'Everyday I'm very appreciative'

'Everyday I'm very appreciative'
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
By Phillip Palmer

PASADENA -- On Mar. 14 of this year, we covered a different kind of story on Eyewitness News. It was a personal story of organ donation and the miracle of transplant surgeries. Phillip Palmer gave a kidney to a friend on dialysis. He missed eight days of work and today is just fine. But many might be curious about Dale. In this holiday season, we felt it was a nice time for an update.

It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since my friend Dale Davis lost kidney function and needed a transplant. I proved to be a match, and two weeks later Dale's life began to change with transplant surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital.

"A year ago, I was 40 pounds lighter, and I had a tube sticking out of my chest, and I was on dialysis three days a week and a very limited diet," said Dale. "Now it's like a whole another lease on life."

Dale says since his surgery, he hasn't so much as had a cold -- until the morning of our update.
"The good news is, I went to the doctor two days ago and he said I was doing amazing. Everything is excellent and he was just ecstatic. The bad news is I woke up with laryngitis today," said Dale. "So it was good timing."

Dale will ride on the Donate Life float in this year's Rose Parade Jan. 1. His energy level is better than it's been for years, because even before he knew he was sick, his diminishing kidney function was quietly sapping his strength.

As you can imagine, this holiday season is special.

"I see my daughters and I'm around my family. It's really special, and it's something I cherish now more than in the past. Sometimes you take it for granted," said Dale. "Now everyday I'm very appreciative and thankful."

Knowing firsthand the miracle of organ donation, Dale is also excited about Life Takes Flight, a float designed to raise awareness of the miracle of organ and tissue donation.

"It's really something I'm looking forward to. And it's an honor to be on the float along with other transplant recipients -- not just kidney, but all different kind of transplants," said Dale.

You can save up to eight lives as an organ donor, and improve up to 50 lives as a tissue donor. Just check the box when you renew your driver license through the DMV or sign up online.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5845960