Giving of herself, literally

By MARGARET NERY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
April 16 was one of the most important days in the lives of 19-year-old Patricia Roth of Columbiana and 23-year-old Harold "Rick" Feezle of East Palestine.
It was the day that proved you are never too young to make a decision that can alter your life forever. A day when compassion for a friend in trouble seemed more important than self-sacrifice.
On that day Roth gave Feezle the opportunity to lead a long productive life by donating one of her kidneys to replace his failing one.
It was a day for loving and giving.
Rick became seriously ill about 3 1/2 years ago. He says, "I was awfully tired all the time, and my nails had turned white instead of pink." When things got no better, he finally decided to consult a doctor.
Revelation
Blood tests showed that he was extremely anemic. "They also found I was born with only one kidney, and that precious organ had begun to fail," he says.
To survive, he began to undergo dialysis in Chippewa, Pa., five hours a day, three times a week.
"After each treatment I would be totally exhausted and have to go to bed, " says Rick.
It soon became clear that a new kidney would be his only salvation.
His parents, Harold Feezle of Enon Valley and Pamela Feezle of East Liverpool, were rejected as donors for health reasons, and his two brothers and a sister did not match his O-positive blood type. His girlfriend, Jeannie Schreffler of East Palestine, was also rejected.
A friend in Ellwood City passed all the tests, but at the last minute was turned down because of a possible heart problem, Feezle says.
Enter his "guardian angel," Patricia Roth, who had become only casually acquainted with Feezle through her fianc & eacute;, Scott Logan of Columbiana, who works at Feezle Auto Wrecking and Rollarama in Enon Valley.
Without hesitation, Roth volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to help the young man.
Roth, who had attended YSU and worked at New Middletown Dairy Queen, underwent a battery of tests, which she says "proved that I was 100 percent compatible."
Reaction
Feezle was overjoyed and amazed that a woman he hardly knew was willing to make such a sacrifice for him.
When Roth called her parents, Brian and Karen Roth of Port Washington, to tell them of her decision, they were upset and worried about their daughter's well-being. But they finally they told her, "It's your decision."
Although Roth admits that she was very nervous and "really scared of dying after the surgeon warned that was a possibility," she never changed her mind.
Feezle was admitted to United Presbyterian Medical Center in Pittsburgh on April 15 to be prepared for surgery. Roth was admitted at 5 a.m. April 16 and was readied for the 7 p.m. operation, to be performed by transplant specialist Dr. Ron Shapiro and his team.
Both came through the ordeal with flying colors.
Feezle was told that he could expect to stay at the hospital four to five days after the operation.
When he progressed enough to be released from the hospital, he moved into a nearby Ronald McDonald House so his blood work could be monitored and he could receive treatments each day.
Afterward he said the doctors decided the prognosis was good and allowed him return to Columbiana and to drive to Pittsburgh for continued observation.
Like his old self
Quite happy with that arrangement, Feezle says he is beginning to feel like his old self but will have "to take things easy and not lift heavy things for a long time."
Aware of the astronomical cost involved in the transplant process, Feezle said, "Thank goodness for Medicare and Gateway Health Plan." He explains that with the assistance of social workers in New Castle at the Social Security office, arrangements were made for the two facilities to pay his treatment expenses and to pay for Roth's care.
Although he is grateful for the financial assistance, Feezle is most thankful for Roth.
Since she had a full open surgery, Roth was warned she would possibly require seven to 10 days in the hospital, and her complete recovery would take about three months.
However, she recuperated so quickly that she was able to return home four days after the operation.
"It wasn't too bad. The scar isn't as big as I expected and it is healing real well," she says.
Her fianc & eacute;, who took three weeks off work to "hold her hand during the rough times," says he is so proud of Roth and what she has done for a friend.