Brother, sister share kidney, mission

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Brother, sister share kidney, mission

By NATALIE WILLIS Staff writer

April 7, 2008

A Shippensburg University student is encouraging organ donation after his own life-changing experience.

By giving his kidney to his sister, Tyrone Dixon, 22, Yeadon, now knows how it feels to allow another person to continue living their life.

Ayesha Boykins, 26, was born with lupus, which was damaging her kidneys to the extent that over the past five years, she began having complications and was on dialysis several hours a day, three days a week.

Dixon said it was a really hard time for his sister when she was on dialysis and taking medication, which in combination wore her down and eventually resulted in her needing to quit her job and drop out of community college in Philadelphia

As Boykins' health deteriorated, she was in desperate need of a transplant to live and when her brother tested positive as a successful match, he was not hesitant in offering to be the donor.

"It's family first and we're a close family," Dixon said. "It was her well- being that came first."

The surgery took place in December before Dixon's final exams at SU and since then, he said they both have fully recovered.

Boykins, however, had to stay in the hospital for about a month after her body initially rejected the new kidney. After doctors changed the medication she was on, Dixon said his sister began gaining weight and was on the road to recovery. Now, she can do all the simple tasks that she couldn't when she was sick - like walking and shopping. In addition,
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she will be attending Temple University in the fall.

"I feel fortunate that I am able to see her live a normal life again," Dixon said. "She has a different outlook on life now and appreciates everything she can do - the basic things she couldn't do before."

Dixon said he and his sister want to spread the word about the importance of organ donation so they can help others who face the same situation they did.

They became spokespersons for the non-profit organization, Gift of Life Donor Program, which gave the family support and coordinated the transplantation. It is important to them to share the emotional and physical benefits of organ donation.

"If you can donate your organs, you can provide help to a number of different people who need them," he said. "You are leaving a legacy that can never be taken away and it leaves you speechless to be able to help someone live life."

This summer and next semester at SU, Dixon plans to educate young people about organ donation. His fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, will hold blood drives and bring speakers from the Gift of Life Donor Program. Also, he is going to attend high schools to tell his story.

"I want kids to know that knowing your blood type is the first step you can take in saving someone's life," Dixon said.

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