(124) Liver Transplant: Gallia Man to Give Part of His Liver to Cousin

AMDG

Keith Davison on the left with his cousin Michael Stapleton, the organ donor.

         Michael Stapleton, age 21, of Crown City, a self-employed auto mechanic, has learned a lot about self-giving and the virtue of charity as a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.  Now he is heroically putting Christian love into practice. 

On October 8 at 5:30 am the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Stapleton will be giving 35-40% (1/3  - 2/3)) of his liver (the secondary lobe) to his cousin, Keith Davison, age 43, of Gallipolis.  At the same time Michael will have to give up his gall bladder.  Davison has had Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis for 17 years now, a disease of the liver which is debilitating and at this stage, sooner than later……..fatal, depending on how fast the disease progresses.  With frequent costly treatments Davison has somehow been able to work until now for AEP Construction as an Ohio State electrical/civil engineer, but not much longer without a transplant, the only cure.

    The chances of success of the transplant are good.........90% of the recipients and 99.5% of the living donors survive.  Since there is clearly a significant risk of serious complications for both of them, hundreds of friends and parishioners are praying and more prayers are requested.    There will be a hospital stay (7-10 days for Keith, 3-4 for Michael), a longer stay near the hospital in Pittsburgh (6-9 weeks for Keith & two for Michael), and a total of six months recovery for Keith and three months for Michael.  If all goes well, in about six months both livers (Michael’s remaining one and Keith’s transplanted one) will grow to almost full size, although with only one lobe.  For more detail go to http://www.upmc.com/services/transplant/abdominal-transplants/liver/pages/default.aspx.

Keith has been on the waiting list for a transplant from a deceased donor for the last four years.  His brother-in-law volunteered, but was incompatible.  Recently, cousin Mike stepped up to be a living donor without even being asked.  

“I do not want to see Krystal (age 8) grow up without a dad, especially knowing that I could have helped save her father’s life”, said Stapleton. 

Both underwent medical testing in Pittsburgh on September 18-19 and Michael was found to be compatible as to blood vessel configuration, blood type, and tissue type..  With great faith and courage, both men will be ready to embark on this journey on Tuesday at 5:30 am for nine hours of surgery.  Michael will lead off, since the doctors want to first be sure that the transplant will work. While waiting for the surgery, Keith continues doing what he has been doing.  He’ll serve as an usher at the 5:30 Mass on Saturday night. Despite the handicap of his medical condition and the time spent on medical treatment, he still helps out wherever he can.  One project Keith has planned is to construct a parish website during the six months of quarantined recovery.

            Yes, it all will be very expensive; Davison's health insurance coverage isn't anywhere near sufficient.  The copay alone is about 20%.   Thus friends are organizing a hog roast at the St. Louis Church parish hall on November 16 and setting up an account at Ohio Valley Bank to receive donations.  The website helphopelive.org helps people like Keith and is accepting 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 Keith and Michael.  The charity, helpHOPElive has the top Four Star Charity Navigator rating with close to the perfect score of 70.  See charitynavigator.org.  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. 

Mr. Davison hopes that his ordeal will help others by making healthy people more aware of the need for organ donations because demand far exceeds supply.  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.

“The recipient is not a faceless person.  The donor is saving a dad or a mom or a child.  One donor who accidentally loses his life, can save several lives with his heart, lungs, and kidneys”, Davison emphasized.Anyone can become a donor upon death through a living will or simply making his wishes known to next of kin.  When you renew your license, have “Ohio Organ Donor” stamped on it.  Then your death may give life to another.

           “God sends people into our lives to help us and sometimes we have to hide our pride and accept the help.  God sent Simon Cyrene to Christ on the road to Calvary and He accepted his help,” added Davison.

(123) A Labor Day Salute to the Staff People of the University of Rio Grande (Southeastern Ohio)

AMDG

Published in the Gallipolis Daily Tribune September 3, 2013.  Go to http://mydailytribune.com/news/editorials-opinion/2488308/A-Labor-Day-salute-to-the-staff-at-Rio.

                         Aerial view of the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College

           While teaching at the University of Rio Grande, I wrote this piece to honor our staff people there.  Today as Professor Emeritus of Management I try to contribute wherever I can.  This tribute is really applicable to any organization.  I hope to point out that every employee is important and a valuable member of the team; every worker makes a difference.  When one person is absent or does not do his/her job and does not do the best s/he can, the entire organization suffers.  As in football, one missed block and the quarterback is sacked.

A LABOR DAY SALUTE TO THE STAFF PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSITY

Labor Day is all about the tremendous dignity of the worker and his/her work.  This great dignity of the person has its origin in the different faiths.  Based upon this concept, they have had a great influence upon business practice especially in regard to ethics, social responsibility, social justice, and legislation against abuses in the workplace.....slavery, child-labor, unsafe & inhumane working conditions, unjust wages, etc.    

For example, John Wesley pricked the conscience of 19^th Century Britain.  Two of his disciples, William Wilberforce & Lord Shaftesbury were reformers in the British Parliament.  Leo XIII's 1891 papal encyclical "Rerum Novarum on the Condition of Labor" had a world-wide impact and continues as part of the social teachings of the Church which is updated as new problems, controversies, and issues come up.    

Jews, Muslims, and Christians believe that even the lowest paid worker has this great dignity because s/he was created by God according to His image and likeness.  Christians add that Christ as God suffered and died to save each one of us and draw inspiration from His words, "Whatever you do to the least of mine, you do it unto Me".  As I understand it, the Hindus use the word "Namaste" as a greeting, which means welcome and/or "I acknowledge the divine in you".  Secular humanists in their own way also believe in the dignity of the person.  

Work in itself has great dignity, according to the Christian view, because man (in a generic sense) uses work to participate with God in creation which is ongoing.....to construct buildings, to create goods & services, and works of art.  Martin Luther preached that even the most menial work should be done for the glory of God.  This conviction led to the Protestant work ethic which some scholars say was a major factor in the economic development of the West after the Reformation.  Ignatius Loyola, advocated a similar work ethic ("Ad majorem Dei gloriam") as the part of the Catholic Counterreformation.  The second papal encyclical of John Paul II, "Laborem Exercens", was devoted to the Theology of Work.     

On Labor Day, I sometimes reflect upon the tremendous dignity of each worker and his/her importance to the organization.....each making a very important contribution according to his/her education, skills, and abilities.  From time to time, I like to say to the custodian in our building: "Thank you for keeping our place clean.  It would be a real dump without you".  Then I was thinking that we, the line faculty, tend to take our many support people for granted and they deserve our appreciation.  We couldn't do without them.  Thus, I would like to thank each staff person for helping us to perform our mission.

     The Bob Evans Farm Hall School of Business

-I thank the secretaries for making our jobs so much easier and more efficient with their typing, filing, help with scheduling, reminders, assisting students, organizing, handling the many forms, and a myriad of other jobs.   

-I thank our landscaping people for making our campus beautiful and enjoyable to walk through.      

-I thank the maintenance people for keeping the buildings and equipment in repair.   

-I thank the Cafeteria and Food Court people for the fine meals and snacks they serve us.   

-I thank the Housekeeping people for keeping our classrooms, offices, and other facilities clean....making Rio a nicer place in which to work. 

-I thank the Campus Security people for keeping our campus safe and helping us in many other ways.   

-I thank the Fitness, Health Services, & Counseling Center people who maintain our emotional and physical well being.   

-I thank the Admissions people, upon whom our jobs and livelihood depend. 

-I thank the Continuing & Economic Education people for their outreach to the Community. 

-I thank the Switchboard people who direct outside phone calls to the right person. 

-I thank the Crossroads people for helping to turn lives around. 

-I thank the Financial Aid people who help to make it possible for many students to attend college who otherwise could not. 

-I thank the Multiethnic Affairs person who maintain our international students and promote diversity & its understanding.   

-I thank the Post Office people for helping us to send out & receive packages & mail from within & outside the university.   

-I thank the Alumni Relations & the Institutional Advancement people who bring donations that improve the University and keep it afloat.   

-I thank the coaches & others involved in extracurricular activities who supplement our teaching of values & skills so indispensable to the professional formation of our students plus the athletic events, recreation, theater, art exhibits, and concerts that   enrich our lives.    

-I thank the Housing people for maintaining decent places for our students to live in.   

-I thank the Print Shop people who print our handouts and fliers.  

-I thank the Purchasing, Accounting, & Finance people who control our costs and keep us solvent.   

-I thank the C.A.R.S. people who advise & counsel our students and help them to plan their careers.  

-I thank the H.R. people who help us hire new employees and maintain the current members of our team.....benefits, labor relations, orientation, etc.  

-I thank the Campus Computing & M.I.S. people for keeping our information technology system up to date & working as it gives us timely information.   

-I thank the Records people who collect our grades and give  them to the students and us for advising.    

-I thank the librarians who help us teach students to do research and write decent papers.            

-I thank the people at the Learning Center & the Media Center who supplement and assist us in our teaching.  The professors can't do it alone.   

-I thank the Bookstore people who provide us with our texts & supplies for our courses.               

-I thank the University Relations people for helping to get the word out about our wonderful community college & university that has done so much for our students for the surrounding community with the sky as the limit to our potential.   

-I thank the Title III people who are helping to improve our advising, increasing retention, and providing additional training of our employees.   

-I thank the Madog Center for Welsh Studies people who are making us and the surrounding community aware of this area's rich heritage.

-I thank the other administrators who coordinate our work activities and help us all to work together as a TEAM.   

-I know I've forgotten somebody and I thank them too.   

-I thank all staff people because we front line faculty couldn't do our jobs without them.  THAT MEANS WE NEED EACH OTHER AS WE STRIVE FOR A BETTER COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS.  THAT MAKES US ALL TOGETHER.....faculty, staff and students.....AN INTERDEPENDENT  CAMPUS COMMUNITY.