One year ago, a group of local women who dubbed themselves the "Girl Power" group was selling treats, quilts and raffle tickets in Ekalaka to help Diana Harpster-Roby cover costs of donating one of her kidneys.
"I cannot express enough gratitude to these girls and the Carter County community for all the support," Harpster-Roby wrote in a letter to the Eagle.
The quilt winners were Tammy Meade of Ekalaka and Sandra Nies Homolka, originally from Ekalaka. After all the tickets and treats were sold, surgery to donate life was set in motion.
The procedure took place in Rochester, Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic. Harpster-Roby's friend and kidney recipient, John Merdink, and her arrived on September 16, 2018. They were both given pre-surgery labs and settled in to The Gift of Life Transplant House. Harpster-Roby was told to plan on a one week stay and Merdink planned for five to six weeks.
Surgery took place early on the morning of September 18. Harpster-Roby's left kidney, which she renamed "Marty," was transplanted to Merdink's right side.
"I kept 'Mabel,' my right kidney," she wrote. "Surgery was a great success and he was immediately taken off dialysis! I was released on Thursday the 20th and John the 21st. Walking was our weekend therapy."
On September 24, both Harpster-Roby and Merdink had checkups. She could walk up and down stairs quite well and was sent to her home in Casper, Wyoming for recovery. Merdink was also going up and down stairs. Both averaged a total of three miles on their daily walks.
Merdink's checkup also went well but he stayed for daily blood work to ensure his body wouldn't reject the kidney. His recovery went so well that he wasn't required to stay for the full six weeks and was released to go back to Casper twenty days after surgery.
Merdink went back after four months so doctors could check "Marty's" function and check again for rejection. The kidney was functioning well. Harpster-Roby went back 6 months after surgery and was also given a clear report. Each has checkups next month, marking one year post-surgery.
"John feels so much better," Harpster-Roby wrote. "He has the energy to do the thing he likes: elk hunting, snowmobiling and racing his corvette. I medically feel no different. Emotionally, this has been the most rewarding, exciting and humbling experience of my life. It makes my heart happy to see him enjoy life again.
I have been asked numerous times, 'What made you do this?' My reply: 'I had a friend who was sick and needed my help!' It was a 'God Thing.' I knew from the day he told me he had to go on dialysis that I could help. God kept it on my mind daily! I am so thankful I was the one chosen to be the vessel that could help my friend.
To those that call me an angel - NO, I am just a girl who was listening that one day God was talking!
Thank you again to the most amazing little place on the planet - Ekalaka, and EVERYONE who supported me on this blessing of an adventure!
Love you much, Diana."
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