Page 10 - HealthnetworkMagazineSpring2020-p7.indd

A Phone Call You Do Not Want to Miss
Then one day, George got a phone call that I owe a huge debt of gratitude for what
changed his life. Actually, he missed the the Healthnetwork team did for me, and my
phone call! sister and I are happy to be supporters of
“Having just completed a training session at this tremendous organization.
the dialysis clinic that morning, my wife and I
were going out of town for the weekend. I got
a call on my cell but I didn’t recognize the area A New Lease on Life
code, so I didn’t even take the call.”
Almost to the coast, where they were going January 2020 marked six months since
to spend the weekend, George and Kathleen George’s transplant surgery, an important
stopped at a grocery store, and that’s when milestone that bodes well for him. “I’m living
George’s phone rang again. This time it a normal life. I have my energy back. I can
was the nurse at the University of Arkansas work, I can travel, I can exercise.”
hospital. Her tone was urgent. “The transplant changed my life,” says
“Why didn’t you call the doctor back?” she George. “I know that sounds cliche. But I can
said. “He’s got a kidney for you!” actually say it. Every morning I wake up, totally
George sprinted back to the car and called free, untethered from a dialysis machine, I
the doctor. Within two minutes they were have an entirely new lease on life! I am 62
driving the 50 miles back home, where George with full aspirations to live to 90. It’s up to me
packed his bag and headed to the airport. He to make this kidney last. I’m going to do all I can
flew through the night and landed in Little to treat it with with respect and take care of it.”
Rock at 3:00 a.m. The kidney arrived later in
the day and the transplant was performed Forever Thankful
early that evening. Because of HIPAA laws, George only has scarce
details about his kidney donor: “It came from a
16-year-old boy, tragically a victim of drowning.”
George and his sister, Mary Myers Kauppila, say The experience has given him a new perspective
they are grateful to be supporting Healthnetwork on checking the organ donor box at the DMV.
after George’s life-saving kidney transplant. He learned that around 30 people, himself
included, received organs from that young
man’s body. “It was the ultimate gift he and his
family gave, and I am so, so thankful.”
George is also grateful to his medical team
at the hospital in Arkansas. “The doctors were
magnificent, and the nurses are truly unsung
heroes,” he says. “They’re the ones who show
up at three in the morning and help you when
you’re in pain or need assistance.”
And, George says, he is “forever thankful” to
Healthnetwork and his Medical Coordinator,
Carol Akromas. “When you think about going to
a great hospital, we all think of the big names.
I never would have thought to go to Arkansas
if not for Carol. Their waitlist happened to be
among the shorter waitlist times in the
country. I owe a huge debt of gratitude for
what the Healthnetwork team did for me, and
my sister and I are happy to be supporters of
this tremendous organization.” ✦