence that the Burridge's street address is Checotah Lane, a lifelong gesture of gratitude that was Isaiah's idea as a youngster as the family's subdivision built up around them.

"The idea of this tiny organ that could fit into the serving cup of a bottle of Nyquil is still so amazing," says Carlene, recalling those terrifying days.

All went well for the next 15 years of Isaiah's life until last year when the medications that help keep his heart in good shape began affecting his kidney functions. In September, tests showed his kidneys were functioning at less than 15 percent. Then came the scramble to find a suitable donor. His older sister was a match and wanted to give her baby brother a kidney.

"On one hand, it was a relief to have a family match and offer," says Carlene, "but the prospects of having my two children go through this very tough surgery was a lot to deal with."

Fate stepped in. Isaiah was listed for transplant on Sept. 25, and on Oct. 16, the Burridges received a call that a cadaver kidney was on its way. The next day, Isaiah had a new kidney.

With Christmas only days away, Isaiah is back focusing on two of his major passions: music and spreading the word about organ donations. He plays guitar, drums and keyboard in a worship band.

While he loves to play at his church, he also is quick to point out he is, in fact, a "metal head," with tastes that run from The Who to Alice in Chains to Demon Hunter.

There are some perks to dealing with as many health issues as he has faced, Isaiah notes with a huge grin. The Make-a-Wish Foundation serves children with life-threatening medical conditions, and Isaiah has put in his wish: a Les Paul Black Beauty electric guitar or a Martin acoustic guitar. He hasn't heard definitively if one of these is on its way to him soon, but the prospect is enough to make all that water easier to swallow.

He also is becoming a fierce advocate for organ donations, speaking to groups and individuals on the lifesaving benefits for adults and kids like him.

"There are so many myths and misconceptions about organ donation," he says. "I just want to urge people to check out the truth and consider all they can make possible through this simple act."

In the meantime, the Burridge family has plenty to celebrate this Christmas. One of Carlene's favorite quotes speaks volumes about the family's good cheer.

"Life is not waiting on the storms to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain," she says.


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