Gil Staus

When Gil Staus found out his kidneys were failing him, he didn't have many options. A kidney transplant could solve his medical problem. He couldn't find a suitable living donor, though, and the waiting list for a deceased-donor kidney stretched for years. Ongoing dialysis seemed to be Gil's only alternative. At three appointments a week for five hours each, the treatment seriously encroached on his active life.

But, an unexpected solution materialized. Jim Rogers, a grain buyer in the tiny town of LaSalle, Minn., where Gil runs a business, heard about the situation and stepped forward to be a kidney donor. That priceless gift from someone he hardly knew was exactly what Gil needed to return to good health.

Preparing for a long wait

An avid hunter and fisherman, Gil knew something was wrong when, at age 59, he didn't have enough energy to walk the fields all day when he went pheasant hunting. He also began to notice changes in his appearance. "I could tell something was going on," he says. "I was very pale. I'd look in the mirror, and it seemed I was more gaunt each day."

A visit to the doctor, for what he thought was the flu, revealed the underlying reason Gil didn't feel well: his kidneys weren't doing their job. Gil's doctor in Mankato, Minn., started him on dialysis and recommended he consider having a kidney transplant.

After researching medical centers, Gil decided to go to Mayo Clinic for his transplant. His brother was willing to be a donor, but they were disappointed to discover he wasn't a match. Gil settled in for a long wait. "I figured with the way the waiting list was, it would probably be at least five years before they would have a kidney for me."

In the meantime, he made the best of his situation. "My care at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital dialysis unit in Mankato was by far the best. Kathy Sonnek, director of ISJ's dialysis unit and her entire staff of nurses are probably one of the finest in the country. I actually took to dialysis rather well. After I started it, I really saw improvement in my health," says Gil. "But, it was a pain. I like to hunt and fish and travel. Making dialysis appointments in various parts of the country made that rather difficult."

Receiving a surprising offer

While Gil was undergoing his dialysis, Jim Rogers was also thinking about kidney transplants. He had read a magazine article about kidney donation that sparked his interest. "From what I read, donating a kidney didn't seem like that big of a hassle compared to the benefit that could be gained from it," says Jim.

Jim's wife, Beth, the town postmaster, knew Gil Staus from his daily visits to the post office where he picked up and dropped off mail for his dog treat company based in LaSalle. In passing, Gil mentioned to Beth that he was on dialysis and in need of a kidney transplant. Beth knew of Jim's interest in kidney donation, and talked to him about Gil's situation.

"I had known Gil just from being around town. LaSalle only has about 100 people," says Jim. "I knew who he was and what he did, but that was it."

The lack of familiarity didn't deter Jim from his decision to offer to be Gil's kidney donor. Beth discussed it with Gil, and then Jim went to meet him.

"When he walked into the plant, I asked if I could help him," recalls Gil. "He said, 'I'm Jim Rogers.' It didn't ring a bell right away. Everyone is on such a first-name basis in these small towns that I didn't make the connection with Beth," says Gil "Then he said, 'I'm Beth's husband.' I put my hand out and said, 'Buddy! How are you doing?'"

Feeling reborn

After four days of testing, doctors at Mayo Clinic determined that Jim was an appropriate match for Gil. They both underwent surgery on January 13, 2003.

"The first morning I woke up after the surgery, I felt so revitalized. It was like I was reborn," says Gil. "You don't realize how downtrodden you are without a good clean blood supply in your body. I felt like I could jump out of bed, take my Christmas tree and run around the block."

Gil's recovery continued to go well. Although he had to spend four more days in the hospital and another four weeks at the Gift of Life Transplant House — a hospitality house in Rochester for transplant recipients and their families — he was thrilled by how he felt.

"My surgeon, Dr. Mikel Prieto, did a fabulous job. He deserves a lot of credit. I had no pain after surgery, and I didn't need any morphine. I just got up and walked around the way I was supposed to," says Gil. "I'd recommend Mayo to anyone. The care was fantastic."

From Jim's perspective, the surgery also was a success, although he couldn't match Gil's level of enthusiasm immediately following the operation.

"The surgery went very well. But, when Gil came down to visit me after about a day and a half, he looked a lot better than I felt," says Jim. "The improvement in him seemed immediate. Before the surgery, he had a pale, unhealthy skin tone, and that changed right away. He also had a ton of energy."

Jim spent three days in the hospital and took a month off before returning to work. Looking back on the experience, he says he wouldn't have done anything differently. "There have been no negative effects other than the day or two after surgery. The staff at Mayo did a good job of explaining everything; I knew what to expect," says Jim. "The good that came from it far outweighed any pain."

Enjoying a new friendship

These days, Gil is back to hunting and fishing whenever and wherever he pleases. "Things are pretty laid-back. My son is running the business and doing a great job. So I'm basically retired," he says. "If my brother tells me the trout are biting over in Colorado, I'll take a week off and go fishing."

Gil and Jim see each other frequently. They enjoy having lunch together in LaSalle and barbecuing at Jim and Beth's new lake home. For Jim, seeing Gil able to do what he wants makes his own decision to be a kidney donor worthwhile.

"There probably are easier ways to find a new friend, but this really has been great," he says. "We've had fun getting to know each other, and it's terrific to see the total change the transplant has made in Gil's life. I'm glad I did it."