Cresson woman enjoying life after successful kidney transplant at Geisinger
Story highlights the benefits of live organ donations
Sandra (Sandy) Wilt loves to travel, a past-time she started more than 20 years ago. Little did she think that her longest journey would be the year she spent on dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant. During this time, Sandra’s doctor monitored her closely. When the time came for Sandra to be worked up for a transplant, she decided to seek a kidney from a living donor.
That’s when Sandy’s childhood friend and co-worker Helen Zelenski stepped up to the plate. “I told her, let’s start with me. I really felt that I would be a match,” Helen said.
Helen had to undergo blood tests to determine whether her kidney would be a good match for Sandy. When the results came back, she learned that she matched as if she were a sibling or parent.
There was never any doubt in Helen’s mind that she wanted to donate. She and Sandy have been good friends since high school and both admit to sharing a love for adventure.
Sandy underwent successful kidney transplant surgery at Geisinger Medical Center in February 2007. Both Helen and Sandy were discharged less than a week after the surgery.
The two are planning a trip to Florida this summer to celebrate with friends and family, who strongly supported them through the operation.
“I’m a very lucky person,” said Sandy, who lives in Cresson and is a retired Penn Cambria school teacher. “I’ve received excellent care and I’m so thankful for the kidney.”
Geisinger Director of Transplant Services Chintalapati Varma, MD said stories like Sandy’s demonstrate the importance of live organ donation.
“In central Pennsylvania, the notion of a living person donating organs to a friend or family member is still relatively new,” Varma said. “Yet living donations significantly reduce a person’s wait for an organ, which can be a life-saver.”
Varma said live organ transplants can decrease the risk a recipient will reject the organ.
While there are more than 98,000 people on the waiting list for organ transplants, there are only about 6,000 live transplants per year. The issue is highlighted during National Donate Life Month in April.
Sandy considered other transplant programs, but chose Geisinger because she felt comfortable with the doctors she’s been seeing for almost 20 years for her kidney problems.
Sandy currently receives post-operative care at Geisinger Medical Center and at Geisinger Medical Group Scenery Park in State College, which is a little more than an hour from her home. “The staff makes you feel like family,” Sandy said. “They are so caring and they are always available.”
Geisinger also offers transplant services at Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Wilkes Barre. More than 1,000 surgeries have been performed across the system.
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