A kidney donor learns by giving
The following article was written as an open letter by Joe White, an
employee at Beckwith Machinery Company in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Beckwith
Machinery Company for the support, concern, and prayers received over
the past month while I was donating a kidney to my brother, Jack, who
lives in California. Without your support it would have been much more
difficult. Although there have been a few complications with the transplant,
I am told that the doctors are very pleased with the results and feel
my brother is doing well.
I am also doing very well, and returned to work on June 23, 1997. I
am sure our good fortune is the result of excellent care and focused
prayer. Praise be to God.
I think you will be interested in similarities between Loma Linda University
Medical Center and Beckwith Machinery Company. Both institutions are
leaders in their fields and are staffed with dedicated people who are
the best in their industry--teams that are dedicated to specific goals,
training, and excellence. They are organizations willing to do what
it takes to get the job done right. I am fortunate to be part of a team
that achieves these high standards. My brother and I are grateful to
have experienced this standard of excellence at Loma Linda University
Medical Center.
My brother and I were operated on Tuesday, June 3, 1997. What impressed
me was the make-up of the operating team. My surgeon was Dr. Roger Hadley,
an American and head of the urology section. My brother's surgeon was
Dr. Okechukwu Ojogho from Nigeria. The team leader was Dr. Waldo Concepcion
from Costa Rica.
The physicians who restructured and repaired the kidney (they had to
remove a large cyst and connect several arteries and veins together)
were from Iran. The nurses were from Russia, Mexico, the United States,
and the continent of Asia.
What amazed me was the cooperation and dedication of this multinational
team. I think there are several reasons why.
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution. Their
dedication to God and Jesus Christ are very evident the moment you walk
through the doors. Second, the energy and momentum one generates by
being part of a well-focused team of world-class players is very powerful
medicine. These factors have allowed the folks at Loma Linda to overcome
race, religion, language, and cultural barriers by focusing on the mission
and goals and dreams for the betterment of mankind.
I learned an important lesson about myself at Loma Linda. I never realized
how prejudiced I had become over the years. Before donating this kidney,
when I thought of Iran, I thought of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Now I think
of the surgeons that rebuilt the kidney to make it usable.
When I thought of Nigeria, I thought of the Ebola virus and destitute
poverty; now I think of Dr. Ojogho who transplanted the kidney and overcame
some major obstacles on the operating table. I used to be nervous around
Hispanic people. Now I think of the laughter and smiles of the nurses
who worked around the clock to get us up and moving.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I went to California
to donate a kidney, but I came back with much more than I gave away.
Perhaps that is the age-old lesson we learn by giving. Thank you for
the opportunity to share this with you.
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Linda University. All rights reserved.
Revised
Monday, January 28, 2002 3:54 PM
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