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Trumbull 4-year-old needs liver; Campbell son saves dad
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
alcorn@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
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SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR | Jamie, 4, of Trumbull County, who has been in the custody of the county’s Children Services since a few months after birth, is in critical condition with biliary atresia in a Pittsburgh hospital, waiting for a desperately needed live liver donor.
The Vindicator ( Youngstown)
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ROBERT K. YOSAY | THE VINDICATOR || .Jimmy Riley !!,left, donated one of his kidneys to his dad, Jimmy Riley, right. Both are from Campbell.
April is National Donate Life Month, a time when local, regional and national activities occur to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives or been saved through the gift of organ donation.
A number of Mahoning Valley residents are in dire need of an organ transplant to save their quality of life, if not their very lives.
Among them are Jimmy C. Riley of Campbell, who was facing dialysis because his kidneys had nearly shut down because of diabetes before a kidney, donated by a family member, gave him new life.
Jamie, 4, of Trumbull County, who has been in the custody of the county’s Children Services since a few months after birth, however, is in critical condition with biliary atresia in a Pittsburgh hospital, waiting for a desperately needed live liver donor.
Here are their stories.
JIMMY’S STORY
Longtime Campbell resident Jimmy C. Riley Sr., who said he had not been feeling good for 15 or 20 years, kept his illness from his children for years, but finally told them about a year ago his diabetes had seriously damaged his kidneys and he needed a transplant.
Jimmy, 64, was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure and was facing imminent dialysis if a transplant match was not found.
Without his knowledge, his wife and children went to the Cleveland Clinic to be tested to see if they could be donors.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, to be a match the donor’s and recipient’s blood and tissue types must be compatible, which is determined by a human leukocyte antigens blood test.
Amazingly, Jimmy’s wife, Geneva, a 1965 graduate of South High School, was a match, but she was rejected because of her age. That left his daughter, Taunza Haynes of Boardman, and his son, Jimmy II, of Youngstown, and they were also near-perfect matches.
Jimmy, who retired in 2006 after 341⁄2 years with Delphi Packard, said he found out they had been tested when Taunza came over one day with the card saying she was a match.
Jimmy II, who works at Delphi Packard and with Inspiring Minds, also was a match and edged out Taunza to be their father’s donor.
“I started crying,” said Jimmy, who was on waiting lists for a kidney at federally designated organ procurement organizations in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
“I kept saying I have lived. I was prepared mentally to do dialysis the rest of my life. I said, ‘Son, are you sure?’” he said.
Jimmy II, 31, said to his father: “I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for me.”
He explained: “I just got some common sense in my life a couple of years ago. I wanted him around a lot longer. Keeping him around was protecting my investment,” he said with a smile and a look at his father.
Though he was unafraid and confident going into the transplant surgery on Dec.12, 2014, however, Jimmy II had some anxious months after his surgery.
After his surgery, he developed rhabdomyolysis, a rare and serious syndrome that the Internet’s WebMD said causes the crushing of muscle fibers and the release of their contents into the bloodstream. This can lead to complications such as renal (kidney) failure, and in rare cases, death.
One of the causes of rhabdomyolysis is long-lasting muscle compression such as that caused by prolonged immobilization lying unconscious on a hard surface, which Jimmy II believes happened because he laid too long on the operating table.
And it can be even more dangerous to elite athletes, such as Jimmy II, because there is more muscle to break down.
Jimmy II is a former football star at Ursuline High School, winning a state championship in 2006. He also played at the University of Louisville, participating in five bowl games during his career there.
Father and son are both doing well nearly five months after their surgeries.
In an open letter to his son, “My Son, My Hero,” Jimmy said his son’s courageous act made him realize the importance of educating others about how rewarding organ donation is and what a gift it is.
“My son has always referred to me as his mentor and hero. I would like him to know that now the tables have turned as he is truly my hero. I am honored to be his father ... and proud of the man he has become. Thank you, son. I love you.”
JAMIE’S STORY
Jamie, 4, of Trumbull County, has been in a Pittsburgh hospital in critical condition since early January hanging on to life and to hope that a donor will be found for the live liver she desperately needs.
Jamie, who has been in the custody of Trumbull County Children Services and in foster care since a few months after her birth, was born with biliary atresia, the most-common lethal liver disease in children, according to the online Free Dictionary.
Jamie has been on the transplant waiting list since she was born.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Marilyn Pape, children services department manager for foster care and adoption.
Soon after being admitted to the hospital, children services was informed by the medical staff at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC that Jamie would not leave the hospital without a new liver, Pape said.
“Jamie is more than our responsibility. She is our child,” said Timothy Schaffner, Children Services executive director.
“Working with UPMC, we have made it our priority to find a donor, save her life and bring her home,” he said.
To that end, Children Services has started a media campaign to raise awareness of Jamie’s condition.
Initial requirements to be a donor are blood type O, be between 18 and 55, have a body mass index of 30 or less, and not have conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, endocrine disorders or heart disease.
People interested in being considered as a live liver donor for Jamie can call the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute at 412-864-3138 before Monday and Angela Barber, liver and kidney Donor coordinator for UPMC at 412-647-5489.