Q&A for those considering a transplant

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO – Bonnie and Raymond Schwartz are an unusual couple, although probably not unique in this regard: One is a transplant donor, the other is a transplant recipient, and their benefactor and beneficiary were not each other.

Today, the couple often lectures about the emotions, the procedures, and the “how to’s” about organ transplantation.   They recently agreed to a joint interview by email.

Interview with Bonnie Schwartz, organ donor

1. You gave up a kidney for your sister. Were you risking your life to save hers?
   A:  Kidney transplants have been successfully performed for 40+ years.  The mortality rate is almost non-existent.  I never thought of this as “risking my life”.   My sister was undergoing kidney dialysis, and would have been forced to continue dialysis until such time as that procedure was no longer effective.  At that point, she would have died.
2. Was this a painful procedure?
   A: The first few days post-surgery are somewhat uncomfortable, but certainly not unbearable.  Quite honestly, the worst pain I experienced was the first time I sneezed, about 2 weeks after the surgery!  I immediately learned the importance of “bracing” the surgery site before the next sneeze.
3. Q. Since the operation, has your relationship with your sister changed? Are you closer?
   My sister is 14 years younger than I and lives in another state.  However, we share the same warped sense of humor (we named the transplanted kidney ‘Elvis’), and share a close relationship.  She often shares the love and gratitude she feels for the gift I was able to give her.
4. Don’t we need both our kidneys? What was the effect on you after the operation?
   A:  Most people can live quite successfully with only one kidney.  In fact, the human body can function relatively normally with a 20% kidney function.  There is no way I can tell that my body has only one kidney.  That said, I am careful to care for that kidney, and take care to avoid any medications which could have an impact on kidney function.
5. What is the best thing you can say about being a kidney donor?
   A. Not many people can say “I saved someone’s life”.  I am able to see my sister living a healthy life.  She and her husband are raising 2 kids and she is enjoying a successful professional career.  That is extremely gratifying.
6. To be candid, what is the worst thing about it?
   A. I have 2 sons (now adults).  The one aspect of my donating a kidney which created the greatest amount of soul-searching was the fact that, should they need it, I would be unable to give one of them my kidney.
7. If people want to donate a kidney, or learn more, how can they get this information?
   A. There is a wonderful website which provides an extraordinary amount of information about organ transplantation, and answers any question a potential donor might have.  That website is:  www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org.   Also available is the local San Diego office website:  www.lifesharing.org

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Interview with Raymond Schwartz, a transplant recipient

Q:  When you think about the people whose corneas have been transplanted into your eyes, what are your emotions.
A:  I never knew any of them.  They had died before their corneal tissue was removed, and I was never told from whom they came.  The corneas were donated either by themselves before their death, or their family after death.  But to this day I so grateful that their decision was made to donate and I owe them my sight eight times over!

Q: Are you allowed to know their identity?  Can their families know yours?
A: Only if you already know the donor or the family and they know you.  The hospital and staff may not divulge names of donors.

Q:   If so, do you feel any special kinship with them?
A:   In my circumstances I wish this were possible, to let the family know the good the donation was  for me in saving my vision.

Q:  After you’ve been notified that a cornea is available, what are some of the steps that you have to go through?
A: You will see the eye surgeon who will make sure exactly what issues must be dealt with regarding the surgery.  In my case I had other eye problems requiring other surgeries and he had to find a way to insure that the cornea would “take”.  Otherwise you did not have to prepare.

Q:  Sometimes, despite best efforts, can a body reject a transplant?  If so, did you worry about this before and after the operation?
A:   Absolutely.  The body can reject any “foreign” tissue placed in the body.  The key is to find a donor who has the best matching genetic and blood type.  After surgery there are various medicines that are used to stop the rejection if at all possible.  Did I worry?  Definitely.  But what was the alternative?  Do the surgery or go blind in that eye?

Q:   Was this a painful and/or emotional procedure for you?
A:   In truth, I have had eight corneal transplants.  The first two were the worst because they failed and I was left blind in my left eye for 21 years before the third transplant worked!  The first two were attempts at the time corneal transplants began, and I was more or less a guinea pig.  I accepted the challenge because I feared blindness more than the attempt.  It was not painful to my body, except emotionally I was hurt.  But I never gave up and waited those years for research to catch up.

Q:   If people want to know more about corneal transplants, where can they get that information?
A:  Most hospital ophthalmology departments will have the information and can be consulted.
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Questions for Bonnie or Raymond

Q. You give speeches about the transplant experience. Why do you do this?

A.  In San Diego County alone almost 2,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant.  This is their only chance at living a relatively normal life.  A single donor can save up to 8 lives by donating their organs; up to fifty lives can be improved through tissue transplants.  Our goal is to reach as many people as possible to educate them about organ and tissue donation, and by telling our stories, to hopefully inspire them to become organ donors themselves.

Q. If someone would like you to talk to their group, how may they reach you?

A. We are affiliated with Lifesharing San Diego, the local organization supporting organ and tissue donation. Anyone interested in having someone speak to their group (no group is too small or large!) we could ask them to contact the Lifesharing office at (619) 521-1983 and either ask for us specifically, or request that someone from the organization.

Q: You are an intermarried couple. As you went through this, did you ever receive advice or comfort from a rabbi or a priest?  In addition to this being a medical experience, was it also a spiritual one?
A: Bonnie:  I was fortunate to have the prayers and blessings of my priest (I am Catholic), who asked me to meet with him before the surgery.  At that time he shared how impressed he was by my decision, and how it reflected Christ’s request of us to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  His support was unequivocal, and he shared that support publically with our congregation, encouraging all to register as organ donors.

Q.Are there any general observations either of you would like to share, that we haven’t already covered?
A. Bonnie —  I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to donate an organ.  I often feel it was “meant to be”, and that I am a better person for the experience.  There are too many people who die each day waiting for an organ.  Please consider registering to become an organ donor… and if you are already registered, thank you!

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  You may comment to him at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com or post your comment, per the instructions below

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