Pine Hills, NJ resident, Lisa McIntosh-Harris, didn’t have an easy childhood. She was in foster care as a child and rotated between the homes of her aunts and uncles, until she moved in with her father and his girlfriend at age 12. To make the situation worse, she kept getting sick. Doctors never fully determined what the cause of her illness was, but she felt the effect – missing school and spending more and more time in the doctor’s office.
She always seemed to have a cold, have excessive nose bleeds and was exhausted. She went through her young years never pinpointing exactly what was wrong. Then at age 18, she was rushed to the hospital with severe head pain, and was given news that no one wants to hear. She was in kidney failure. “I was an 18 year old that wanted to do what I wanted. I didn’t listen to doctors about following a strict diet. I was young and didn’t know the full impact of my actions.” said Lisa.
In just a few short years, Lisa’s kidneys completely failed and she was put on dialysis. “I was in college and had to take time off because I was so sick. I was really exhausted and weak all of the time and couldn’t hold a job. I was angry and frustrated and wondered why this was happening to me. ” she said.
Lisa chose to do at home dialysis and had a port surgically placed in her stomach. In addition to the stress of hours of daily dialysis to keep her alive, she would get reoccurring infections where the port was.
“I was added to the organ transplant waitlist for a new kidney. All of my brothers and sisters were tested to donate a kidney to me, but no one was a match. Other family members had their own health issues and couldn’t donate – or they were too scared.”
Lisa at the Transplant Games of America.
In 1992, she received the gift of life – but her body rejected the kidney and she had to go back on dialysis. After stabilizing and beginning dialysis again, she made a decision not to allow her kidney disease to stop her in life. Her strength and optimism helped give her hope as she came to terms with her illness. She began to work as a nanny for a couple who were both doctors. They encouraged her to try to get listed on the organ transplant waitlist again.
She was added to the waitlist, but it took five years of waiting and dialysis before she received a third chance at life. It was 1997 when a 14-year-old’s parents made the courageous decision for their child to be an organ donor – saving and impacting lives because of their selflessness. Lisa was one of the people whose life was touched by their generosity. This time, her transplant was successful and she had a new lease on life.
“I consider my life a miracle.” said Lisa. “It’s been a hard journey, but transplantation has worked for me and so many others. After my transplant, I would go to dialysis centers and hospitals to speak with people who were waiting – to give them hope and show them that it was possible to be off of dialysis and healthy again.”
Lisa’s gratitude for her donor and donor family is apparent. “Without their choice to give, I may not be here. They had a big heart and must be special people to have made a decision to help others. They gave me the ability to live my life.” she said.
Today in Gift of Life’s region – the eastern half of PA, southern NJ and DE – more than 5,700 people are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. On average, 21 people die each day in the U.S. while waiting because there aren’t enough organs for transplant.
“I think people lack the education and understanding about how important it is to register as a donor. No one wants to talk about or think about death, so it’s uncomfortable to make decisions about it. But if they knew how many people they could save or help, and understood how successful transplantation is – I believe they’d be more open. I’ve been able to live a full life since my transplant. I earned a Master’s Degree in Human Services and counsel children with behavioral issues. I was able to get married to my husband – who supported me and stood by me through my transplant and health issues. I want to share my story. I want to spread the word.” Lisa said.
In an effort to educate the community, Gift of Life is hosting its 20th Annual Gospel Competition and Program on Sunday, July 31st from 5:00PM-7:30 PM at the First District Plaza (3801 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA.) There will be performances from the top competitors of the Gospel Competition, along with gospel recording artist, Kenturah Duncan. Praise 103.9 radio personality, Dezzie, will emcee this energetic and inspirational event.
Gift of Life’s Gospel Program has been held for the past two decades in honor of National Minority Donor Awareness Week, which takes place each year from August 1st-7th. The week honors the generosity of multicultural donors and their families, while also underscoring the critical need for minority communities to register as potential organ and tissue donors. Nationally, minority communities represent 25% of the population, but represent a startling 58% and more of those waiting for a life-saving transplant. In Gift of Life’s region, over 50% of those waiting for a kidney transplant are minorities. Gift of Life believes this week is an important platform to build upon because the lack of education is crippling minority communities.
About Gift of Life Donor Program
Gift of Life Donor Program is the non-profit, federally-designated organ procurement organization, serving 11.2 million people across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. Its annual donation rate ranks among the highest in the world. Since 1974, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 46,000 life-saving organs for transplant, and approximately one million tissue transplants have resulted from the generosity of donors and their families. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and a tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 75 others. For more information or to register, visit donors1.org.