For the first time in nearly 13 years, Tandra Perkins of Urbana woke up and didn’t have to think about dialysis. It had been her routine three times a week, four hours at a time. On June 10, the 44-year-old…
Nearly 103,000 people are awaiting a lifesaving kidney transplant nationwide. Every 10 minutes, another name is added to the national transplant waiting list. And, still, myths persist about kidney transplants. We asked the Memorial Transplant Services team to debunk some…
Physicians with the Institute for Plastic Surgery at Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine are searching for the first candidate for the school’s newly launched hand transplant program – the first of its kind in Illinois. Between 6,000 and…
When Tammy Smith, a 48-year-old Dalton City resident, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 14, doctors weren’t certain what might have caused her illness. “I remember the doctors were a little vague,” Tammy said. “I was told my diabetes could…
His entire life changed overnight. Twice. “We had company coming over for the weekend, and I asked if this couldn’t wait until Monday. My doctor said if you wait until Monday, you’ll probably be dead.” Don Stuckey, 59, of Beecher…
How often do we hear numbers associated with a concept so incredible we can hardly fully comprehend the weight of what those numbers truly mean? Numbers like 103,000 people waiting for a kidney; 1,219 days to wait for a kidney;…
When Billy Ruyle could not sign his name at work or even grasp the pen, he realized he had a problem that was bigger than just a cold. Billy grew up in a small town, just south of Springfield. After…
Bolstered by a record-setting 501 people registered, the annual 5K run/walk to benefit the Alan G. Birtch, MD, Center for Transplant Services at Memorial raised nearly $9,000 last Saturday. The eighth annual event was held in Springfield’s Washington Park on…
For nearly 40 years, the kidney and pancreas transplant program at Memorial Medical Center has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of patients and their loved ones, and on Dec. 26, the team celebrated a significant milestone when…
Gerald Bacon of Chatham received a lifesaving kidney transplant in November 2010. Wegener’s disease had led to kidney failure, and after more than a year of dialysis, Bacon learned he qualified for a kidney transplant. His partner of nearly 15…