Holidays doubly happy for transplant recipient

The Evening Sun | Craig Paskoski

Not long after Gary Fritz got out of the hospital in July, he went to give himself an insulin shot. After having injected himself four, five or even six times a day since he was 10 years old, it was understandable that Fritz would unwittingly reach for that needle.

"I was in such a routine of it, doing it for 20 years. I said 'That's right I don't have to take it anymore,' " said Fritz, recalling the episode.

Even today, it is hard for Fritz to believe he could be cured of his Type 1 diabetes. But a double transplant operation, in which he received a fully functioning kidney and pancreas simultaneously, eliminated his worsening condition.

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