Transplant Services 5K Run Walk Raises Awareness and Funds

More than 960 kidney transplants have been performed at Memorial since the program began more than 40 years ago.

Court Dickason received a new kidney in one of those 960 transplants, and he has nothing but the highest praise for Memorial’s Transplant Services team of doctors and nurses.

“Everybody is there to help you,” he said. “I couldn’t have had better care – just phenomenal care.”

The 69-year-old owns Madison Furniture, a family-operated business that has served the Springfield area for more than 85 years. When his kidneys began failing in 2011, Court decided dialysis wasn’t a workable option.

“I didn’t have time to go sit there every day for dialysis. I had a business to run,” Court said. His son Drew, 36, tested to be a donor and was confirmed a match. The transplant team closely monitored Court’s kidney function, and when it declined to 14 percent, they scheduled and performed the operation.

Court was hospitalized for five days (Drew for three) after the operation and spent six weeks recuperating at home before resuming his normal work routine. He appreciated the attention to detail from his transplant team throughout the process, from diagnosis to follow-up after surgery.

“I’d give them 200 percent,” he said with a smile. “I know customer service. My whole business is customer service. And that’s how good they are – from beginning to end – appointments, blood tests. They were always right on it and constantly calling me with results.”

The Alan G. Birtch, MD, Center for Transplant Services at Memorial 5K Run Walk is an annual event held in Springfield every fall.  Registration begins at 8 a.m. with start time at 9 a.m. The event is held rain or shine.

The event raises funds for Memorial Transplant Services. Transplant funds assist patients with transportation expenses to doctor appointments, help provide lodging before and after surgery, pay for prescription medications and co-pays and support program development, education opportunities and materials for patients and staff.