5 minute read
Terry Wingerson samanTha reeves ForT DoDge
from Hometown Pride 2022
by Newspaper
Daughter saves father’s life with kidney donation
By JOHN McBRIDE
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editor@messengernews.net
Seven years after a life-changing event, Terry Wingerson and his daughter Samantha Reeves are still having life-changing moments, but in a much different way.
In 2015, Wingerson got to the point where he needed a kidney transplant to save his life. His daughter was a near-perfect match so in the fall of 2015, she donated one of her kidneys.
Fortunately their story had a happy ending and it led to the pair speaking and mentoring others who are considering donating an organ.
“Usually there are 100,000 people across the United States that are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and there just aren’t that many donors or viable donors,” said Reeves. “Prior to this process, I knew what organ donation was. I was an organ donor on my license. But I didn’t truly understand the impact that it would have, not only on the recipient but also on everyone around that person. I kept thinking about my mom, if she wouldn’t have my dad any more. Or my kids growing up without their grandfather.
“Being able to share our story and talk about the process, if we can change one person’s mind and help them become an organ donor, it could save the life of somebody in the future and have that same impact on their family,” she added.
Since the transplant, Wingerson and Reeves have spoken to several different groups, including an audience of about 700 people at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. They also participated in the National Transplant Games of America four years ago in Salt Lake City, where all the competitors were either donors or recipients.
“It was only one week, but I think I did more laughing and crying than I did in my whole life,” said Wingerson. “You hear stories of what people have done for others. Just to hear those stories, it touches you.”
Wingerson also earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records that week as part of the largest gathering of organ donors in one location.
“It’s crazy. I never thought I would be involved in something like that,” said Wingerson.
Reeves didn’t hesitate to offer to be a donor when she found out she was a match for her dad, but she said it’s a process that requires a lot of thought and reflection.
“As the donor, I would say you have to make sure you’re making this decision for yourself and you’re not making it for somebody else. I knew in my heart this is what I wanted to do. I do know other individuals who have donated and it did not go well. Maybe the recipient doesn’t have a relationship with them any more and that can be very hard mentally for the individual who donated.”
Reeves said she and her father have also mentored quite a few individuals, even some from out of state, who have considered donating.
“We got done speaking in Iowa City and we had several people come up and talk to us and said they were going to make changes and become a donor,” Wingerson said. “We’ve had that happen in Iowa City and in Des Moines. When somebody comes up to us and talks to us and we’ve touched them with our story, it makes me feel it’s worth it to get up and talk about it.”
Reeves said the world of organ donation actually isn’t talked about a lot. Incredibly, she’s one of three Iowa Central Community College staff members who are also living donors. “I don’t think it’s talked about enough. People don’t spread the word enough about being a living donor and donating after life,” Reeves said.
She said the fact that her father was told he would be on a waiting list for three to five years for a kidney was a big motivator to see if she would be a match.
“Seeing how fast his health declined was a big factor,” she said. “We didn’t even know if he would make it to his transplant.”
Reeves said it’s also important to share your wishes about organ donation with your family members. She said a lot of people don’t realize that if someone dies, even if they are listed as an organ donor, their next of kin makes the final decision.
“People can take a look at the Iowa Donor Network website to get informed and have an understanding of what organ donation really means. And if you make that decision to be a donor, also share that with family and friends so they are aware of it,” she said.
Now almost seven years removed from the surgery, both Wingerson and Reeves live normal lives with very few restrictions. Wingerson takes rejection medicine twice a day and once a month he needs an infusion. He also has to avoid grapefruit or anything with grapefruit in it.
“I’m actually in better health now than I was prior,” said Wingerson. “I had kidney disease for 28 years prior to my kidney failure. But once I got Samantha’s kidney in me, I was like, holy cow, I really feel good.”
In 2021, Reeves and Wingerson were honored with a plaque at the Fort Dodge driver’s license office. The DOT hopes it encourages others to become organ donors.
“That was a really cool honor,” Reeves said. “We didn’t start his process for something like that. We just like that we can share about this and spread the word.”
Fort dodge
SAMANTHA REEVES Organ donor
-Messenger photo by John McBride
TERRY WINGERSON, of Fort Dodge, sits beside his daughter Samantha Reeves, who donated a kidney to save his life in 2015. Now the pair share their story with others, in hopes of encouraging more people to become organ donors.
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