Gilbert man donates kidney to ailing neighbor

Gilbert man donates kidney to ailing neighbor

by Astrid Galvan - Apr. 24, 2009 08:38 AM
The Arizona Republic

Clem Schmidt knew Richard Malkovich, his neighbor of nine years, through polite waves and smiling nods, but the men were never particularly close.

That didn't stop Schmidt, a 60-year-old Gilbert retiree, from giving Malkovich one of his kidneys.

Since the successful surgery on March 13, the men have bonded and hope to spread awareness of the organ donation program.

"The experience was really good," Schmidt said. "God has given me a lot of peace in the situation."

Although the surgery was successful, Malkovich's body reacted negatively to anti-rejection drugs and he was hospitalized a few days after being released.

He is now making a slow but full recovery, and said he was grateful for his neighbor's generosity.

"When you first find out you need a kidney, people are very happy to say they will donate, but when the time comes that you say that you need it, they're not so sure anymore for various reasons," he said. "But with Clem I knew he was serious."

Schmidt is no stranger to organ transplants.

Almost a decade ago, a church friend gave their kidney to his wife, Gail, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease.

In 1988, the couple's 11-year-old son died on the operating table while receiving a liver transplant. He suffered from a juvenile form of hepatic fibrosis, a hereditary disease sometimes associated with polycystic kidney disease.

Now, Gail is in need of a second kidney transplant. Another church friend is currently being tested for a possible transplant.

"The lord has given us a lot of peace in our life," Clem Schmidt said. "All the trials we have gone through with the loss of our son, we've been very blessed with [friends and family]."

Malkovich, 58, also remains optimistic about his health.

He found out he had kidney disease about 10 years ago, when a doctor told him he'd need a transplant in five years.

He doubled that by staying healthy.

Then a few years ago, a lupus flair-out caused his kidneys to crystallize, and he needed a new kidney. He was getting weaker by the day and routine activities like gardening were becoming too hard.

One day, Schmidt noticed his struggling neighbor and asked him if he could help. Malkovich declined.

After insisting several times, Schmidt finally convinced Malkovich to let help take care of the gardening.

A friendship was born.

Then on Thanksgiving of last year, Schmidt told his neighbor he would be happy to donate a kidney.

"Of course I was very thrilled that he offered," he said.

The testing process takes several months and is very tedious, but Schmidt said he would do it all over again.

Meanwhile, Malkovich endured 2 ½ months of dialysis while still working full-time as corporate tax manager.

In March, the men went in for surgery, both nervous but at peace.

Now, Malkovich said he looks forward to a full recovery so he can return to doing the things he loves most: remodeling his house, photography and travel.

He'll also spend some of that time with his neighbor.

"I think we'll be doing a lot more things together," Malkovich said.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/24/20090424gr-kidney0425.html