Shrewsbury – Having received two organ transplants in four years – a kidney from his sister and a pancreas from another donor – Matt Westerlind doesn’t take his dramatically improved health for granted.
In January 2009 Matt received a kidney transplant, which he needed due to the effects of diabetes.
“At 2-1/2 years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes,” he said. “At the time of my kidney transplant, I was literally knocking on death’s door. My doctors told me they really had no idea how I was walking around and still working. I was in renal failure and had been experiencing a steady decline in my health for about three years.”
After Matt received the kidney, he was placed on the list for a pancreas transplant.
“I was on that list for three years,” he said. “Diabetes affects so many systems in the body, and to prolong the function of the kidney, it’s better in the long run to have the pancreas transplant too.”
In August 2011 Matt received a pancreas.
Read more: http://www.communityadvocate.com/2012/05/20/organ-transplants-change-locals-life/
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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