The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Paired, across the miles, for life
Altruistic act connects city woman, Miss. athlete with failing kidney
MIDDLETOWN — When a onetime college track star whittling down his 400meter record of 47 seconds in hopes of pursuing a professional career in the sport fell ill, he chalked it up to overtraining.
Physical education/ health teacher Terrance Swinson, 30, of Hattiesburg, Miss., had been feeling lousy for some time. He was hoping to turn pro after hitting his personal best, trying to knock one or two seconds off that time to possibly try out for the Olympics.
He had been experiencing fatigue, cramps, dizziness and sometimes blackouts and vomiting, but because of the shape he was in, Swinson didn’t feel the need for regular checkups.
Swinson often pushed himself to his limits. “I tried to fight through the pain, but it was just too much — unbearable.”
His eventual kidney disease diagnosis and search for a live donor led him 1,300 miles away to Gwenn Johnson, 56, of Middletown. The two are now connected in a special way, despite their geographical distance.
Three years ago, Johnson registered with Matching Donors in the hopes of helping turn around the life of a stranger suffering from the disease.
She’s has volunteered since 16, when she became a candy striper at Middlesex Hospital and also helped out at a nursing home. She regularly donates blood, is registered as an organ donor, is on the bone marrow registry, and has volunteered as a paramedic and the local ambulance association for more than two decades.
“It’s just my nature. I
wanted to do something good for somebody now while I’m alive. I just wanted to make somebody happy,” said Johnson, who grew up in East Hampton.
Paired kidney donations, or “altruistic” donations, are used for when a potential donor isn’t a match for the person who needs a new kidney.
“If both donors and recipients are willing, your doctors may consider a paired donation. This program provides a way for people to receive a livingdonor kidney transplant instead of being on the deceaseddonor waiting list for several years,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
The process works as long as each of the donors’ organs are compatible with the other person’s intended recipient.
Swinson eventually went to the doctor and discovered the level of creatine in his blood was 19. The normal level for a man is between .6 and 1.2. At one point, it soared to 28. Today, it hovers around 1.9, Swinson said.
When the test results came back, he learned he had kidney disease. Because he wasn’t compatible with family members, Swinson registered with several donor sites, searching for a potential match.
His doctors put him on dialysis and told him he could greatly improve his quality of life if he found a donor. “You age faster because it takes so much out of your body,” Swinson said.
His disease progressed to the point when he had trouble lifting his son.
“I couldn’t pick him up like I wanted to. He was just begging for me to throw him up and down,” said Swinson, who got to see his children last weekend for the first time since the surgery.
Twentytwo people die every day in the United States waiting for a kidney transplant, most waiting seven to nine years, according to Matching Donors.
There are 15,495 potential donors registered on the site, and 4,181 potential donors willing to be in paired exchanges or chains, according to the agency.
Johnson’s kidney matched a person in the Midwest hoping for a transplant. “This person had been very sick and looking for a match for a long time,” she said.
Turns out, that person’s uncle was a match for Swinson.
“It could just be four people or it could be a chain of people,” Johnson said of the altruistic process.
Both are still recovering from the procedure. Swinson expects to return home in four weeks, while Johnson is under doctor’s orders not to lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for some time.
“I feel amazing. I feel really grateful. This was something meant to happen. She’s probably the nicest person I’ve ever met in my life,” said Swinson, who has designated Johnson, who doesn’t have children, the godmother of his own.
Ahead of the procedure, both took a battery of tests, which took a year to complete. Their surgeries were performed at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta Aug. 1.
Medical procedures were covered by Swinson’s insurance. Afterward, Johnson felt good, in little pain initially because she’d had an abdominal block.
“I was emotionally happy. I’ve never had children, but I think it’s like that way that you’re happy,” she said.
Every day, Swinson thanks Johnson for the gift that set his transplant in motion.
They came together in person last May in Atlanta, when Johnson had a chance to meet Swinson’s daughter Nylah, 5, and son Terry, 4. She also met his wife, Janae, whom he met at the University of South Alabama. “She’s my backbone,” Swinson said.
Most times, besides the risks routinely associated with surgery, the procedure is safe.
“Generally, the one kidney takes over. If something should happen to my (remaining) kidney, I’d end up on the top of the (donor) list,” Johnson said.
Swinson is so grateful he named his new kidney “Gwenn.”
A couple days postsurgery, he got the ambitious idea to do a twomile walk. “It didn’t happen. I was really in denial,” Swinson admitted.
She and Swinson haven’t met their pair, and don’t know the sex of the recipient of Johnson’s kidney, but are hoping a case worker can put them in touch.
“Matching Donors really likes to get people together to tell their story,” Johnson said.
Swinson is hoping to begin jogging slowly in about six months if all goes well.
The pair are connected now in way few are, and both intend to keep in touch for years to come. In fact, Swinson is hoping Johnson will move south and be closer to him and his family.
As soon as he recovers fully, Swinson intends to get two tattoos: one of Johnson’s first name with the green kidney disease awareness ribbon on his shoulder, and another of his wife’s name on his chest, right above his heart.
Both Johnson and Swinson encourage everyone to at least consider registering with the organization if they are able. For details, visit MatchingDonors.com. Swinson also invites anyone who would like information to visit his Facebook page, The Perfect Pair Affiliated with Matching Donors, or email him at terranceswinson@gmail.com.