SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - At the beginning of this month, the waiting came to an end for seven people in need of life saving organ transplants. All received transplants in the space of four days, from three donors at Intermountain Medical Center.
The rare transplant marathon involved five kidneys and two livers and happened between March 2nd and 6th. While the timing is remarkable, the recipients say the results are nothing short of miraculous.
Valeri Wright got a kidney that ends twenty years of dialysis. “I’d say thank you but that's not enough." She is one of the seven patients who now have a new donated organ and a second chance at life. “I would have just been on dialysis for the rest of my life.” Valeri was connected to a dialysis machine for four and a half hours every other day. The forty year old contracted a rare disease while pregnant with her second son two decades ago.
The organ donor who changed her life was just about the same age as her son, and died in a motorcycle accident. “This particular person gave two kidneys and a liver." She knows little else, other than their choice to become an organ donor saved her, and two others.
Valeri was one of the first admitted for transplant during the very busy four days in the Intermountain Transplant Center. "I came in at the beginning of this, and every day it's like two or three more were getting transplants."
Two other organ donors, who also died in accidents, saved five more people waiting for organ transplants during that four day period.
Dr. Willem J. Van der Werf, Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery at Intermountain says the unselfish act of becoming an organ donor can save many lives. “Each donor has the potential to donate seven or eight organs, between two kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart, and lungs. It’s pretty amazing the benefit that can come from one obviously very tragic event."
The organ donors who saved the seven patients at Intermountain Medical Center may also have saved others out of state. Some of their organs were transported to patients in need in other regions.
Juan Salazar, of Salt Lake City, also received a kidney. He says the families who said yes in a time of terrible sorrow have given him and the others a tremendous gift. "I just think it's a great sacrifice and God bless them."
Of the seven patients, five have recovered and gone home. Juan and Valeri say the unusual circumstances surrounding their transplants forged lasting friendships.
Valeri says they have exchanged addresses and phone numbers. "Just watching them in the hallways; and one of the people that got a kidney from the same donor. I call her my sister kidney and so you have a bond."
They also know they are the lucky ones. Ten Americans die every day waiting for an organ transplant. As for Juan and Valerie they intend to live life fully. Valeri says she can now go back to school and fulfill the dreams she has put off for decades. "Live, travel more, enjoy my children more, enjoy my husband more.”
For that, she feels immense gratitude for the families who are grieving. She hopes they will find some comfort in knowing the gift of life is appreciated. "They have lost so much, but they have given so much."
To find out more about how to become and organ donor or for more information visit
www.yesutah.org Or call 1-866-yes-Utah.
