LEASE ON LIFE

LOCAL 81-YEAR-OLD TALKS LIFE AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

In 2018, Jane Burgan wasn’t feeling well, sought out a doctor, and heard some terrible news.

“The doctor said, ‘You’re in deep trouble. You’re in kidney failure,’ and sent me directly to dialysis that same day,” Burgan says.

Burgan’s daughter, Nora Day, has been with her every step of the way.

“She started dialysis on my 50th birthday and even crashed during dialysis,” Day says.

“We were told in 2001 that she had kidney problems, but the doctor described it as when someone has a heart attack - it’s an instant thing. When someone has kidney failure, it’s a slow process. When it finally hits you, it’s usually too late.”

Desperate for a kidney, she went to St. Vincent Hospital, but staff told the family Burgan was simply too old to qualify.

Burgan was in her late 70s at the time, and despite the wonderful staff at the dialysis center, DaVita, the treatment was hitting her hard. The family didn’t take no for an answer.

They went to IU Health, and the transplant staff there thought Burgan might have a chance.

“They check you from head to toe to make sure you’re healthy,” Day says.

“Mom had to have both knees replaced, cataract surgery, dental work, MRIs, chest X-rays, the works. Everything has to be done in a year’s time, and meanwhile the pandemic hits and appointments are delayed. Some of the tests she’s already done are falling off for the time frame.”

Tests had already shown that Day and

Burgan are not a match, but a program through IU Health called paired donation was available. In theory, the kidneys are switched at the same time, from two donors to two recipients.

It didn’t quite turn out that way.

While Burgan waited for the perfect match, Day was able to donate her kidney in advance, pushing her mom higher on the list of potential recipients.

“The typical wait time for a kidney is five years, but I don’t think mom would have made it that long on dialysis,” Day says. “I donated mine in September of 2021. The benefit of that would be that I was healed by the time mom got hers, and I could care for her during her recovery.”

Once Day was healed, the family had to wait for a donor, either living or deceased, that matched Burgan.

It took another seven months for Burgan to get the call.

“On December 1, 2022, I got the phone call,” Burgan says. “It was shocking. I’d waited so long and prayed for so long and the nurse said, ‘I’ll give you 20 minutes to talk to your family.’ I was up at IU by 10:30 that night, and was in surgery by 7:30 in the morning.”

Her donated kidney was a perfect match, and though the typical kidney donated is approximately 71 years old, this one was 50 years old.

Burgan’s family completely understood the pain another family was going through in order for their mom to regain her health.

“I’ve lost a son and I know the horrific grief that comes with that loss,” Day says.

“In a letter to the family, I told them their loved one was a hero in our hearts and eyes. It was heartbreaking to know that someone is grieving, and we grieved and prayed for that family that saved my mom. At the same time, we couldn’t turn down this opportunity. There were a lot of mixed feelings.”

The doctor who performed the transplant said in his 20-year career, including more than 3,000 transplants, the oldest recipient was around 78. It was a rare and special occasion that Burgan, then 80, was able to receive this gift.

In fact, he said he could count on less than one hand how many surgeries he had performed for a patient around her age.

She was a unicorn, Day told her.

“As soon as she was out of surgery, they told us the kidney was already working,” Day says. “All glory to God. Some people don’t have an immediate reaction, so this was great news.”

The recovery for both the living donor and the recipient isn’t easy.

Day compares it to taking a healthy person and making them very sick. It took about three months before she was back to sound health.

Burgan had some additional challenges.

“I was in the hospital for seven days and home for five,” Burgan says. “Then I went back in for another six days. It takes determination and you have to have true grit, but I signed up for it and it was a job I had to do. I was going to do it.”

Now 81, Burgan had to drink four liters of water per day, adhere to a careful diet, and was spending days at a time at follow-up appointments.

“I still tire easily and take naps,” Burgan says.

“They say it’ll be about six months to get back to 100%.”

She still has a couple of months of restrictions including no driving, cleaning, cooking or physical exertion, but Day can see the signs of things to come.

“I drove around the corner the other day and saw her sitting outside, planting flowers,” Day says. “It feels good. It’s the first time she’s been outside and things have finally come full circle. We’re getting there.”

The family says the doctors at IU Health were phenomenal, from Nephrologist Dr. Muhammad Yaqub to Transplant Surgeon Dr. William Goggins.

“God led me in the right direction when I went to IU Health,” Burgan says. “I had so many doctors and they were the absolute best.”

Burgan has plenty to fight for too.

“I have 13 great-grandbabies,” she says. “Ten are under 5 years old. My husband Bill has been by my side for 48 years and we have six kids between us. They say you have angels around you, and I called on them more than once, and still do. I’ve made it with God’s help.”

The family hopes to spread the word about organ donation, and just how those who receive an organ have their lives saved and transformed.

“I hope people will feel proud to sign up for organ donation,” Day says. “I don’t know if they know the difference their loved one brings to the recipient’s family. We hope to reach out to the donor’s family very soon and we’re just so grateful for all the people who have touched our lives during this journey.

We had unconditional love from neighbors. Friends would take mom to doctors appointments so I didn’t have to miss work, and many brought meals. The doctors, nurses and staff have been gifts from God.”

According to IU Health, there are 115,000 people in the U.S. waiting on a transplant today. About 22 of those will die every day because of transplant unavailability.

One donor can save up to eight lives, and heal up to 75 people with cornea and tissue donation.

To learn more about organ donation, visit iuhealth.org.

While I like the idea of a summer bucket list, it can feel a bit overwhelming. I prefer to make a short list, so I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can complete the list. Here are 5 inexpensive ideas to add to your summer bucket list. I guarantee you’ll save money and have some fun this summer.

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM … VISIT AN ICE CREAM SHOP!

It doesn’t seem like summer unless I’m standing in front of an ice cream stand. I have many fond memories of visiting ice cream shops when I traveled with my family. I enjoy standing in line and chatting with other customers about what they plan to order. Long lines don’t matter to me when there’s an ice cream treat waiting at the end. My favorite ice cream splurges are a hot fudge sundae and a cherry soda with vanilla ice cream. Go with a group of family or friends and each choose something different. Ask for recommendations and try some fun flavor combinations. Make it a contest and vote on who ordered the best ice cream treat. Award the winner a gift card from the ice cream shop.

HAPPY HUMMINGBIRDS. SET UP A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER.

These tiny birds bring me so much joy. A hummingbird feeder is an inexpensive investment. Most feeders run between $10-$20. You will need a pole or a stand to hang the feeder and they are around $20 or less.

It’s easy to make the hummingbird nectar. It’s one part sugar to four parts water (1 cup of sugar 4 cups of water) and let boil. Let the solution cool and fill the feeder.

Hummingbirds are attracted to red, so be sure you have some red objects near the feeder. You can have red flowers or even a red patio umbrella. Hummingbirds will visit the feeder a handful of times a day. Believe me, they are fun to watch and sometimes I’ll have three or four at the feeder at one time. Delightful!

For more information on hummingbirds, visit the National Audubon Society at audubon.org.

Summer is the time to appreciate local produce and other homemade goods. I enjoy stopping at a local farmers market and thinking of different things to cook. It’s a way for me to jump out of my comfort zone. I set a budget for myself before I go the market. A trip to the market doesn’t have to be expensive. A stop at a farmers market can be one-stop shopping for breads, dairy, produce and meat all in one trip. On a recent trip to my local farmers market, I purchased a loaf of country white bread, a couple of spice packets to make a fantastic meal, and some fresh produce. When I’m finished shopping, I sit on a bench and do some people watching and listen to music. It’s also a good time to see if I need to get anything else. I usually decide to make a few more stops at the market before I leave.

Go For A Sunset Walk

Some of the best sunsets are during the summer. You can’t beat the mix of amber and violet hues. I take my dog, Louis for long sunset walks, and I always bring my phone. It’s a chance to capture a few photos and send to friends and family. I get some ideas by looking at my neighbors’ yards. As an extra bonus, you’ll be getting in a healthy workout while enjoying a gorgeous sky. Perfection!

Chill And Grill

I can sometimes get into a grilling rut. Summer is the perfect time to shake up your grilling game. I like to make kabobs (veggie, chicken, shrimp, steak), which are inexpensive if you buy the ingredients and assemble them yourself. You can save money by using less meat and more vegetables. Don’t forget to season well with salt and pepper or spice mixes. Serve the kabobs with rice and a feta, tomato and cucumber salad and you’ve got a perfect meal. Grill packets are inexpensive and easy to make. Put veggies and potatoes in aluminum foil and season with salt, pepper and olive oil. Seal them up and cook them on the grill. Fajitas are another fan favorite. Choose your veggies, protein and put them on the grill. Any of these meals can be enjoyed outside. Want to save a little more money? Check the grocery store ads and select your grill meal based on what meat and produce is on sale. Make your meal fun by taking photos of your grilled feast.

For more information on grilling, visit foodnetwork.com and search for grilling ideas and recipes.

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