December 2011 Anniversaries

[Clark]

We are in a new era.  For the first time, we remember Ron Herrick's amazing act on behalf of his brother without him.  We, like him, have tried to make life better.  Our hearts go out to Kathryn Jones, and the many like her, who have mixed feelings at best, and are unavoidably bereaved despite best efforts.  Best wishes for joy and the warmth of loved ones and good friends to us all!

Fifty-seventh anniversary:
Ronald Herrick donated a kidney to his brother on December 23rd, 1954. Ron died at age 79 on December 27th, 2010.

Twenty-sixth anniversary:
Robert A. Hancox donated a kidney to his sister on December 11th, 1985

Twentieth anniversary:
Juanita DeVeaux donated a kidney to her daughter on December 4th, 1991

Seventeenth anniversary:
Natalie Cardoza donated a kidney to her sister on December 21st, 1994

Sixteenth anniversary:
Sheila Leander donated a kidney to her husband, Brian, on December 27th, 1995

Twelfth anniversary:
Heather Roberts donated a kidney to her father in December, 1999
Cheryl McCullough donated part of her liver to her husband on December 14th, 1999

Tenth anniversary:
Phillip Ondler donated a kidney to his sister on December 14th, 2001
Bob Jauch donated part on his liver to his daughter on December 20th, 2001
Janice O'Connell donated a kidney to friend on December 26th, 2001

Ninth anniversary:
Bill Shummel donated a kidney anonymously on December 17th, 2002

Eighth anniversary:
Micheline donated a kidney to a friend on December 5th, 2003
Kevin donated part of his liver to his father on December 8th, 2003
Barbara Sher donated a kidney to her brother on December 9th, 2003
Larry Miller donated a kidney to his daughter on December 16th, 2003
Melanie Wallace donated a kidney to a stranger on December 16th, 2003
Kathryn Jones donated part of her liver to a friend on December 18th, 2003. Her friend died two months later.
Bev donated a kidney to a stranger on December 23, 2003
Elizabeth A. Miller donated a kidney to a friend on December 30th, 2003
Lisa Ornelas donated a kidney to her sister on December 30th, 2003

Seventh anniversary:
Sarah Wright donated a kidney to her brother on December 1st, 2004
Becky Livingston donated a kidney to her cousin on December 12th, 2004

Sixth anniversary:
Mary Kirk donated a kidney to her brother-in-law on December 6th, 2005
Charlotte Buckley donated a kidney to a friend's mother on December 7th, 2005
Jay Paustian donated a kidney to a friend on December 13th, 2005
Amanda Gedraitis donated a kidney anonymously on December 15th, 2005
Coleen Damon donated a kidney to her mother on December 27th, 2005
Doug Boston donated a kidney to an unrelated recipient on December 28th, 2005

Fifth anniversary:
Rick Hodgkins donated a kidney to his mother on December 7th, 2006
Brian Earnshaw donated a kidney to his uncle on December 12th, 2006
Wayne Ellenberger donated a kidney to a stranger on December 12th, 2006
Billie Ward donated part of her liver to an unrelated recipient on December 22nd, 2006
Mary Lou Hery donated a kidney to her daughter on December 22, 2006
Lisa donated a kidney to her daughter on December 27th, 2006

Fourth anniversary:
Louise in Canada donated a kidney to an anonymous unrelated recipient on December 3rd, 2007
Connie Watts donated to her cousin on December 7th, 2007
Brett Menzy donated a kidney to an unrelated recipient on December 18th, 2007
Eric Savage donated a kidney to his father on December 18th, 2007

Third anniversary:
Craig Tohill donated a kidney to his Aunt Sue on December 7th, 2008
Tom Moore donated a kidney to his brother on December 9th, 2008
Joshua donated a kidney to a stranger on December 10th, 2008

Second anniversary:
Rob Upham donated a kidney to Sandra Erice on December 7th, 2009
Pamela Hull donated a kidney in the 2009 Georgetown exchange (one of 13 donors) so her cousin could receive a kidney on December 8th, 2009
Bill Martinez donated a kidney to his cousin, Nicholas, on December 9th, 2009
Matt Knowles donated a kidney to his wife on December 9th, 2009
Gina Mingrone became a non-directed donor in the New England Paired Kidney Exchange (NEPKE) on December 15th, 2009, initiating a chain of donors and recipients from Maine to New Jersey and back!
Kara Lucca donated a kidney as 1 of 13 donors in a nationwide chain on December 17th, 2009, while her husband was 1 of 13 recipients
Lori Wagner donated a kidney to her father on December 29th, 2009

First anniversary:
Ellie started a non-directed kidney donor chain on December 16th, 2010

[Little Sis]

Eighth Anniversary:
Lisa Ornelas donated a kidney to her sister on December 30, 2003

[treehugger]

It seems hard to believe that my husband and I are coming up on our 2-year anniversary this weekend. According to his doctors, 2 years of good kidney health post-transplant is a significant milestone, so we definitely do have reason to celebrate. My health is perfectly fine (well, except for a slew of non-kidney related stress symptoms).

It's been a really tough 2 years for us, for other reasons, so in lots of ways, it's hard to feel celebratory. But, it's nice to be included in this post, so thank you! Maybe 2012 will be an easier year for us, and our 3rd anniversary we will feel more jubilant.

Kara

[Eldonna Edwards]

My first year anniversary is this Friday on the 16th of December. I didn't know my recipient, but sent an "adoption" letter with my kidney via the transplant coordinator. A couple months later I got a message on Facebook; my recipient had found me (I do have a rather unusual first name). He contacted me in order to let me know that my kidney was a better match than the one he'd gotten from his sister over a dozen years ago, and after our match,  he had gone from near-death to thriving. My donation was the first in a non-directed chain. His wife donated next down the line.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am with the outcome. I have never felt better. In fact, I think I'm healthier now than I was when I donated. I've lost 17 pounds/3 sizes and have more energy than I've had in years. Last summer I got my first tattoo at age 52. It runs from the crease between my great and second toe to the ankle, and simply reads "love is everything."

~~ellie