Latest installment of dear david facilities Inspirational stories sent by the audienceThe story of a person also includes a living organ donation saved the lives of two people and a teenager who used his diagnosis to invent a product for patients like him.
Man becomes rare double organ donor
Brian Flynn converted a middle-life crisis into a medical miracle by becoming one of the few people in the world to fulfill two living limbs donations.
When Flynn was getting closer to his 50th birthday and realizing that he needed to do more with his life, he discovered a petition to help on social media. A teacher at his children’s school posted about his brother, 24 -year -old Greg Dentis, who was in dire need of kidney transplant after childhood kidney infection in kidney disease.
Despite never met Dentis, Flynn tested and learned that it was a match. Both people met for the first time on the morning of surgery.
“It was inspiring me to go in and look at Greg,” Flyn said. “You can tell that he was struggling.”
The kidney transplant was successful, and both people remained in touch. Dentis mentioned that Flynn can donate part of his liver if he wants to help someone else.
Flynn did research on liver donations and learned that he was a good candidate to donate a part of his liver. He was matched with 4 -year -old Richie Ramirez, who needed a liver transplant.
“I had that moment,” what am I doing? I have already done it. It’s crazy, “Flyn said. “And that moment passed because you understand this, ‘I am on a mission, I am doing something that is really important.”
Liver surgery, which is very risky compared to kidney transplant, was successful.
Four years later, Flynin maintains a strong bond with both recipients. Ramirez is now 8 years old and is being concluded in the third grade, while Dentis is married to a young daughter.
“Brian saved my life. I was very impressed that he did so for a stranger,” said Ramirez.
Flyn has not planned to donate more organs, but works as a lawyer to inspire others, shares the message that donors get more than they give.
“It gave me something that I could do, from my perspective, even extraordinary and giving meaning to my life,” Flyn said. “And it’s really difficult.”
Teen turns Crohn’s disease into a business solution
Rachel B was diagnosed Crohn’s disease At the age of 13, changing your active childhood in weeks spent in infusion centers receiving treatment for chronic autoimmune disorders.
“I just wanted to get out and stayed and wanted to be a child,” B said. “But physically my body did not let me happen, because I was in too much pain.”
B spent six to eight hours on a chair in a infusion center every week for his treatment. During the sessions, she was always cold and uncomfortable, which created an idea for a solution.
The idea became “Infusion Hero”, a sweatshirt with a zipd sleeve that makes it easy for patients to remain warm.
Working with his school business club and a clothing designer, B converted his hand -made sketches into a real product. He researched and refined his designs in several months.
“It started as just an idea, just something I quickly pulled out on paper,” B said. “Move fast in a few months, and I am wearing this hoodi and I can just see how, if I was able to get this product out, even though it was really in the early stages, it can be something that can help people so much.”
B is now working with a manufacturer and has received more than a dozen ordered for sweets. He is planning to continue the business, starting this decline.
“This really gave me a purpose. It gave me a passion. It gave me something that I can see further, I can think” she said. “I really want to make just something that can help people because they go through these experiences because it is really honestly scary for being in that hospital, so just something like this to keep you warm can really make a difference.”
David Beganad prefers to highlight the heart of every story and will continue to do so, highlighting everyday heroes and proving that the news has good news with his special “CBS Mornings” series, “Beg-Novs America”. Every Monday, get ready for such moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear. Do you have a story about a normal person who is doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team [email protected]
