My Turn: Diabetic complications and happy endings
Daniel O’Neill and his wife, Pat, who donated a kidney to him — one of many acts he’s grateful for. Credit: Handout
I am a 60-year-old male who has been a diabetic for over 47 years. In 1987, I changed my diabetic care specialist and had a very comprehensive review of my overall health and my diabetes, in particular. I learned at that point that both my eyes and kidneys (both diabetic complications) were becoming serious problems.
I proceeded over the next five years to have laser eye surgery 21 times to save my vision. In spring 1990, I woke one morning to find that my right eye had hemorrhaged, and I was blind in that eye. My eye doctor said my vision would come back but could not be more specific than to say it would probably be sometime during the next year.
I had no family nearby and became somewhat fearful. I was particularly concerned about what would happen if my other eye would have trouble at the same time. I saw myself ending up in a nursing home for 38-year-olds!
I spent the next couple of weeks gripped by fear and worry. I have good friends and a strong belief that my higher power will see (no pun intended) me through.
About two weeks later, I had a "palpable" experience of having the fear removed. I no longer felt fear. You'd have to draw your own conclusions of how that came about.
Two weeks after that, I went on a "blind" date! I had never been married (not for lack of trying). Within 20 minutes I knew this was no ordinary blind date. Pat was a special and extraordinary woman who had come my way! She was a widow with two daughters; Susan was 7 and Cindy was 13. Pat and I were engaged in six months and married in a year! Our 21st wedding anniversary will be July 6.
I am, no doubt, the most fortunate and happiest man in the world. But the story gets better -- much better!
In 1987, my doctors told me I would probably need a kidney transplant within the next five to 10 years. Thanks to those great doctors, I was able to extend the life of my kidneys until 2007 (20 more years!). But the time came when I would need to either get a kidney or go on dialysis. I had many family and friends offer to be tested to see if they were compatible donors. Naturally, my wife, without blinking, stepped right up to be the first person tested, and she proved to be a nearly perfect match!
The transplant was performed on June 28, 2007 at Stony Brook University Hospital. What a great hospital and what fabulous transplant surgeons! It was a flawless operation and a fine recovery for both me and my wife. We actually made it to Maine for a small vacation by that August (with the doctor's approval, of course). That was a very sweet trip.
I went back to work that September (I've been a teacher at St. Anthony's High School in Melville since 1988), with no problems and much greater and renewed energy. I have had no major complications since the transplant. I love my wife more than ever, and Cindy, now 34, has given us two beautiful grandchildren; Stewart is 4 years old and Kennedy is 3. Susan, who is now 29, is due with our third grandchild on April 17! I follow doctor's orders!
--Daniel O'Neill, Amityville
