THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 30, 1995 TAG: 9506300012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
My son has been on dialysis for more than a year. He has never drunk alcohol or abused drugs. His kidney failure is attributed to a hereditary disease.
In the beginning stages of his dialysis he almost died. The transplant team decided not to put him on the transplant list because he had a mild case of lupus. With the grace of God and everyone's prayers, he regained his strength and his lupus went away.
Now he's ready, according to the transplant team, to be put on the waiting list.
How can a 63-year-old man who destroyed his liver by drinking be the first on the transplant list and get a liver in two days?
Mr. Mantle also has cancer, which should have disqualified him altogether. Everyone knows cancer can go from one organ to the next.
I am happy for the five other people who also received organs from the anonymous donor, but I truly believe the liver was wasted. It should have been given to a more-deserving individual.
DOLLIE SPARROW
Chesapeake, June 28, 1995 by CNB