NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffPre-K to 8Service
Organ donations affect Darlington community
Sep 4, 2001 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Two members of the Darlington community have recently undergone successful organ transplants. Fine Arts Chair George Awsumb received a new heart, and Lila Smith, daughter of Middle School teacher Randy Smith, received a new liver.
Awsumb was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in July of 1997 and was sent to Emory Hospital as a heart transplant candidate, October 2000. After months on a transplant list, a suitable donor heart was found on July 24 and Awsumb underwent surgery later that day.
“The surgery went very well, and his heart is doing perfectly,” Betsy Awsumb, George’s wife and director of international studies, said. “We would have been back in Rome by August 22, but because he was so critical going into the surgery, his recovery is going to take a lot longer and will involve at lot of rehabilitation, since he hasn't moved many muscles since July 5.”
Awsumb first noticed trouble after a vacation. “George was first diagnosed following a trip to Yellowstone in which he was gasping for breath every time we hiked the canyons,” Betsy explained. “The cause of his disease is unknown; the best guess was some kind of virus which attacked and weakened his heart muscle. With some minor lifestyle adjustments and modern medication, the condition was manageable until last October.
“We were sent to Emory for him to be evaluated as a heart transplant candidate. The evaluation is rigorous and involves not only physical but also emotional screening. George was listed for transplant on December 15, but in the lowest of the three classes, which are based on how critical the candidate is. He was placed in to the second tier in early May when he needed continuous IV medication, and was put on the 1A list on July 5 when he became critically ill in the hospital.
“At 9:45 a.m. on July 24 I received a call at the Guest House near the hospital where I have been staying saying that a heart might have been found. Within two hours the blood work showed that George and the donor were indeed a good match, and he was taken to surgery at 2:45 p.m. We are not told anything about the donor; that is national policy. But we certainly are thankful for the gift of that family, and we do pray for them in their sorrow.
“The main message I want to come out of this is for everyone to sign a donor card and tell the person or persons who would be responsible for making that decision that organ donation is your desire,” Betsy shared.
Lila Smith’s story began on July 2, the day after she was born when the nurses in the nursery at Floyd Medical Center recorded some abnormally low body temperatures –an indication of infection. After being moved to the Intermediate NICU, lab tests were given, antibiotics administered, and afterwards, all indications showed that Lila had had an elevated unconjugated bilirubin count and a fat absorption problem. Her formula was changed to help correct the problem and after seven days in the Intermediate NICU, Lila went home.
During her second week at home, there were no noticeable changes in Lila. However, on July 14, her parents became aware of physical aliments, and at a physician’s request, the infant faced more tests. The results pointed toward liver failure. Within a matter of two days, Lila was admitted and placed in NICU at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. And there were more tests. A diagnosis was confirmed on July 18; Lila had an extremely rare liver disease called Neo-natal Hemochromatosis, an iron storage problem associated with her liver. Due to elevated lab levels, the liver transplant specialist, Tom Heffron,M.D., placed Lila on the list to receive the first available liver. Live donor transplant was not possible. "We had to wait patiently. The doctors shared with us that the chances of her survival were not very good without a transplant,” Lila’s father Randy Smith explained. “The days passed slowly. The Ronald McDonald House became our new home.”
On July 27 Lila began to run a fever. She was given antibiotics. However, the doctors said that they had to put a hold on any transplant surgery until she showed no signs of infection. “Broken-hearted and realizing that an opportunity for transplant might be missed, our hearts sank for our daughter. By 5:00, her fever was gone,” Smith said. “I was standing in the waiting room of ICU talking with another family. I saw Dr. Heffron and he said, 'You’re just the man I need to see. How’s Lila doing?' I informed him that her fever was gone. He said, 'Let’s go talk to mom.'
“We made our way into the back corner of NICU where my wife was sitting near Lila. Dr. Heffron said, 'She looks like she’s doing OK but I think that if we get a chance to do a transplant, whether she has an infection or not, the risk is far greater if she doesn’t receive one. When did she last eat?' She had eaten at 6:00, just a few minutes earlier. We told him. He said, 'Good. I need to let you know that I am strongly considering a liver for her. As a matter of fact, make her NPO (no more food). We’ll try for surgery after midnight.' Our hearts had just been taken from the pits of despair to the rush of hope in a matter of sentences. Tears poured down our cheeks as we recognized the grace and mercy that God showered upon us. Being ever so mindful, that regardless what he chose to do, He was still God and still in control.”
Surgery was performed the next day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was successful. “In the waiting room, tearful hugs of joy were shared. I am incredibly grateful to God and the family that had to make the most sacrificial decision a parent would ever have to make –to give their child so that others may live. As the tears burst from my heart while I tell our story, salvation has come to my house in more ways than one,” Smith said. “Let me encourage you to consider organ donation. You never know who you will touch with the gift of life.”
Awsumb was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in July of 1997 and was sent to Emory Hospital as a heart transplant candidate, October 2000. After months on a transplant list, a suitable donor heart was found on July 24 and Awsumb underwent surgery later that day.
“The surgery went very well, and his heart is doing perfectly,” Betsy Awsumb, George’s wife and director of international studies, said. “We would have been back in Rome by August 22, but because he was so critical going into the surgery, his recovery is going to take a lot longer and will involve at lot of rehabilitation, since he hasn't moved many muscles since July 5.”
Awsumb first noticed trouble after a vacation. “George was first diagnosed following a trip to Yellowstone in which he was gasping for breath every time we hiked the canyons,” Betsy explained. “The cause of his disease is unknown; the best guess was some kind of virus which attacked and weakened his heart muscle. With some minor lifestyle adjustments and modern medication, the condition was manageable until last October.
“We were sent to Emory for him to be evaluated as a heart transplant candidate. The evaluation is rigorous and involves not only physical but also emotional screening. George was listed for transplant on December 15, but in the lowest of the three classes, which are based on how critical the candidate is. He was placed in to the second tier in early May when he needed continuous IV medication, and was put on the 1A list on July 5 when he became critically ill in the hospital.
“At 9:45 a.m. on July 24 I received a call at the Guest House near the hospital where I have been staying saying that a heart might have been found. Within two hours the blood work showed that George and the donor were indeed a good match, and he was taken to surgery at 2:45 p.m. We are not told anything about the donor; that is national policy. But we certainly are thankful for the gift of that family, and we do pray for them in their sorrow.
“The main message I want to come out of this is for everyone to sign a donor card and tell the person or persons who would be responsible for making that decision that organ donation is your desire,” Betsy shared.
Lila Smith’s story began on July 2, the day after she was born when the nurses in the nursery at Floyd Medical Center recorded some abnormally low body temperatures –an indication of infection. After being moved to the Intermediate NICU, lab tests were given, antibiotics administered, and afterwards, all indications showed that Lila had had an elevated unconjugated bilirubin count and a fat absorption problem. Her formula was changed to help correct the problem and after seven days in the Intermediate NICU, Lila went home.
During her second week at home, there were no noticeable changes in Lila. However, on July 14, her parents became aware of physical aliments, and at a physician’s request, the infant faced more tests. The results pointed toward liver failure. Within a matter of two days, Lila was admitted and placed in NICU at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. And there were more tests. A diagnosis was confirmed on July 18; Lila had an extremely rare liver disease called Neo-natal Hemochromatosis, an iron storage problem associated with her liver. Due to elevated lab levels, the liver transplant specialist, Tom Heffron,M.D., placed Lila on the list to receive the first available liver. Live donor transplant was not possible. "We had to wait patiently. The doctors shared with us that the chances of her survival were not very good without a transplant,” Lila’s father Randy Smith explained. “The days passed slowly. The Ronald McDonald House became our new home.”
On July 27 Lila began to run a fever. She was given antibiotics. However, the doctors said that they had to put a hold on any transplant surgery until she showed no signs of infection. “Broken-hearted and realizing that an opportunity for transplant might be missed, our hearts sank for our daughter. By 5:00, her fever was gone,” Smith said. “I was standing in the waiting room of ICU talking with another family. I saw Dr. Heffron and he said, 'You’re just the man I need to see. How’s Lila doing?' I informed him that her fever was gone. He said, 'Let’s go talk to mom.'
“We made our way into the back corner of NICU where my wife was sitting near Lila. Dr. Heffron said, 'She looks like she’s doing OK but I think that if we get a chance to do a transplant, whether she has an infection or not, the risk is far greater if she doesn’t receive one. When did she last eat?' She had eaten at 6:00, just a few minutes earlier. We told him. He said, 'Good. I need to let you know that I am strongly considering a liver for her. As a matter of fact, make her NPO (no more food). We’ll try for surgery after midnight.' Our hearts had just been taken from the pits of despair to the rush of hope in a matter of sentences. Tears poured down our cheeks as we recognized the grace and mercy that God showered upon us. Being ever so mindful, that regardless what he chose to do, He was still God and still in control.”
Surgery was performed the next day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It was successful. “In the waiting room, tearful hugs of joy were shared. I am incredibly grateful to God and the family that had to make the most sacrificial decision a parent would ever have to make –to give their child so that others may live. As the tears burst from my heart while I tell our story, salvation has come to my house in more ways than one,” Smith said. “Let me encourage you to consider organ donation. You never know who you will touch with the gift of life.”
