Man gave his heart to wife, she shares her kidney

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Man gave his heart to wife, she shares her kidney
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December 14, 2009 9:24 AM
Diane Turbyfill

Gina and Kevin Lipscomb have shared many things in their 18-year marriage, but they never thought bodily organs would make the list.

A month ago, the couple tightened its bond.

Gina Lipscomb donated her left kidney to her husband. Kevin Lipscomb told his wife that it was a fair trade.

“I gave you my heart 18 years ago. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with you giving me a kidney,” he joked.

The Gastonia couple laughs about some of the ups and downs of the circumstance that led them to the operating table. Gina Lipscomb willingly shares photos of her internal organs that were taken during the kidney extraction operation.

Kevin Lipscomb looks away as his wife points to and tells about each organ. His wife is anxiously awaiting a DVD copy of her surgery.

Kevin Lipscomb wont watch it.

It’s their differences, sense of humor, faith, family and friends that saw them through the challenges brought about by Kevin Lipscomb’s renal failure.

Working parents of three daughters, the Lipscombs pride themselves on being active. Gina Lipscomb sings in the church choir and both play on the church softball team.

Kevin Lipscomb also feeds his passion for sports by refereeing high school games.

Their active and healthy lifestyle made it all that much more shocking when doctors told Kevin Lipscomb his kidneys were failing two years ago.

What seemed like passing nausea was an indicator that would later land Kevin Lipscomb on dialysis.

Before the treatments Kevin Lipscomb dropped 50 pounds in a matter of months. His bones became visible and the texture of his skin changed.

He had a catheter inserted into his upper body and went to a center three mornings a week for dialysis.

Despite the four-hour dialysis sessions, Kevin Lipscomb would work a regular day then take to calling baseball, football and basketball games at night. But his workable lifestyle on dialysis began to deteriorate and he was added to the National Organ Donor Registry.

The day Kevin Lipscomb was getting tested for placement on the registry, he jokingly told his wife she should get tested as a possible match. Gina Lipscomb took her husband up on the challenge and two days later found out that they were compatible.

The couple was floored.

The process moved rapidly. In no time the husband and wife were signing papers and creating living wills. That was the only stumbling block for the Lipscombs. The possibility of complications in surgery could leave their youngest daughter in need of a guardian.

“That was our biggest fear,” said Gina Lipscomb. “You start putting your life in perspective because you have to do a living will.”

Kevin Lipscomb said he could handle his own mortality, but he didn’t want to be responsible for what could happen to his wife.

“I knew we were going to go through this fine, but when they started the what-if scenarios I got concerned,” he said.

The Lipscombs went under the knife Nov. 18. The following four days were spent at Gaston Memorial Hospital. Each would make a walk to visit the other’s room when they felt able. Other times they texted to keep in touch.

The couple has had plenty of time to communicate since leaving the hospital. They are not allowed to drive or be too active for six weeks.

The Lipscombs are starting to make laps around the neighborhood, and Kevin Lipscomb hopes to be back refereeing in January.

Both Gina and Kevin Lipscomb encourage everyone to considering being living donors. They plan to sign up as bone marrow donors when they’re able.

Discussions amongst their friends and neighbors have started about organ donor ship. Would you or wouldn’t you give up a kidney for your husband?

“You love somebody that much,” said Gina Lipscomb. “I would have never thought twice about doing it.”

The bond of sharing a pair of kidneys has strengthened Kevin Lipscomb’s love for his wife, he said.

“I always loved her, but it seems like there’s a little extra pizzazz,” he said. “I look at her and think that she would do that for me.”

You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/lipscomb-41485-kevin-kidney.html