Seventh-grader Josh Nelson's mother has given him the gift
of life at two different times.
Ms. Carolyn Nelson gave birth to Josh 13 years ago. Then,
in 2003, she donated one of her kidneys to save his life.
One of Josh's kidneys hadn't functioned since birth and
the other was operating at just 10 per cent of capacity.
Now, Josh's kidney function is normal. He said his only
physical limitation is that his doctors want him to avoid
playing contact sports.
"My kidney is located in the front of my body and I might
get hit there if I played football or soccer," he said.
But, in some ways, his life has been fuller after the
operation. Josh has had some unique life experiences that
have come because he is an orgran-transplant recipient.
And, he's using his special status to help others.
He's become active in the Children's Miracle Network's
fund-raising. "I was on the air for two hours during one
of their holiday telethons," he said.
Then, he was picked to throw out the first pitch at Cardinal
stadium to open the 2007 baseball season.
He also was selected to accept the charity check at the
Trans Siberian Orchestra holiday concerts at the Scottrade
Center both in 2007 and 2008. Those presentations came with
an audience of 20,000 looking on.
"Last Christmas, the orchestra members even remembered
me from the previous year," he said.
Last month, he and his mother, Carolyn, met with officials
of the Mid-America Transplant Services (MTS). "I'll be helping
to tell the MTS story about transplants to young audiences,"
he said.
Mrs. Nelson said, "Josh is a good public speaker. And,
it helps to have someone telling the story who has experienced
a transplant."
Josh was one organ-transplant recipient who didn't need
the MTS services before his operation.
People needing organ transplants often sign up with agencies
such as MTS to get on waiting lists. Then, when a compatible
organ donor is located, the agencies arrange for the transfer
of the organ to where the waiting recipient is.
But, in Josh's case, he brought his donor with him.
The transplant operation actually occurred in two hospitals.
Mrs. Nelson said, "I never had a second thought about making
the donation."
She said her kidney was a "perfect match" for Josh.
Josh actually had two operations. Six weeks before the
transplant was made, Josh had an operation to remove the
one ill-functioning kidney he had left. His blood was cleaned
by machine while he was without any kidneys.
Mrs. Nelson admits she was worried about the operation
to remove her kidney. "I'd never had an operation before,"
she said.
Josh kidded, "I think she was more worried about her operation
than I was of mine."
Mrs. Nelson's removal operation was at SLU Hospital while
Josh received the kidney in an operating room at Cardinal
Glennon Hospital. Mrs. Nelson said SLU was better set up
for adult patients while Cardinal Glennon specializes in
children.
Her operation lasted longer, five hours compared to four
hours for Josh.
Josh said his favorite subject at Holy Family School is
science. He said he hasn't studied much about transplants.
"But, our teacher said we'll have more about that in 8th
grade. The teacher said we'd also have more about the kidneys,"
Josh said.
He's pretty sure he'll have more for "show and tell" than
his other classmates.
There are his surgical scars associated with the organ
removal and transplant. He also has several scars from when
he was hooked up to dialysis machines.
At school, Josh participates in volleyball, track and
field and, for now, basketball. "The doctors told me not
to play basketball in high school because the game is rougher
when the kids are bigger," he said.
He also is a member of the Paddlers Swim Team in Granite
City. "I've been swimming since I was 2," he said.
He said he hasn't made up his mind where he wants to go
to high school. "Half of my friends plan on going to Marquette
High School in Alton and half plan to go to Granite City
High School," he said.
Marquette is a Catholic school. He said he plans to go
to college but hasn't decided where. He does know he wants
to study science.
"I want to be a doctor or a forensic pathologist," he said.
"I was thinking about being a policeman but the doctors
thought that might be too physical an occupation," he added.
Mrs. Nelson, who is divorced, admits that Josh "is the
center of my life." Her family email address begins meandjosh@.
One thing is for sure. He's got a lasting reminder of her
right inside his body.
(If you have any questions about organ donation or
transplants, you can call Mid-America Transplant Services
at (314) 991-1661 or visit their website at www.Mts-stl.org.
)
