Kidney Transplant Milestone Being Observed

DETROIT-A pair of pretty 17-year-old twins and the Michigan Kidney ioundation today celebrated the second anniversary of the first kidney transplant in Michigan medical history -fl he operation saved the life of twin Janice Ottenbacher t It was Maren 30, 1964, when Janice received a healthy kidn,Lprn?t h y hter,sifer' The surgery was Performed at University Hospital, Ann Arbor. lust six weeks before, Janice had suffered complete kidney failure following a bout with pneumonía. She was kept alive by an artificial kidney while a medical team carried out studies in preparation for the surgery At today's celebration at the Detroit Press Club, Janice Th ?", W two big candles on twin anniversary cakes, the celebration was held to point out the successful kidney transplants which have been performed in Michigan Of eight live related donor kidney transplants performed up to the present at University Hospital, six have been successful, according to Dr. William J. Jones, president of the Kidney Foundation. ... He 2ave ,the example of Paul Adkins, 33, of Muskegon. Adkins is making plans to return to work following transplant of a kidney donated by his sister 15 months ago. Father of three Adkins is leading the active life he led before disease rendered his kidneys unable to perform their life-saving function.
One transplant patiënt returned to work in January following surgery last July, Dr. Jones said. Donald R. McÁv, oney, 37, of Dearborn Heights, has returned to his job as i plant security guard following transplant of a kidney from lis' 54-year-old mother. Six-foot, two-inch McSweeney weighed 112 pounds on Unii--siiy Hospital scales on the day of his surgery last July. He aów weighs 174. $ As for Janice and Joan, the surgery did not stop them rom keeping up with their elass and making good grades at ft. Augustine High School near their garden farm home in Richmond, Mich They will be graduated in June. The girls plan to enter practical nurse training at St. seph's Hospital, Mt. Clemens, in August. Meanwhile, Joan is a cheerleader, while Janice is an active babysitter and participant in school groups. Both girls help Á their mother with baking and other household chores regularly. Their father, Peter, is employed by a New Haven foundry. Doctors at University Hospital say the girls are doing so well that they need not return for a checkup for five months. The Michigan Kidney Foundation, a Torch Drive and Michigan United Fund agency, provides each recipiënt of a kidney transplant with the expensive drugs which enable the body to accept the foreign kidney. The foundation's goal is the best possible treatment, information and care for Michigan victims of kidney disease.