Stories
People connected to organ donation often have very special stories to share. Some are born with disease processes that have created the need for a new organ, while others develop issues later in life. No matter how each of them came to be connected to organ donation and transplantation, their stories are profound and compelling. We invite you to walk along on their transplant journeys as they share their stories below.
Mike’s Story
​My name is Michael Luongo. I was born with a birth defect that caused my kidneys to be irreversibly damaged. When I was only a year old, I had life-saving surgery. My parents were informed that, at best, I would be starting my young life with 40% kidney function and, one day, would need a kidney transplant. My parents were also told that I would develop high blood pressure by the time I was 20 years old. In fact, I developed it by the age of 12.
At the age of 17, I developed a blood disorder. The acronym is ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). This is when your spleen eats the good platelets, along with the bad platelets in your body. The first course of action is to try to resolve the problem with medication. In my case, this did not work. So, the next intervention is to take out a person’s spleen, which they did. This was successful. It resolved the problem. How this connects to my kidney issues is that, when you lose your spleen, the kidney is expected to take over the work of the spleen. Mine was already compromised, and this only added extra work that it struggled to handle.
As I got older, my kidneys continued to show signs of decreased functioning. I continued to take my medications and follow my doctor’s orders. At the age of 28, my nephrologist told me it was time to start thinking about my options. I decided that a kidney transplant was the best course of action for me. So, a transplant clinic was called, and an appointment was made. At that appointment, I was supposed to bring anyone who was interested in becoming a donor for me. The transplant coordinator took us through the process and explained what would happen. After that, potential donors were tested. Some people had to be eliminated for one reason or another. Eventually, it became clear that my best chance for a successful surgery was my brother-in-law, Shaun. We just had to wait until my kidney function dropped below the required % to perform the transplant. For a good deal of time, my kidneys kept dropping into transplantation range and back out of it.
In 2002, I developed food poisoning and had to be rushed to the hospital. I went from having kidney function that was too healthy to transplant to too unhealthy to transplant. I was immediately started on dialysis. The goal was to get me up to a healthy level to perform my transplant.
Once I was healthy enough, on February 19, 2003, I was given the Gift of Life. At 31 years old, I received a new kidney from my brother-in-law. There are no words that could possibly describe how grateful I am to Shaun for this selfless gift. He is a true hero here on Earth, and all organ donors and donor families are heroes as well.
(Mike Luongo (right) with his brother-in-law and kidney donor, Shaun.
Beth’s Story
My name is Beth Ballard and I am a proud donor mom to Brian Wynne. Brian was in 8th grade when he passed away in 1998 from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Even though he was in a wheelchair at a young age, he always enjoyed life to the fullest.
Brian was a very happy, giving and loving young man and brought joy to so many. During his short life he hoped and wanted everyone to be happy. He did not want anyone to be sad after he passed away, but to remember all the good memories that had been made.
Because Brian was such a giving and loving young man, it was decided that he would donate his corneas. Now two individuals have the gift of sight. I am so proud of my son for giving such a wonderful gift.
​
I miss him every day, but I know he is always with me in spirit.
Christopher’s Story
Monday morning, July 6, we received a phone call that changed our lives forever. While preparing for a meeting, Christopher collapsed at the copy
machine and never regained consciousness. His co-workers performed CPR
to restart his heart and he was rushed to the hospital. A cat scan revealed he had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage due to a congenital brain aneurysm, which took his life instantly. We can be grateful that he never suffered a minute of pain.
​
We're still trying to believe our youngest son, so happy and healthy, is really gone. He was such a pleasant young man and always a source of pleasure and pride to our whole family. Arriving 5 years after the rest of our children, he was truly the family's baby and was a gift to us all.
​
When it became apparent that Christopher was not going to survive, the
family made the decision to donate his healthy young organs to help others
live. Although the questions designating which organs they could recover
were difficult to answer, the decision wasn't questioned. We knew it was
what he would want.
​
We have learned that his vital organs have given a second chance at life to
five adults who are all recovering nicely and the tissue and bone donations
may help as many as 50 to 100 patients.
​
Our hearts are broken and we're trying to face the future without Chris but
we are grateful for the too short time we had him. Thank you for your kind
expressions of sympathy to our family. Please keep us in your thoughts and
prayers and also pray for the health of the people that are recovering because of his most generous gift.
​
The Buckalew/Boehm Family
