Mark Reid, who received two kidney transplants from living donors, shares his story during Franciscan Health Crown Point’s annual Donate Life Celebration.
Organ recipient, family of donor share personal stories
After receiving two kidney transplants from living donors nearly 10 years apart, Mark Reid feels he has an obligation to share his story and help inspire others.
“I’m marching forward and enjoying life,” he said.
The longtime former paramedic-turned-Region high school coach now shares his story in presentations to various organizations and even wrote a book about his transplant experiences.
Reid was one of the speakers at Franciscan Health Crown Point’s annual Donate Life Celebration in the St. Joseph Chapel on Tuesday. Each year during National Donate Life Month, the hospital encourages its staff members to register as organ and tissue donors with educational registration drives, a celebration of donor recipients and a memorial Mass for those who donated to help others.
In support of the Catholic healthcare ministry’s core value of respect for life, Franciscan Health Crown Point partners with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Life Line Stem Cell and VisionFirst Indiana Lions Eye Bank to facilitate organ, eye, stem cell and tissue donation.
Reid, who has diabetes, said he was shocked to learn he was in kidney failure and needed a transplant after going to the emergency room following a fall at home. He received his first kidney transplant after posting the need for a donor on social media. His quarterback on the Lowell High School football team’s mother became his donor.
Nearly 10 years later, Reid contracted COVID, which caused his other kidney to fail. One of his former softball players at Merrillville High School was his second donor.
“All I did was get sick and sleep through surgery, “ Reid said. “The donors are the heroes.”
According to Donate Life Indiana, more than 1,000 Hoosiers are among more than 104,000 Americans awaiting organ transplants. In the U.S., another person is added to the transplant waiting list every nine minutes. Each day, 16 people die because a donated organ wasn’t available in time. One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of more than 75 people through tissue donation.
Stephen Davis’s son, Matthew, died two years ago at the age of 39. The Crown Point man said his son signed his driver’s license to become an organ donor and was able to donate three organs to help others live on.
“In a tragic situation like that, we were thrilled he wanted to give the ultimate gift and give life to several others,” Davis said. “Our lives were changed forever, but the lives of three individuals and their families was also changed forever because of his gift.”
Davis passed around a photo of his son as he spoke during Tuesday’s event and encouraged others to register to become organ donors as well.
“That gift will restore hope, not only in you and your expectations of your loved ones, but also restore hope for the loved one of your recipient,” Davis said.
