Soldier cleared to donate kidney to mom

[okarol]

Soldier cleared to donate kidney to mom

The Associated Press
06-08-07

CONCORD, N.H. --
A soldier was granted leave from the Army on Thursday to head to Florida and donate his kidney to his mother.

Army Spc. Frank Chapman, 27, is a match to his 54-year-old mother, Patricia, who has kidney disease and is on dialysis three days a week. They are scheduled for transplant surgery June 13 in Florida, where she lives.

"There's a lot of stress lifted off my chest at this moment in time, because for a minute there I thought I was going to have to go AWOL," said Chapman, who said he had planned to be in Florida for the surgery regardless of the Army's decision.

Chapman was informed during a teleconference with the Army Surgeon General and the office of Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire.

The family learned last month that Army medical officers had denied permission for the surgery, which they said could lead to medical problems down the road for him. Chapman said the denial was over a high blood pressure reading at a hospital.

Chapman disputed that, noting he has been cleared for surgery by doctors at Reynolds Army Community Hospital at Fort Sill, Okla., and Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where the surgery is scheduled.

After the Chapmans disputed the decision, the Army surgeon general's office agreed to reconsider their opinion following a 24-hour period of blood pressure monitoring.

Chapman said he spoke with his mother on the phone briefly Thursday. "She feels much better about the whole process," he said.

Hodes said the Army is expediting Chapman's request for "compassionate reassignment" so he can care for his mother.

Chapman lived in New Hampshire before moving to Oklahoma last July.

http://www.charlotte.com/118/story/151716.html

[goofynina]

Good for him for disputing it, I hope all goes well for the both of them. 

[okarol]

Mom Who Got Kidney From Soldier Son Dies

The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 10, 2007; 11:25 PM

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A woman who received a kidney from her son after he fought the Army for permission to donate the organ has died, family members said Tuesday.

Patricia Chapman, 54, of Inverness, died June 17 at Shands at UF Medical Center, Chapman's daughter Patience Marsh told The Associated Press. Chapman's death has been ruled a heart attack, Marsh, 29, said via telephone from her Lisbon, N.H., home.

Army Spc. Frank Chapman, who donated the kidney June 13, was a match for his mother, who had a kidney disease and was on dialysis three days a week. A funeral was held for Patricia Chapman June 25 in Florida, Marsh said.

"She was just one of those people who could do anything," Marsh said. "She could knit an afghan or rebuild a transmission."

Frank Chapman's request do donate the kidney was initially denied by the Army, which cited a high blood pressure reading and said the donation could lead to later medical problems for the soldier.

Frank Chapman disputed the ruling, and the Army surgeon general's office agreed to reconsider its opinion following a 24-hour period of blood pressure monitoring.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071002287.html

[Sluff]

How tragic  what a shame.

[goofynina]

How sad, my prayers go out to her son and the rest of her family and friends 

[boxman55]

That really sucks...........