(128) Liver Transplant Update: So Far So Good and Back Home for the Hog Roast Benefit

AMDG

Keith Davison

Published on Page 1 of the Gallipolis/Pomeroy Sunday Times-Sentinel November 15, 2013

http://mydailytribune.com/news/news/2759277/Liver-transplant-update:-So-far-so-good 

            Last month on October 8 Michael Stapleton gave 60% of his liver to his cousin, Keith Davison……a beautiful demonstration of selfless generosity so that another may live.  So far everything is going much better than expected……an awesome answer to prayers.  Mike and Keith have been home since October 23 which was much sooner than expected for the liver recipient.  However, Keith must return to Pittsburgh for checkups every few weeks.  Friends and family say he looks great; the yellowness has disappeared from his skin and eyes as any remaining pain is less and less.  Both continue to improve and do very well although they still tire easily and are a little weak.

            This Saturday will serve as part fundraiser and part celebration as the families and friends of the two men hold a hog roast in their honor from 12 pm to 8 pm at the St. Louis Church Parish Hall in Gallipolis. 

According to his wife Rene on November 6, “Keith’s levels (creatin, bilirubin, anti-rejection level, etc.) are almost normal!   The doctors are super pleased with how well he is recovering.   Both are doing really well.  Thank you all so much for the support and hope to see you at the hog roast!”

It will be about five more months before Davison is almost 100% and can go back to work and about two more months for Stapleton.  Keith’s going outside of the home is very limited because crowds pose a risk of disease while his immune system is temporarily suppressed while Michael has no such constraints.  If all goes well, in about two more months both livers (Michael’s remaining one and Keith’s transplanted one) will grow to almost full normal size, although with only one lobe. 

The St. Louis Church community is looking forward to seeing Keith as usher again; the last time he served as usher was only three days before the transplant.  Despite the handicap of his medical condition and the time spent on medical treatment, Davison still helped out wherever he could.  Keith is productively moving forward with his plans for constructing a parish website during the six months of semi-quarantined recovery.

Backtracking to 8:15 am on Tuesday, October 8, Michael Stapleton was first up since the doctors wanted to first be sure that the transplant would work.  They took out his gall bladder and cut out 60% of his young healthy liver.  Keith Davison went into the operating room at about 10 am, yellow in face and eyes.  After making the incision, the medical team found a black crusty liver that was functioning at about 5 % of normal.  The doctors said that it would not have lasted much longer.  At this time next year Keith would have been gone. 

Mike was out of surgery at 3 pm and came to at about 4 pm, sore and thirsty.  His first words were a triumphant “Mission Accomplished”.  Thank you Mike; you are a tremendous witness of Christian self-giving.  Finally at 8:30 pm Keith was out of surgery and his wife Renee exclaimed:  “Thank God for Mike”.  His loved ones saw Keith a half hour later, still sedated.  

By 9:40 am the next day Keith was off of sedation and the breathing tube, not complaining of pain.  Mike was talking well and texting.  By 9 pm Keith’s pulmonary heart catheter was taken out.  Mike was off oxygen and out of Intensive Care into a room, from where he took a walk to visit a very tired Keith, sitting in a chair for a while.  His new liver was working well and his blood levels were good, although he needed medication for high blood pressure.  On Thursday Keith was still very tired and sore, but a little more talkative. 

By Friday, Keith’s eyes were starting to turn white again!   He had the catheter and tube from his stomach removed.  Renee reiterated her appreciation for all of those prayers that have been answered.  Although not out of the woods yet, he was out of ICU, sooner than expected!  On Saturday afternoon Keith with his cart of tubes visited Mike and they took a walk together.  On Sunday Mike had his IV tube (intravenous feeding) removed and both were out of bed most of the day.  On Monday the doctors were impressed by how well both are doing.  Both were eating solid foods. 

Tuesday exactly one week after the Surgery.  Mike was out of the hospital and into an apartment nearby in case of complications.  The next day Keith walked up and down 6 flights of stairs to get himself back into shape….. very tired but in super spirits.  The doctors were shocked!  Give credit to prayers, docs!

The family asks the community to keep their prayers coming and DON’T FORGET THE HOG ROAST BENEFIT THIS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16 from 12 pm to 8 pm at the St. Louis Church Parish Hall and the website, helpHOPElive.org.  The expenses are huge and mounting.  Keith especially and Michael too still have a long way to go to complete recovery and a lot of things can still go wrong……infection, rejection, disease, etc.  Keith will be taking anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life.

The website www.helpHOPElive.org helps people like Keith and is accepting tax deductible donations for him.  In the upper right corner one can type in “Keith Davison” and click on “Liver Transplant” for access to photos, updated news on Keith and Michael, fund raising events, and an opportunity to donate for them.  HelpHOPElive has the top Four Star Charity Navigator rating close to the perfect score of 70.  It rates every charitable organization (1.6 million non-profits) registered with the IRS based on the efficient use of every dollar donated, accountability, transparency, etc. and gives financial data.  See charitynavigator.org.   

I wonder if low risk long term prison inmates could be asked to volunteer as living donors, thus making their prison time very productive and proving that they are good candidates for early parole.  You don’t have to be a living donor but may do so at death by having your driver’s licensed stamped with “Organ Donor”.

This is all Christianity at its best…….a community of believers voluntarily sharing its resources and praying as the Lord, the great healer, works through doctors and nurses as His instruments.  May all health professionals follow in the footsteps of the Great Healer.

A Message (November 21, 2013) to Keith Davison & Michael Stapleton Posted on www.helpHOPElive.org

A lot of good has come through all of this.  Beautiful is the way the parish has pulled together in the hog roast.......giving their time, talent, and treasure.

          Keith, your ordeal has given strength and hope to many with liver disease and has made the public more aware of liver transplants.  You have many fans in the parish and community pulling for you after hearing about you and Michael and/or reading the Gallipolis Daily Tribune, the Sunday Times Sentinel, and the Gallia Hometown Herald.   Admirable is the way you have confronted this life threatening ailment with courage and faith.

          Michael you have given a tremendous Christian witness of generous self-giving in  helping your fellow man.  That's what Christianity is all about.  That's putting your faith into action.  This is much more manly than lifting 300 pounds.  All of this has shown how special a person you are.  Continue to touch people throughout your life.  May God bless the both of your abundantly. 

(127) Heroic Military Chaplains Who Have Been Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor

Congressional Medals of Honor: left to right Army, Navy, and Air Force

        Military chaplains of all faiths have done a wonderful job throughout history.  One beautiful example of the faiths working together are the four military chaplains that gave their life jackets to soldiers who did not have one when the U.S. Dorchester was hit by a German torpedo on February 4, 1943.  They were Methodist, Jewish, Dutch Reformed, and Catholic.  For more detail on the four chaplains click on

http://www.historyplace.com/specials/calendar/docs-pix/feb-four-chaplains.htm. 

There are ten American military chaplains, who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor (including a Confederate chaplain who received the equivalent Southern Cross of Honor), the military's highest award for heroism, since it was established in 1861.  Most were Catholic.  The qualifications for being awarded the Medal have been tightened up and refined over the years, but it is awarded to a member of the U.S. military for acts of intrepidity and gallantry above and beyond the call of duty while involved in combat operations.

Four medals of honor were awarded to Union chaplains for heroism during the Civil War, all of whom were Protestant Christians: John Milton Whitehead (Chaplain, U.S. Army, 15th Indiana Infantry); Francis Bloodgood Hall (Chaplain, U.S. Army, 16th New York Infantry); James Hill (1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company I, 21st Iowa Infantry); and Milton Lorenzo Haney (Regimental Chaplain, U.S. Army, 55th Illinois Infantry).  A fifth chaplain may be added……. a Catholic priest serving the Confederate Army.  Fr. Emmeran Bliemel, O.S.B., was killed at the Battle of Jonesboro while administering last rites -- the first American chaplain to die on the field of battle.  He is said to have been posthumously awarded the Southern Cross of Honor, quite similar to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

  

Each Veteran’s Day, St. Louis Church Gallipolis, Ohio will honor military chaplains in an article as a bulletin insert.  You will see that chaplains fill an indispensable role in the military, but secularists are trying to eliminate them entirely.

         Since the Civil War, five chaplains have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, the top award for heroism beyond the call of duty.  All five of them were Catholic priests who served God and Country. They are as follows:

-Capt. Joseph Timothy O'Callahan, U.S. Navy (World War II) - March 19,1945 and awarded in 1946.

-Capt. Emil J. Kapaun, U.S. Army (Korean War) - November 1-2, 1950
   and awarded posthumously in 2013.

-Lt. Vincent Robert Capodanno, U.S. Navy (Marines Vietnam War) -
   killed in action September 4, 1967 and awarded posthumously in
   1969.

-Maj. Charles Joseph Watters, U.S. Army (Vietnam War) - killed in
  action November 19, 1967 and awarded posthumously  in  1969.
  

-Capt. Angelo J. Liteky, U.S. Army (Vietnam War) - December 7, 1967
   and awarded in 1968. 

        The statements below in blue for each chaplain are the official citations of the United States Department of Defense.  May their heroism and holiness as chaplains inspire more vocations to the priesthood and more of them to devote a few years as military chaplains. The shortage of Catholic chaplains is much worse than the shortage of priests in general. Today a deployed Catholic soldier may not have the opportunity to attend Mass and receive the sacraments for months.

Lt. Comdr. Joseph Timothy O'Callahan, U.S. Navy (World War II)

        Out of 464 Medal of Honor winners in World War II, Fr. O'Callahan was the only chaplain. Here he is, ministering to the wounded aboard the U.S.S. Franklin in 1945.

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as chaplain on board the U.S.S. Franklin when that vessel was fiercely attacked by enemy Japanese aircraft during offensive operations near Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. A valiant and forceful leader, calmly braving the perilous barriers of flame and twisted metal to aid his men and his ship, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan groped his way through smoke-filled corridors to the open flight deck and into the midst of violently exploding bombs, shells, rockets, and other armament. With the ship rocked by incessant explosions, with debris and fragments raining down and fires raging in ever-increasing fury, he ministered to the wounded and dying, comforting and encouraging men of all faiths; he organized and led firefighting crews into the blazing inferno on the flight deck; he directed the jettisoning of live ammunition and the flooding of the magazine; he manned a hose to cool hot, armed bombs rolling dangerously on the listing deck, continuing his efforts, despite searing, suffocating smoke which forced men to fall back gasping and imperiled others who replaced them. Serving with courage, fortitude, and deep spiritual strength, Lt. Comdr. O'Callahan inspired the gallant officers and men of the Franklin to fight heroically and with profound faith in the face of almost certain death and to return their stricken ship to port.

Capt. Emil J. Kapaun, U.S. Army (Korean War)

        The heroism and saintly virtue of the newest recipient of the Medal of Honor (2013), Servant of God Emil Kapaun extended from the battlefield to a North Korean POW camp where his holiness stood out.  He would die in captivity, but not before making himself an irritant to his jailers and an inspiration to his fellow prisoners.  Father Kapaun would sneak out of his own compound in order to minister to the other prisoners, and through the intercession of St. Dismas, the Good Thief, scrounged for food and basic necessities to help them survive their hellish conditions, even sharing his own meager rations with his men.  He got even non-Catholic prisoners to pray the Rosary.  

        This priest openly defied the Communists in their daily forced indoctrination and brainwashing sessions.  For a long time, they did not dare retaliate, for fear of provoking the other prisoners to rebellion; but when Father Kapaun came down with an eye infection and a blood clot in his leg, they seized the opportunity to carry him off to an isolated "hospital" and starve him to death.  

Father Kapaun's cause for beatification opened in 2008.  Pray for his intercession to peacefully stop aggressive North Korea and its itchy nuclear trigger finger as well as other terrorists.

Prayer for the Beatification of Emil Kapaun

Lord Jesus, in the midst of the folly of war, Your servant, Chaplain Emil Kapaun spent himself in total service to You on the battlefields and in the prison camps of Korea, until his death at the hands of his captors.  We now ask You, Lord Jesus, if it be Your will, to make known to all the world the holiness of Chaplain Kapaun and the glory of his complete sacrifice for You by signs of miracles and peace.  In Your Name, Lord, we ask, for You are the source of peace, the strength of our service to others, and our final hope. Amen.  Chaplain Kapaun, pray for us.

Citation

Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1-2, 1950. On November 1, as Chinese Communist Forces viciously attacked friendly elements, Chaplain Kapaun calmly walked through withering enemy fire in order to provide comfort and medical aid to his comrades and rescue friendly wounded from no-man's land. Though the Americans successfully repelled the assault, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Facing annihilation, the able-bodied men were ordered to evacuate. However, Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded. After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds, as hand-to-hand combat ensued. As Chinese Communist Forces approached the American position, Chaplain Kapaun noticed an injured Chinese officer amongst the wounded and convinced him to negotiate the safe surrender of the American Forces. Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun, with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy soldier preparing to execute Sergeant First Class Herbert A. Miller. Not only did Chaplain Kapaun's gallantry save the life of Sergeant Miller, but also his unparalleled courage and leadership inspired all those present, including those who might have otherwise fled in panic, to remain and fight the enemy until captured. Chaplain Kapaun's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the United States Army.

Lt. Vincent Robert Capodanno, U.S. Navy (Vietnam War)

        Known for his sanctity and his devotion to his Marines, Fr. Capodanno was killed in action in Vietnam on September 4, 1967. Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of the Archdiocese for the Military Services officially opened his cause for beatification on May 21, 2006.  See Blog #31 for more detail and the book, "The Grunt Padre by Fr. Daniel Mode. 

           A video documentary on Fr. Capodanno is fascinating.   “The Grunt Padre in Vietnam” available at 205-271-2990, 1-800-854-6316, or 1-504-840-9898 or www.focustvonline.com.  It is narrated by Archbishop Phillip M. Hannan, former prelate of Archdiocese of New Orleans and himself a former chaplain as a paratrooper in the 82^nd Airborne Division during World War II.   In the video a Protestant Chaplain Takesian observed: “He lived his Christian faith.  He emulated Christ by giving his life for his men.  The men were willing to die for him”.   Marines testified that he’s a saint.

            I met a marine veteran recently who actually served with Fr. Capodanno in Vietnam and actually met him.  Jerry Bain of Pt. Pleasant, WV (304-675-1905 or jkbain@yahoo.com) affirmed that the men loved him and held him in such high esteem.  

Prayer for the Canonization of Fr. Capodanno

Heavenly Father, source of all that is holy, in every age You raise up men and women who live lives of heroic love and service. You have blessed Your Church through the life of Vincent Capodanno, Vietnam War Navy chaplain, who had the "courage of a lion, and the faith of a martyr." He was killed in action offering medical assistance to the wounded and administering last rites to the dying on the battlefield. Through his prayer, his courage, his faith, and his pastoral care he is an example of laying down one's life for one’s friends: Jesus told us that there is no greater love than this. If it be Your will, may he be proclaimed a saint! We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.  Click on http://www.capodannoguild.org for the official website for the cause of canonization of Father Vincent R. Capodanno.

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3d Battalion, in connection with operations against enemy forces. In response to reports that the 2d Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, Lt. Capodanno left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleaguered platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to help their wounded comrades and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant marines. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gunner positioned approximately 15 yards away, Lt. Capodanno rushed a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, Lt. Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.

            During the ambush described above in which his troops were being overrun, he comforted one fallen soldier after another:  “Stay calm, marine.  Help will be here.  God is with us all today.”

       More than one person returned to the faith upon hearing about the courage of Chaplain Capodanno.  This illustrates the axiom, “A missionary does not stop working even after his death”.      

Maj. Charles Joseph Watters, U.S. Army (Vietnam War)

         This photograph of Fr. Watters offering Mass in the field was taken shortly before he was killed in action on November 19, 1967.

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Chaplain Watters distinguished himself during an assault in the vicinity of Dak To. Chaplain Watters was moving with one of the companies when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Watters, with complete disregard for his safety, rushed forward to the line of contact. Unarmed and completely exposed, he moved among, as well as in front of the advancing troops, giving aid to the wounded, assisting in their evacuation, giving words of encouragement, and administering the last rites to the dying. When a wounded paratrooper was standing in shock in front of the assaulting forces, Chaplain Watters ran forward, picked the man up on his shoulders and carried him to safety. As the troopers battled to the first enemy entrenchment, Chaplain Watters ran through the intense enemy fire to the front of the entrenchment to aid a fallen comrade. A short time later, the paratroopers pulled back in preparation for a second assault. Chaplain Watters exposed himself to both friendly and enemy fire between the 2 forces in order to recover 2 wounded soldiers. Later, when the battalion was forced to pull back into a perimeter, Chaplain Watters noticed that several wounded soldiers were Lying outside the newly formed perimeter. Without hesitation and ignoring attempts to restrain him, Chaplain Watters left the perimeter three times in the face of small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire to carry and to assist the injured troopers to safety. Satisfied that all of the wounded were inside the perimeter, he began aiding the medics--applying field bandages to open wounds, obtaining and serving food and water, giving spiritual and mental strength and comfort. During his ministering, he moved out to the perimeter from position to position redistributing food and water, and tending to the needs of his men. Chaplain Watters was giving aid to the wounded when he himself was mortally wounded. Chaplain Watters' unyielding perseverance and selfless devotion to his comrades was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.  See also www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cwatters.htm.

Capt. Angelo J. Liteky, U.S. Army (Vietnam War)

Citation

Chaplain Liteky distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to within 15 meters of an enemy machine gun position to reach them, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. When there was a brief respite in the fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy's positions. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man, Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to push himself along. pausing for breath momentarily, he returned to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him, but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and inspiring the men. Upon the unit's relief on the morning of 7 December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain Liteky's actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

          Unfortunately, Fr. Liteky went on to change his name to Charles, repudiate his Medal of Honor (making him the only Medal of Honor recipient to do so), abandon his priestly ministry, and marry (or attempt marriage with) a former nun.  He now devotes his energies to protesting American foreign policy.  None of this changes his conspicuous valor under fire, or the fact that he deserved his Medal of Honor, or the indelible character of his priesthood.  From what we know today about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with so many veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what went on in his mind is open to conjecture.  Certainly he was affected by the Post Vatican II confusion in the late 1960s and 1970s.  Pray for him.      

      

       The process of canonization is advancing for Fr. Capodanno and Fr. Kapaun.  Currently, they are Servants of God or Venerable.  The next step is beatification.

See http://v-forvictory.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-medal-of-honor-chaplains.html, our principal source and also forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=345213 - Cached, as well as    

www.homeofheroes.com/e-books/publisher/S_chaplains.doc,  See also Blog #103.

      This history vividly demonstrates the contributions and the need for military chaplains in the military.  Their presence, their help in many ways, their counseling, their ministering to the spiritual needs of the troops and their families on the bases (plus the aid of the Mass and the graces of the sacraments for Catholics) are all helpful to morale and coping with the rigors and daily sacrifices of military life in serving the Country. However, secularists are agitating for the removal of chaplains from the military.  

  

         Think of these Medal of Honor recipients and many other heroic and saintly priests as these when somebody says that most Catholic priests are pedophiles.  The fact is that almost all of the abusers were homosexuals, who abused young adolescents and were ordained in the 60s, about the same time as the saintly Fr. Capodanno. Perhaps there's some justification for saying that in a way this extremely small percentage (even that's too many) of priests have done more harm to the Catholic Church than Hitler, Stalin, or Mao Ze Dong.  That's simply because the Church becomes stronger during persecution ("the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church"), although we pray to be spared of it. Severe persecution since the Ascension of Christ into Heaven never could destroy the Church;  other forces of evil, internal or external, will not either.......ever.