Transplant recipient from Ashley one of organ donation program’s biggest advocates

Times Leader | Geri Gibbons

Karen Van Why, Wilkes-Barre, left, Cindy Timinski, Harding, center and Dan Peck, Wyoming, staff the Gift of Life booth at a recent community event. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

11 a.m., he was eating a ham sandwich and by 4 p.m., he had a new life.

That’s how Mel Talmadge, of Ashley, describes the fateful day in June 2009 when he was gifted with a new kidney, freeing him from the bondage of dialysis which limited his travel, his social life and diet.

He credits the Gift of Life Organ & Tissue Transplant Network with making both the transplant and his positive attitude possible.

Even while preparing for the life changing surgery at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, Talmadge set the tone.

“I told the transplant team that I was grateful for their efforts, no matter what the outcome,” the 64-year-old man said.

Still, the road to that day had not been an easy one.

In 1998, he was working full time in a high-level information technology position when, suddenly, he was having difficulty seeing his work. Continue reading

 

To register as an organ, eye and tissue donor, visit www.DonateLIFE.net. | In Caifornia, visit http://ift.tt/LgEunT | It is important to share your decision with loved-ones.

from Donate Life Organ and Tissue Donation Blog℠ http://ift.tt/1MSW9N7