You are experiencing upper abdominal pain. Is it just a stomachache or something more serious like a gallbladder attack?
To understand gallbladder issues, we spoke with Dr. David W. Shepherd, MD, General Surgeon with St. Mary’s Physician Associates.
Q: What are the signs of possible gallbladder disease?
A: Gallbladder disease is one of the most common diseases seen by general surgeons. Most people associate gallbladder attacks with a sharp, right-sided abdominal pain. That is true, but typically severe attacks are preceded by many months or even years of more subtle symptoms. Most individuals incorrectly label their gallbladder attacks as “heartburn, reflux, indigestion or upset stomach.” Typically, mild gallbladder symptoms are associated with a sense of bloating, fullness or mild discomfort that starts 20-30 minutes after eating and lasts 30-60 minutes. This is usually felt in the upper abdomen or below the right ribs. Symptoms tend to occur after eating fatty or greasy foods, but can occur after any meal as the disease worsens over time.
Q: When should someone experiencing symptoms head to the emergency department versus trying to treat with over-the-counter (OTC) medications?
A: It is common for people to treat their symptoms with over-the-counter antacids, though these are generally ineffective. Mild attacks usually resolve on their own within 30-60 minutes. One should report to an emergency department when pain is severe, prolonged or associated with nausea and vomiting.
Young black man having pain
Q: How is gallbladder disease usually treated?
A: There is only one successful treatment for gallbladder symptoms and disease: the gallbladder is removed surgically. In most cases this is done laparoscopically, using very small incisions. Laparoscopy has revolutionized gallbladder surgery. Most patients go home the same day and recover in one week.
Q: Can gallbladder disease be treated without surgery?
A: Regrettably, there are no successful treatments for gallbladder disease other than surgical removal. Many treatment options other than surgery have been tried, but none have proven as effective as removing the gallbladder. People often decrease the fat in their diet in an attempt to avoid or delay surgery. This can result in improvement, but it’s usually only temporary and the symptoms eventually return, prompting the need for surgical removal.
Q: What can individuals do to prevent having gallbladder issues, such as diet and exercise?
A: There is no easy recommendation to completely avoid gallbladder disease. Women are three times more likely than men to experience gallbladder symptoms. Risk factors for gallbladder disease include obesity, pregnancy, increasing age and participation in weight-loss programs. A healthy diet and lifestyle are a good idea, but they have not been shown to eliminate gallbladder risk.
Abdominal pain in woman with stomachache illness from menstruation cramps, stomach cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic discomfort, Indigestion, Diarrhea or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease)
Q: Are gallbladder problems hereditary?
A: Gallbladder symptoms often run in families. There may be some element of hereditary disease, but they also may share a similar diet and lifestyle.
Q: Where does Dr. Shepherd perform gallbladder surgery?
A: Dr. Shepherd performs gallbladder surgery at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. In most cases, the removal uses a robotic, laparoscopic approach. This advanced surgical technology helps to minimize risk to the patient.
For a referral to a St. Mary’s Physician Associates general surgeon, call (580) 249-3898 or go online to stmarysphysicianassociates.com.
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.
Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.
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The Lady Trojans played their final game in the final year of the state tournament games played in the Big House. The team fought through the Regional and Area Consolation Championship at the Stride Center. The 2023 team finished with the most wins in a single season in OBA history. Four-year starters and seniors, Clara Caldwell and Leah Titus, were the leaders of a talented team, alongside three sophomores who joined them in the starting lineup. Caldwell and Titus excel in more than just basketball. Titus is a four-year All-Conference softball player and Caldwell was already a state champion in track and tennis and has been on two volleyball state tournament teams.
The journey to the Big House did not start at the beginning of the season. The journey started in sixth grade for Caldwell and Titus. Playing basketball throughout middle school and high school, they are no strangers to overcoming adversity. They learned a lot of lessons being 14-year-old starters, and they lost more games than they expected as sophomores due to injuries. Caldwell had two concussions her sophomore year and a broken arm that affected her senior volleyball season. Titus tore her ACL before sophomore year in summer softball and had a hard time recovering. It was difficult to gain back physical confidence to assertively compete. Caldwell and Titus both reflected that sports were taking hold of their identity and becoming too important. Their injuries became a catalyst for personal change. It was a reality check for the girls and put basketball in its proper role in their lives.
As four-year starters, Caldwell and Titus have had seven years of teammates. On the court, we only see the shining stars of the team, not the grind of practice or the hard conversations in the locker room. Now, with their time to be senior leaders, they were very intentional, even prayerful, with the type of team leaders they wanted to be for their younger, talented sophomore and freshman teammates. Caldwell and Titus wanted to be different kinds of team leaders, ones that genuinely respected, listened, and even learned from the younger players. They knew they had the talent to have a really good season, and their senior leadership style could make it special or derail it. Caldwell and Titus did whatever the team needed to win, whether it was to lead the team in scoring, dominate in rebounds, guard the other team’s best player, set great screens for teammates, dive for loose balls or make the hockey assist. Leah especially knew the right words to say at just the right time to calm and challenge the younger players in just the right way. They said of this season: “This was our favorite season, success or not, we had a lot of fun with our teammates who became friends.”
Congratulations Lady Trojans on a fantastic season and many lifelong memories!
According to its website, the Grand National Gun Club is “dedicated to involving the youth of Northwest Oklahoma in the sport of shooting, gun safety, hunting safety and to offer the citizens of Enid, Garfield County and Northwest Oklahoma a quality shooting range facility for sport shooting.”
Previously the Enid Elks Gun Club, in 1997 the GNGC purchased the building and began renovations. Located just a few miles north of Enid on Highway 81, the club now has a large dining area/reception area, multiple big screen televisions and some memorabilia from previous members and/or events.
The club hosts instructors who train Garfield County 4-H shooters and sponsor both Spring and Fall 4-H regional shoots involving generally 150 shooters or so. In addition to these shoots, the club offers a site for Hunter Safety Courses put on by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and supplies the instructors for the same.
The club has been involved with the National Rifle Association, sponsoring multiple events including the “Women on Target” event.
If you weren’t aware, the Gun Club is also open to the general public each Wednesday afternoon/evening from April to October. The clubhouse can be leased to host events as well. To shoot, you bring your own gun and shells (or they typically sell shells inside the clubhouse), hearing protecting and eye protection. The Club has several trap houses for those of you who like to shoot trap with voice command clay pigeon releases. It also offers skeet and 5-stand (my favorite).
So as the weather continues to warm, might be time to get out and knock down some clays. Shoot for practice; shoot for fun it doesn’t matter. It’s hard to be a good friendly competition with your friends (or your children if you are me) as to who is the better shot. See ya on Wednesdays!
Until next time friends, keep the barrels and let the pigeons fly. . .
Victorian Gardens were all in vogue from 1837 until 1901, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The Golden Years of the mid-Victorian era from 1850 until 1870 were led by increased industrialization, growth in the national income, peace at home and abroad. With all the social and economic advances, the British had more leisure time on their hands than ever before. With all the changes taking place, middle-class families didn’t have to focus on gardening only for food necessities. They could use some of that extra time to create beautiful gardens with aesthetic visuals.
Horticulture and plant collecting were favorite and serious occupations. Collectors sought out rare plants, keeping journals and records of their location and distribution. They particularly loved anything novel and exotic. Any botanical explorations or plants carried home from faraway places became status symbols of Britain’s evidence of worldwide influence and wealth. Many of the plants we still use in our own landscapes were brought from the tropics to North America and Europe – orchids, monstera and other aroids, bougainvillea, begonias, crotons, daturas, frangipani, erythrinas, bird of paradise and acacias. The royal waterlily from the Amazon, Victoria amazonica, with its 18-inch flowers and 5-foot leaves, was an exciting find. Plants, especially lilies, began coming in from Japan in the early 1860s and rhododendrons were brought from the Himalayas. New species of plants even came from China and other parts of the Orient, which at that time were off-limits to foreigners.
While this influx of new plant species was very exciting, many of these foreign plants became invasive in their new climates and locations, crowding out native species of flora. Invasive plants are non-native (exotic or alien) to the ecosystem that they occupy and their existence in that ecosystem causes harm. Some, such as the Eastern red cedar are also a wildfire hazard in our state. Invasive water plants like yellow iris clog waterways and can crowd out our native water plants. Some of these exotic plants can be very lovely such as Japanese honeysuckle, but are nearly impossible to eradicate. Included on the invasive list of plants are the Callery or Bradford Pear which has escaped into wooded areas throughout the state.
When considering a new plant for your landscape, look for native versions instead of those introduced from other countries. An excellent example is planting American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) instead of Chinese (Wisteria sinensis) or Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda). Additionally, before you take a start of a pass along plant from a friend, note how it grows in their garden. Then do a quick online search to ensure it is not considered an invasive plant. Your best bet to prevent introducing an invasive species to your garden is to select native Oklahoman plants. Additionally, these plants seldom need extra care as they evolved in our extreme Oklahoma climates and adapt to our weather. For a list of native plants that are great for your garden, check out the fact sheet E-1052 Oklahoma Proven: Plant selections for Oklahoma available at the OK State Extension Office available at the Garfield County Extension Office or online at https://extension.okstate.edu/search.html.
Hey y’all and welcome back to Teen Scene in ENID MONTHLY. Did you know about 80% of Americans have at least one sibling? Well, now you do!! April 10th is National Siblings Day so I thought I could tell you a little bit about my brother and sister. Let’s go!
My brother, Baylor, is 18 years old. He is a freshman at Oklahoma State University. My favorite thing to do with him is blast music in his truck and go to stores or places. He would always introduce me to new music that I still listen to. One of my favorite memories is one time he let me hang out with him in his room for hours and we just played video games, talked and listened to music. If you can’t tell we listened to music ALLLLLL the time. I asked Baylor what he liked to do with me and he said: “My favorite thing that we would do together is whenever you would call me begging to come pick you up and take you to the store or to get food. I acted like I hated it but I actually didn’t. It made me happy to see you.” Whenever we were younger he would be so mean and never let me hang out with him and it would make me so sad but as we got older he started to hang out with me more and we became really close. I don’t get to see him very often anymore since he does live in Stillwater now, but I make the most out of it when we go down there to visit. I miss him every day since he’s gone to college so I just FaceTime him whenever I’m bored to check in and say hi.
My sister, Olivia or Livy as everyone calls her, is 8 but will be 9 on April 3rd!! She is a 3rd grader at Hayes Elementary. My favorite thing to do with her is art projects, playing card games, and dance!! She is one of the most artistic kids I know so she’s always down to do art whenever you want. Every time I’m at my mom’s house the first thing she says to me is “sissy wanna see what I made?” and it is always something new every time. She can literally take a piece of trash and turn it into a new gadget. One of her favorite card games is UNO so we always play. If you asked her she would say I cheat, but I don’t I’m just really good at it!! I remember we played so many games one night and our mom told her that it was time for bed but she begged her to play one more game. Let’s just say I won ;). Livy does gymnastics so she asks me to help her with her skills. We like to dance to music all the time and learn new TikTok dances. My favorite memory is whenever she tries to wrestle with me. She for real thinks she can beat me up but she never does! I can’t wait to see when she is bigger than me if she can actually take me down. I love her so much and I’m going to miss her a lot whenever I go off to college.
Thank you for reading this month’s article. I hope you enjoyed it!! I would love to hear about your sibling so email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com also email me if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles! I hope you have a great April and a happy Easter!! See you next month!! <33333333
April 1-29 10 am- 5 pm Tuesday-Saturday “Frozen in Time:” A Photographic History of Northwest Oklahoma Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St)
April 1 9 am-12 pm Family Fun Day in the Park Meadowlake Park (1200 W. Rupe Ave)
9 am-4 pm Corvette Expo XXXI Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
10 am-5 pm Spring on the Farm Red Bird Farm (8812 N. Hwy. 81) Meet the new baby animals, grab your spring plants and flowers, lavender in the barn.
11 am-3 pm History Alive! Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.)
1-4 pm Spring Skate Jam Enid Skate Park (124 N. 5th St)
1 & 4 pm Art Quest Leonardo’s Children’s Museum (200 E. Maple)
2 pm – 4 pm Sugar Cooking Decorating Class ($45) Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
6-11 pm Youth & Family Services 12th Annual Charity Gala Oakwood Country Club (1601 N. Oakwood)
6:30 pm Vance Spouses Club Charity Auction Stride Bank Center (301 S. Independence St)
7 pm Live Music: The RevolT Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
7:30 pm Auto Racing at Enid Speedway: OCRS Sprint Cars Enid Speedway (312 E. Oxford Ave)
8 pm Live Music: Buffalo Jones & the Heard Jezebel’s Back Room (121 E. Broadway)
9 pm Live Music: Addictions Mistress The Alibi Bar (224 W. Broadway)
9 pm Color Party RED (302 E. Maple)
April 2 3 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs. Rockwell 76ers Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
3 pm – 6 pm Live Music: Cale Lester The Alibi Bar (224 W. Broadway)
April 3 6-8:30 pm Throw with the Enid Outlaws Pros Enid Axe (104 N Independence)
April 4 6 pm Singo! Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
6:30 pm – 8 pm Book Signing: E. Joe Brown Putnam Six Bookstore (610 S. Cleveland)
April 5 6 pm Live Music: Jordan Holmes Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
April 6 6 pm Trivia Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
April 7 6-10 pm Museum after Dark: Liquid History Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S 4th St.) Explore the history of popular cocktails
7 pm Live Music: Dually Noted Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
April 8 8 am Tulips for Tatas Tea and Country Estate (406 E. Robertson) Breast Cancer awareness event. 5K, Pickleball & Cornhole tournaments, u-pick Tulips.
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in nearly two decades, the Enid High Baseball team is ready to make a run back to the state tournament this year. “Last year we won regionals and made state for the first time since I’ve been here,” said 8th year head coach Brad Gore, “I was so proud of that team. They worked so hard to get there, and Edmond Santa Fe just outplayed us in our first-round game.”
The good news is that they only graduated two seniors off of last year’s team, and only one of them was a starter. “Surprisingly we are still a fairly young team this year,” said Gore, “we only have 4 seniors this year, but all of our young guys now have a bunch of experience.”
Over the offseason, Coach Gore talked with his players about what they needed to do to be better this year – cut down on strikeouts at the plate and for the pitchers to cut down on their walks. “It’s still early, but so far we have done a better job on both,” Gore said.
This year’s team has some real star power, headed by senior Pitcher and Third Baseman Jake Kennedy and junior Center Fielder Garrett Shull. “Jake is a hard-nosed competitor who gets people out,” said Gore. “He throws in the upper 80’s and low 90’s, and has a great changeup. He’s just a good ball player. When he’s not pitching, he’s in the field, has a knack for driving in runs, and is a good baserunner and is headed to Cowley College next year. As for Garrett, he is one of the top-rated players not only in the state, but the country. He’s committed to play at Oklahoma State, which shows you how much of a difference-maker he is. He’s really good at everything. Your typical 5-tool guy.”
While the team is full of what Coach Gore called “good ballplayers, and great kids” a couple more stood out to him. “Our Catcher, McCage Hartling is rock solid. He’s consistent, sprays the ball around the park and can occasionally really get ahold of one. Also, Brock Slater bats leadoff and is just a great kid. He leads by example and is a great, coachable teammate.”
When talking about goals for the year Coach Gore said they break the season into three parts – win district, win regionals and win state. “Listen, we have a really good team that can make a run at state this year. It just takes getting hot at the right time, so we are just going to try and be as consistent as we can be and put ourselves in a position to win. These are super kids, they are really fun to coach and I know they can win a bunch of ballgames.”
Enid Pacer/Plainsmen Pride of the Plains is Proudly Sponsored by Slater Mechanical!
Keith Lea was born in Sayre, OK in 1951 and spent time in Claremore before moving to Enid as an elementary student in 1960. He attended Hoover, Waller and Enid High where he played basketball (10th grade) and football (10th-12th). He was on the State Championship team in 1967 and he made the all-conference football team his senior year. After graduation, he went to college at Southwestern in Weatherford where he earned a Physical Education and Industrial Arts degree. He taught and coached football, basketball and track at Longfellow, Emerson, and Enid High, for almost 40 years! He is also known for starting the first weight class at Enid High. Coach Lea retired from teaching and coaching at Enid at the ripe young age of 66. He was elected to the E Club Hall of Fame in 2017.
When asked, Coach Lea said he was inspired to coach so he could be like his coaching idol Coach Greenhaw, his position coach in high school.
Coach Lea has been married to his wonderful wife Lisa for 42 years, and they have 2 grown children, Heather and Tyler. You can find Keith coaching his grandson’s pee wee football team, and working in the EPS maintenance department. Although Coach has had some health issues in the past, his nominator said he was “too tough to die!” It was also said that “you could not find a person with a bad thing to say about Keith. He would give you the shirt off his back.” Coach Keith Lea, a true Local Legend!
LOCAL LEGENDS IS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY HUMPHREY AND GUARANTEE ABSTRACT CO.!
From taxes to Easter, April is a busy month. What many may not know is that April is also National Donate Life Month.
National Donate Life Month raises awareness about organ donation. April is full of events and activities that encourage people to register as organ donors, but the month also celebrates and honors those who have donated and saved lives.
Most people register to be a donor when receiving or renewing their driver’s license. Organ donation status can be confirmed by the presence of a small, red heart on an individual’s license or ID. For those who are unsure, additional information about status and how to become an organ donor can be found at lifeshareoklahoma.org.
Becoming a Donor
The human body is home to 78 organs, and each has its own purpose and function. However, donating isn’t limited to organs. The list of tissues and organs that can be donated continues to change and grow, but as of now, a donor can give organs, tissues, corneas, blood, platelets and bone marrow. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, “One donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of 75 more.”
There are currently more than 106,000 people on the national waiting list for transplants, 600 of which are Oklahomans.
Heather Dean, manager of communications for LifeShare Oklahoma and advocate for organ donation, shared more about donating, donor qualifications and National Donate Life Month. “Everyone can register to be a donor, so don’t rule yourself out because of age, medical history or disease,” she said. “People often think they’re not eligible to be a donor because they’re too old, or because they have preexisting conditions, but that’s not true.”
She continued, “At the time of death, medical professionals will determine whether or not you can become a donor.” As for what can be donated, she explained, “LifeShare recovers both organs and tissue, and the life-saving organs are lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas and intestines.”
LifeShare also recovers tissues, which include corneas, tendons, heart valves, veins, skin and bones. A primary care physician can share additional information about donor qualifications.
With more than 100,000 Americans currently awaiting organ, blood and tissue donation, the list is growing at an alarming pace. “A new name is added every nine minutes, and everyday 17 people die waiting,” Dean said. “It’s important for every community to donate because that list is made up of diverse people who need different blood types and tissue types to receive the gift of life.”
Fortunately, the number of Oklahomans participating in organ donation is on the rise as well. “In Oklahoma, during 2020 and 2021, we had record-breaking years of organ donation and lives saved.”
Oklahomans Awaiting Organs
Lendl and Cristil are both on the transplant waitlist, and they’re both waiting for a kidney. Being on the waitlist is different for each individual, but on average, the wait time varies between three to five years. Cristil has been on the waitlist for six months, while Lendl has been on the waitlist for two and a half years.
Lendl’s Story
Lendl was given a powerful antibiotic that destroyed 80% of his kidneys, sending him into renal failure. This resulted in his name being placed on the transplant list. While he waits, he watches his diet and keeps up on his medication. He said the whole process has been a roller coaster of emotions, and he compared the wait to packing for a vacation he knows nothing about. While he waits, he says that he’s seen the best come out in people, and that’s been the best part of the process for him. “People have really rallied around me, and they keep checking on me. The support is very encouraging.” He went on to say, “Seeing the good come out in people has been the best part of this.”
According to Lendl, one of the hardest parts has been the wait for someone to pass. However, he recognizes the selflessness of organ donors and their decision to donate. “We have to remember that they made a very unselfish decision to donate their organ(s), so I feel like I not only have to live my life for myself, but I have to live my life for my donor,” he said.
He went on to say, “I have to live the best life I can live to honor these individuals for their heroism.”
Cristil’s Story
Cristil’s kidney failure began five years ago, and within the last year, her kidneys have taken a turn for the worst. She’s been active on the transplant list for six months, but she’s been dealing with the deterioration of her kidneys and the health issues that accompany it for the last several years.
She began dialysis in December, and she’ll continue with the treatment until she gets a match for a kidney transplant. This may take as long as five years.
Dialysis is a process that performs some of the duties our kidneys perform, and it does so in an effort to keep the body in balance. Dialysis removes extra fluids and waste from the body, and this helps prevent them from building up. Dialysis also keeps safe levels of minerals in your blood, and it can help regulate your blood pressure. It’s a type of treatment that helps your body when your kidneys aren’t able to.
Being on dialysis has been a major life adjustment for Cristil because it requires so much from her. She states that it’s hard juggling work, dialysis and all of the doctors’ visits.
In addition to being a full-time teacher, Cristil goes to the dialysis center in Enid three days a week for four hours at a time. Fortunately for Cristil, the staff helps make the experience less daunting. “The dialysis center is amazing. The people there are so friendly and helpful, and they’re very nice.”
“I’m so thankful that I have them because it would be so much harder if I didn’t have a place where I felt comfortable.” She said the process has humbled her because she sees that she has a lot to be thankful for.
“You can really start to feel sorry for yourself, but then I look around and see how much I have to appreciate.” For Cristil, the best part has been feeling the amount of love she’s experienced. “I have a great support team, and I have great friends and family.”
Her journey has given her a “renewed faith in the human race.” She continues to wait on the gift of life, but she also realizes what a gift life is in itself.
Living Donors
Live donors aren’t unheard of, but they’re not as common as deceased donors. Mike and Meagan are members of the Enid community, and they have both given the gift of life.
Giving the Gift of Life: Mike and Mindy
Mike gave the gift of life to Mindy, and he gave her the chance to be a mother. Mindy said, “Mike’s kindness allowed me to be a mom.” She went on to say that Mike was a superman to her.
Mindy was diagnosed with kidney disease when she was 30 years old. She managed it with medication for a few years, until it became too much for even the medication to handle. When she was 33, her kidneys began to fail, and she had to begin dialysis. Mindy was on dialysis for six and a half years, and she said that it was “life altering.”
She was fortunate enough to do it at home with the help of her husband, but it was still a three and half hour process, five times a week. During this time, Mindy learned that she would not be able to have children naturally, and this was a direct consequence of needing an organ transplant. She was devastated by the news, stating that the life she dreamed of as a child was “shattered into a million pieces.”
In 2017, Mindy received the gift of life, a new kidney. “Mike gave me a second opportunity at the life I wanted to live,” she said. “His kindness, generosity, spirit and love gave me an extra push to be the person I knew that I was.”
The icing on the cake for Mindy was that, one year after receiving a kidney, she and her husband became parents through adoption. Mike gave Mindy a second chance at the life she dreamed of, and according to Mike, the best part of the process has been the new relationships he’s gained with Mindy and her family.
A Daughter’s Gift: Meagan and Lonnie
On Valentine’s Day 2022, Meagan gave the gift of life to her father. Lonnie, Meagan’s father, was born with one kidney, although he was unaware of this until he was 50 years old. At that time, his doctors started keeping an eye on his kidney. Over the next few years, his only kidney began to steadily decline, and he was put on the transplant list.
Meagan attended a few of Lonnie’s doctors’ appointments, and that’s where she learned more about being a live donor. When she mentioned donating to her father, he was adamantly against it because he wanted to prioritize her health and wellbeing. They talked about it for several months, and for his birthday one year, she got him a can of kidney beans. She then proposed talking to his doctors about the possibility of her being a live donor.
Lonnie took his questions to his doctors, his biggest concern being his daughter’s health. Meagan got the ball rolling from there, and on Valentine’s Day in 2022, she gave her father one of her kidneys.
They chose to share their story in hopes of informing others about the process and life after. “We’re okay with doing this because we want people to know that it’s not necessarily easy, but it’s totally doable. I’m living a normal life, and he doesn’t have to do dialysis – he can live a normal life too,” Meagan said.
Lonnie was nearing retirement, and Meagan didn’t want her father to spend his retirement in poor health or on dialysis. Meagan gave her father the gift of life, and now, with a healthy kidney, he is able to enjoy his retirement years.
A Recipient’s Story: Cindy and Kenny the Kidney
Cindy received her new kidney in 2020. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease when she was four years old, and as the years went on, her kidneys slowly started to deteriorate. She was put on the transplant list in 2020, and she was fortunate enough to only be on the list for four months.
Cindy underwent a successful kidney transplant operation and was released from the hospital on her 43rd birthday. Since then, she has named her kidney “Kenny the Kidney,” and the sign outside of her office reads, #KeepKennytheKidneyhealthy.
After she was given the gift of life, Cindy said, “I want to be a better person.” Cindy states that she learned a lot through her journey, and now she is an advocate for organ donation. “You have the chance to save someone’s life, and I think it’s important that people realize it doesn’t matter your age, race, or sex. Everybody can make a difference,” she said. “The more you share, the more you know, and the more you grow.”
National Donate Life Month brings awareness to organ donation and registration, and it celebrates those who have donated and saved lives. Organ donors have allowed individuals to go on and live the life they’ve dreamed to live.
For questions about becoming an organ donor, contact a medical professional or visit lifeshareoklahoma.org for more information.
