Husband got pancreas, wife donated kidney to stranger

Husband got pancreas, wife donated kidney to stranger

By Stephanie Hacke, Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Laying in a hospital bed, being prepped for kidney surgery, Churchill resident Lora Wilson wasn't nervous. In fact, she was excited.

A sudden calm and peace came over her. She felt energized and happy.

The surgery wasn't man-atory; in fact, it was Wilson who chose to have it -- not for herself, but to give life to a woman she had never met before.

"It was the most amazing thing .... I had been afraid that I couldn't do it, but I prayed and felt reassured that everything would be OK. So when it came time to go into surgery, I was eerily calm about it. I had never had such a peace before about anything," said Wilson.

The surgery made Wilson one of nearly a dozen people from Pittsburgh who made the choice to be altruistic donors, who donated an organ while alive to a stranger, she said.

While awaiting surgery, Wilson's husband, Robb, 52, was the one who was nervous.

"He definitely was more scared than I was," Lora said.

"I was definitely worried," Robb said.

Lora, 47, and Robb's story is unique. Not only is Lora's decision to become an altruistic donor rare, but the fact that both Lora and Robb have had transplant surgeries is even more unusual.

Robb's story began when he was 13. He had been diagnosed with diabetes and had lost all functions of his pancreas.

"I wanted to get a transplant for my pancreas, but at that time it wasn't realistic," Robb said.

He remained sick for most of his life and in 1999, he experienced kidney failure.

He was then placed on the transplant list to receive both a kidney and a pancreas, and because he was in need of multiple organs, was moved up on the list.

After only three months, Robb's life was changed forever, when an Ohio woman in her 30s who lost her life was a match to save Robb's.

The transplant went "fine," he said, with the only complication being Robb was a little groggy.

"I really haven't had any problems since then," Robb said.

He and Lora felt lucky for Robb's second chance at life and decided to give back to others, getting involved in local support groups and Team Pittsburgh, a group that participates in Olympic-style transplant games nationwide.

"I see it as a mission. I need to be there in case people have questions or want to know more about having a transplant," Robb said.

Through their involvement, Robb and Lora met many people, and although Lora had once thought of donating an organ, through the relationships she formed with those in need of an organ, she was convinced it was something she needed to do.

"We've made many new friends from this and if we wouldn't have met all of them, I don't know if she would have gone through with it," Robb said.

The only organs that can be donated altruistically are a section of the liver, bone marrow or a kidney, which Lora chose.

"I had thought about it for a long time. But my mother was a real worrier and I didn't want to put her through watching me go into surgery," she said.

In August 2005, Lora's mother died, and she then felt free to take the risk.

"A lot of things just fell into place from there. I became more involved with my faith and every time I thought I couldn't do it, the words 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' came to mind .... I thought, 'I can do this,'" Lora said.

Her biggest concern was that the surgery be successful.

"I didn't want to go through all of this and realize that nothing had come from it," she said.

That was one reason why having an altruistic surgery was easier for Lora.

"Because I didn't know her, I didn't have to worry about what would happen to her if my kidney was not the right fit for her."

The Wilson family and the recipient's family were kept in separate areas of the hospital and did not meet before the surgery.

"All we knew was that she was from New Jersey. So they went around listening to people's accents, going into the cafeteria and seeing if they could figure out who it was," Lora said.

After the surgery, Lora had the opportunity to meet her recipient, Dolores Iannacone.

To Lora's surprise, Dolores, 72, was several years older than her.

"I thought it would be someone younger than me, but everyone deserves a second chance at life, at any age."

Lora and Dolores immediately bonded.

"We had so many little things in common, like our families are from the same part of Italy and we have some of the same names in our families," Lora said.

She tries to talk to Dolores once a week for at least an hour and has even scheduled surprise visit this past Labor Day.

For their one-year anniversary, Delores sent Lora a present with a note that said, "You gave me more than I hope for. Through you, I was reborn. Thank you for my life."

Lora said organ donations are special because they don't take into account who the people involved are or what they do with their lives.

"The one thing that's special about transplants is that it crosses gender lines, race, anything you can think of .... You'd be surprised at the boundaries it can cross. We really are just a collection of parts and these parts can be given to another person at any time," Lora said.

She compared her surgery to childbearing, but said it was easier.

"It's almost the same. In both ways, you're giving life. But for me, I had my surgery and it's done. I gave life, yet I don't have to take care of her for 18 years. She's not living in my house every day. I don't have to take care of her. Yet I gained someone in my life. So, yes, this is definitely easier."

Lora said she has heard the word "hero" about being an altruistic donor, but she said that's not the case.

"Anyone can do it. To say that I'm a hero would imply that it takes someone special to do this and it doesn't. Anyone can do it."

Lora said her motto has become "just say yes."

"If you give, you may be in bed for six weeks of your life, but some people are on dialysis for six years.

"Six weeks and you save a life .... You can't take your organs with you. If you donate, it leaves a legacy when you're gone .... You can be dead, but you don't have to be gone. Save a life. Donate an organ. I promise it'll be rewarding."

http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/woodlandprogress/89606/