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AIRSHOW PILOT SAVED BY WINGWALKER

What would you do if you suddenly realized you had to have a kidney transplant as soon as possible or risk losing your life? For Gene Soucy, a highly recognized and respected pilot regarded as “legendary” in the airshow industry, that is exactly what he had to face. When Gene discovered he had kidney disease and that his kidneys had slowly been failing over the past several years, he shot into action and began searching for a donor. Gene did not have to search very far because his wingwalker and girlfriend of sixteen years, Teresa Stokes, a commercial pilot and highly acclaimed aviation artist, was the first person to offer him a kidney. However, because she was not a blood relative doctors prolonged testing her for compatibility until Gene’s brother and sister were tested for a match. Both unfortunately were ineligible to donate. Before any other family members were even considered for a possible donation, Teresa had her kidneys analyzed. The search for a kidney donor was instantly over because she proved to be a match!

Gene and Teresa spent time in their hometown of Houston, Texas searching for a location to undergo the transplant procedure. They thoroughly researched transplantation hospitals in the region and throughout the country until they discovered and settled on the University of Maryland Medical Systems in Baltimore, Maryland. They found this to be the best and most progressive place in the world for both Gene and Teresa’s operations. Teresa’s surgery was laparoscopic, meaning it was minimally invasive because it was up to five times faster and easier in recovery than the old fashioned way. She was up and walking the day after her surgery and went home the day after that! Gene was released a couple days later having successfully undergone the most state-of-the-art kidney transplant procedure.

With both operations a success, Gene reports feeling the best he ever has in his life and Teresa is as great as she was before the procedure. It is as if there was never anything wrong to begin with. Now that the threat of losing his life to kidney disease is behind him, Gene and Teresa have returned to airshows and thrilling audiences all over the country. In addition to their incredible act, they strive to promote their success with kidney transplantation and increase awareness of organ donation. They want everyone to know and understand that there are thousands of people waiting for organ donations to save their lives, yet these people are dying because healthy organs are being buried and not put to use. People are dying merely from a lack of awareness. Just by letting your family know of your after-death wishes to donate your organs and by signing the back of your drivers license or by carrying an organ donor’s card, you can help or save the lives of 69 people! You can even make a living donation of a kidney, partial liver, bone marrow, or other organs. All procedures have been made so much easier by modern methods practiced in places all across the country, such as the University of Maryland Medical Systems.

Who knows? Someday you or someone you love might need an organ transplant just like Gene Soucy. There is no greater gift than the gift of life. Help give it to as many people as you possibly can.

For more information go to www.shareyourlife.org or contact the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.