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Over the Labor Day Holiday, on August 29, 2008, I had a very special
weekend: I had a kidney and pancreas transplant. It's now been a year, and I am fully recovered, and back to work, and
feeling great after a very successful surgery. My kidney is working perfectly and so is my pancreas. After about
35 years of being an insulin dependent diabetic I no longer have to take insulin shots, and I am off dialysis. My kidneys failed in April of 2008.
I am lucky and fortunate, but I grieve for the family that lost a teenager in a car accident that made the donated organs
possible. I am a father, and cannot comprehend the grief they went through and the love and generosity the family had
to donate their child's organs. They all deserve a special place in Heaven and with God. I hope to meet the family
and thank them. My transplant team at St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles was superb, headed by Robert Naraghi,
M.D. with his associate Tang Shah, M.D. God bless them. And
thank you for your support and prayers. Especially my wife Shelley who got me through this. Below are some of
the updates I posted during the first year after my transplant surgery:
UPDATE ON OCTOBER 26, 2008 It's now been eight weeks since my transplants and I am feeling exceptionally well and almost
fully back to normal. This past Friday I drove my car for the first time since the surgery. Actually, I could
have driven earlier, but my wife and son insisted that they drive... and I enjoyed being the passenger. I am now fully adjusted to taking my medication -- but frankly
it is easy taking pills even though there are pills to be taken four times a day. It's a lot easier taking pills than
having to take insulin shots. In fact, I have to remind myself each morning not to
take an insulin shot. After more than 30 years of taking insulin shots it is now a habit that is hard to break. I really feel different now not having to take insulin, and
not having to have meals at certain times of the day to prevent low blood sugar. It is amazing this new life I have.
I also feel stronger. I have more lung capacity now, my voice has improved now that I am off dialysis. I am working
better. I hope that those of you who watch my TV program can see the differences also. I am grateful, and I will never forget.
UPDATE ON FEBRUARY 7, 2009 It's now more than five months since my kidney and pancreas
transplant surgery and all is going well. In fact, all has been going exceptionally well. I've been sticking
to my regimen of taking various pills and anit-rejection drugs -- and what a difference it is taking pills instead of taking two or three insulin injections a day. It's also amazing how my overall health has improved now
that I am no longer diabetic. Heck, I eat ice cream almost every day -- and I am watching my weight. I have dessert
at dinner-- cheesecake is one of my favorites. But more importantly, this past week I had a follow up appointment with
my cardiologist. There is a history
of heart disease in my family, and when you are diabetic, heart problems are common. But in my visit this week -- my
heart health was perfect. My blood pressure was normal -- 120 over 70 -- for the first time in many, many years.
My EKG looked great and so did the echo cardiogram that lets the doctor see the heart valves move and the blood flow through
my heart. I watched the echo cardiogram as the technician scanned my heart -- it's like an ultrasound but you are
looking at your heart and not for a baby. I
had been going to my cardiologist once every four months for a check-up. But this past week he told me all looks great,
and he doesn't have to see me again for a year. Wow. Meanwhile, I keep to a daily exercise schedule. Nothing
extreme -- I walk about one and a quarter miles each day. And I haven't felt this good in many, many years.
And every day I say thank you to the family that made my transplants possible.
APRIL 7, 2009 UPDATE April 7th is my birthday, and what a year the last year has been. Shortly after my
last birthday -- April 9th -- my kidneys failed from my many years of being an insulin dependent diabetic and I went on kidney
dialysis. Then the combination kidney and pancreas transplant last August. And now, about a year after my kidneys
failed and I started dialysis, I am now in probably the best health I've had since being in college -- before I developed
diabetes. In fact, I used
to have to go to my cardiologist every several months. But now with my new pancreas, my new kidney and healthy blood
pressure levels, I've been given the all clear to stop the cardiology visits every few months and return for a check up
only after a year. I want you to know
that every morning I thank my lucky stars, God and the family that made the donated organs available. It has been quite
a "round trip" from one birthday to the next. UPDATE MAY 30,
2009 All has been going well,
and thank you for your continued best wishes and support. My health is excellent -- I have plenty of energy, I feel
great, my blood sugar levels are pefect with my new pancreas, and I am back to eating the pre-dialysis diet that so many people
without kidney disease take for granted. I have a new appreciation for life and I will always appreciate the family
that gave me my new life. I will never forget and pray for them every day. Now, on the lighter side: A couple of weeks ago when I went for my last
haircut, Donelle who cuts my hair said to me, "your hair is thicker, it's straighter, and it's
darker -- less gray hair." Well,
it's true. My hair is thicker, it is straighter and it is darker. Am I getting younger? No, it's not one
of the side benefits of a kidney and pancreas transplant... but it is the result of some of the anti-rejection drugs that
I take every day. At least, that's what the medical experts are telling me. Some of the medications can make hair grow more quickly and thicker, or these
same medications can make your hair fall out. In my case, my hair is thicker and growing more quickly -- and the dark
hair growth is overtaking the gray hair growth. At least, that's what appears to be happening. Yes, I still have gray hair and in places that are still prominent
on TV, such as the top, front of my head. But in places that are not usually seen on camera, such as the back and top
of my head, the hair is darker. Of course, while that is a happy result, it is not the most important result from the
kidney and pancreas transplant. It's now been 9 months. UPDATE ON NOVEMBER
23, 2009 Thanksgiving is coming
up in a few days and I have a lot to be thankful for. I was having an online chat about my transplants and being thankful
and I want to share with you what I wrote: Yes,
I am very thankful, but I also have a lot of responsibility now. I will forever be grateful to the family for donating the organs of their loved one so that I
and several others had a second chance at life. Another person received the other kidney, and the liver was divided
to help two others. Other organs were also used.
Now
the responsibility part. Every day I say a prayer, and every night I say a prayer for that person and family, and I
realize that I have to be good for that person and try to make up for whatever good that person might have brought into the
world but can't now.
And it's not just morning and
night... when something "good" happens, or when I get a chance to laugh or smile, or accomplish something, I have
to remember where that "good" came from, where that laugh or smile came from, where that accomplishment came from. I wish you all a good and a happy Thanksgiving. Be grateful,
and with your good fortune be responsible.
APRIL 9, 2010 UPDATE Two years ago today I almost died from kidney failure.
It was two years ago today that I was so sick that I could barely stand and I was taken to St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica
and had tubes implanted in my chest and started kidney dialysis. What happened after that is detailed above on this
page. But I just want you to know that every day I pray for the young person who died and for the family that donated
the organs to help me and others. And I will never forget, and I will always be living with the responsibility to do
good for that donor and for that family. Thank you.
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