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G37 - Transplant Reunion
Intro: It's what every parent dreads. A phone call with news that their child has been in an accident. The man you're about to meet got that call, and suffered greatly when his son died. But his son was an organ donor and his kidney continues to give life for another three decades after the accident. Today, that father and kidney recipient have the chance to meet.
| Video | Audio |
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Total running time 1:45
| MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO, 18-YEAR-OLD JIM WHEELOCK DIED. THE VICTIM OF A CAR ACCIDENT. |
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Frances Wheelock Jim's Father | "WE REALLY NEVER KNEW HOW IT HAPPENED OR WHY IT HAPPENED." |
| JIM'S FATHER, FRANCES, HAS NEVER REALLY RECOVERED FROM THAT LOSS. | |
| Frances Wheelock | "IT WAS AWFUL HARD TO LOSE HIM." |
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Standup | BUT FRANCES SAYS KNOWING THAT JIM'S DEATH ALLOWED ANOTHER TO LIVE MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO BEAR.
"HI, HOW ARE YOU, NICE TO SEE YOU..." |
| Frances Wheelock | NORMA NOEL IS HERE TODAY THANKS TO JIM'S DONATED KIDNEY. "THIS GIVES ME SOMETHING. THAT JIM'S LIFE DID MEAN SOMETHING. AND I'VE PRAYED FOR THIS LADY BECAUSE I WANTED HER TO MAKE IT. AND SHE MADE IT." |
| NORMA IS MAYO CLINIC'S LONGEST LIVING RECIPIENT OF A DECEASED DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. JIM'S KIDNEY HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING FOR HER FOR 34 YEARS. SHE NEEDED IT AFTER HER KIDNEYS FAILED. BUT SHE WAS HESITANT AT FIRST TO COME TO THIS INTIMATE REUNION. | |
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Norma Noel | "I'VE BEEN DEBATING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DECIDE IF I SHOULD BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF HARD HAVING SOMEBODY LOSE THEIR SON AND KNOW YOU HAVE THEIR KIDNEY." |
| BUT THIS MEETING IS A COMFORT TO FRANCES. PROOF THAT SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAS COME OUT OF HIS GREAT LOSS. | |
| Norma Noel | "THAT'S MY SON. THAT'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER." |
| NORMA AND FRANCES TOGETHER. CELEBRATING A YOUNG MAN AND HIS GIFT OF LIFE. | |
| Frances Wheelock | "GOD GAVE ME A WONDERFUL SON FOR 18 YEARS. BUT IT JUST WASN'T MEANT TO BE." |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. |
Tag: If you have a friend or relative who might be in need of a kidney or liver, you may want to consider being a living organ donor. Otherwise Norma and Frances want to encourage you to sign the spot on your driver's license that lists you as a potential donor. Thousands of people die every year waiting for organs. For more information on organ transplantation, visit our Web site at ...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
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