Posted on 07/17/2006 7:52:23 PM PDT by SandRat
FORT GORDON, Ga. (Army News Service, July 17, 2006) – Sgt. 1st Class Christine Shedrick shares a bond that few have with an in-law.
“We’ve always been very close. Now we’re more like sisters than sisters-in-law,” said Shedrick of the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade, who donated 60 percent of her liver to Tammy Johnson on May 4.
Johnson was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis five years ago. The disease blocks the bile ducts and leads to a hardening of the liver, which eventually stops functioning.
“The only cure is to have a transplant,” said Johnson, who lives in El Paso, Texas.
Johnson lived with chronic pain and fatigue as well as constant itching from the bile being released into the bloodstream. Last summer, doctors told Johnson her liver was failing. She was placed on waitlist for a transplant; however, her priority on the list fell.
After family members learned a living donor could give part of a liver, they decided to be tested. Johnson’s two brothers were tested first.
“Initially, I was trying to be the donor,” said retired 1st Sgt. Rod Shedrick, Christine Shedrick’s husband. “Mine wasn’t the right proportion.”
When their other brother, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Shedrick, wasn’t a match, Christine Shedrick stepped up.
She admitted being nervous at first, but knowing her sister-in-law might die if she didn’t receive a transplant helped Shedrick’s decision.
Johnson said it was comforting that her surgery was on Thursday, May 4, the national day of prayer.
Both women are doing well following the surgery. Johnson, who is the mother of four, said she had her energy and, most importantly, her life back.
“She sacrificed her life, and her job was on the line. If there were complications, she would not have been able to continue in the military,” Johnson said.
“She’s very humble, and she never complained,” said Johnson of her sister-in-law. “I call her every Thursday. It’s another week of life.”
Shedrick is on leave through the middle of July and said her prognosis is good. She’ll have check-ups every three months for the next year, but won’t have to take medications or undergo follow-up treatments.
Her husband said he hopes their story will help others.
“We want people to realize the procedure of a live donor. It’s pretty safe although there are risks,” he said.
(Editor’s note: Charmain Z. Brackett writes for The Signal at Fort Gordon, Ga.)
Now this is a close family.
Amazing!
Really close.
God bless the heroes in our lives.
And if they celebrated with fava beans, that's MY family!
Hey you! Got any Chianti?
I do at home...
Let's go.
Does the donor's liver grow back, so to speak ?
Sounds like a plan...
When we finish it off we can switch to Sutter White Merlot.
Oh yeah, that sounds like a goood plan! Do you like liver?
Yes, it regenerates! Isn't that amazing? That's why they could take 60% of the donor's liver for the patient.
I was wondering how hard or easy it is to find matches. It must be not too bad if an in-law was able.
Not as far as I know but perhaps there's an FR-Physician that can answer that for sure.
And three of them NCOs in the Army. What do you think, next generation, officers?
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
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