Kidney donor a 'life saver'

Kidney donor a 'life saver'

By Michelle Dynes

rep2@wyomingnews.com
Saturday, January 13, 2007 11:11 PM MST

CHEYENNE - Brad Howard never thought he'd donate an organ.

But then he met someone in need.

Dave Clark had been on dialysis for two years, waiting for a transplant. He thought his diabetes was under control when his kidneys started to fail.

Since his family members had a similar medical history, they couldn't serve as donors.

So Brad - the father of his son's best friend - offered to help.

Brad said he and his wife, Tammy, had no idea Dave was ill. They met through activities at St. Mary's School, where Dave and his wife, René, attended every function and volunteered at every opportunity.

But during a student's birthday party, Dave mentioned that the dialysis was taking its toll.

And soon Brad and Tammy were talking about donation.

Becoming a living donor wasn't entirely new to the Howards. Tammy's older sister donated a kidney last year.

"It really doesn't affect you," she said. "It doesn't shorten your lifespan. The risks are really very low."

And, she thought, "I have an opportunity to save a life."

As employees at Attention Homes Inc., the Howards also knew the importance of keeping a family intact. Tammy said the couple couldn't bear the thought of the Clarks' children growing up without a father. And the couple's co-workers donated their sick time so one of the Howards could be free to give.

Both were tested to determine if they could give up one of their kidneys. And both were preliminary matches.

But Brad decided he would be a better donor. Dave said since his friend was relatively the same size, with the same blood type, the donation had a better chance.

"(The Clarks) could go back to a normal life if we could just help a little bit," Brad said.

He went through a series of blood tests and psychological evaluations. He also was told to be prepared if the donation didn't work.

But Brad said it was still worth trying.

"All I can do is give him the chance," he said. "If it doesn't work, it's not anybody's fault. It's just how it goes. And we understood that as a real possibility that (his body) could reject it."

Brad added that the staff at the University of Colorado Hospital put him at ease. Since the medical team had performed more than 1,000 adult kidney transplants since 1988, he knew he was in good hands.

The pair went in for surgery Dec. 7.

Dave said as a patient on an organ list, he was on call 24-7. He had to be prepared to drop everything for an emergency surgery if a kidney became available. But with a live donor, he could schedule the operation.

"This was an excellent Christmas present," he added.

Tammy said it also helped that her son, Anthony, went through the experience alongside his pal, Nicholas.

"He asked a lot of questions like, 'Does this mean Nick and I are brothers because part of your body is in his dad's body?'"

The new kidney also began to work immediately.

"I heard them wheel him into the room next to me, and he just sounded chipper," Brad said. "(Dave told me), 'You don't realize how bad you feel until you feel good again.'"

While Brad and Tammy returned to Cheyenne a few days after surgery, Dave stayed behind for additional testing. But more than a month after the operation, his health is back on track.

"I've been given a whole new life and a new opportunity to see my kids grow," he said. "I really was given a second chance."

PHOTO: Dave Clark poses in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle studio showing the scar left by his kidney transplant.