Delaware woman’s faith strengthened through receiving transplant
Many Delawareans are alive today because of the generosity of others saying yes to organ donation. Susan Comegy is a kidney and pancreas recipient. Since the age of 15, Comegy had been a type 1 diabetic.
Throughout most of her life, she worked hard to remain healthy and keep her diabetes under control. Then after 40 years, she began experiencing serious health issues. She was underweight, weak and could barely walk. Her doctor said her diabetes had caused her kidneys to decline, resulting in end-stage kidney failure. After extensive testing, she was listed on the organ transplant waitlist and was advised by her doctor to begin dialysis.
“I was so anemic from my kidney function being so low that I could barely walk across a room. I was very sick and was barely able to move.” said Comegy. After nearly nine months of sickness and waiting, she received the call of a lifetime letting her know that a donor was available and there was a match. Within a few days of receiving a transplant, Comegy was like a new woman. “At 57 years old, I felt better than I did as a teenager,” she said. “After my surgery, I woke up and felt like a different person. Now I can even work out. I get up at 6 a.m., work all day and go to bed at midnight. My energy is endless.”
Comegy’s donor was a 27-year-old man with three children. A devout Catholic, she believes that her faith in God was strengthened through her challenges with illness. “I feel a depth of gratitude for my donor that words cannot express. I believe that God has blessed me, and I am forever thankful.” she said. “Because of my donor, my life is so different now. My husband and I are able to take trips, and I have energy to play with my two dogs that I rescued. I am blessed, and every day feels like my donor is watching over me. He’s my guardian angel. Receiving my transplant has strengthened my faith, and I feel like I have witnessed a miracle. I try to give back now and live every day to its fullest, mindful of all that I’ve been given.”
One of the most common misconceptions about registering as an organ donor is that one’s religion does not support it. In fact, all major religions, including Catholicism, support organ donation. Pope Francis described the act of organ donation as "a testimony of love for our neighbor" when the Vatican hosted the European Organ Donation Day in October 2014.
Giving of oneself and making the choice to help others is truly a gesture of love. Unfortunately today, there are still many untrue myths that prevent individuals from registering. Sadly, there are nearly 6,000 people in the local region and more than 122,000 nationally whose lives depend on the kindness of strangers to make a choice that will give them a second chance at life. No final act is more heartfelt or caring than donating one's organs. It shows an individual’s compassion for others, and can change lives forever.
Gift of Life Donor Program has worked tirelessly for the past 41 years to coordinate donors’ generosity with those in need. Since 1974, Gift of Life, the organ procurement organization for eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, has helped save 38,000 lives through organ donation, and enhanced over half a million lives through tissue donation.
Everyone can save lives. Gift of Life encourages everyone to register as an organ and tissue donor today in honor of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States this September. To register, go to donors1.org. It only takes 30 seconds.
