Pancreas Recipient

Scott Brunk

To quote John Travolta, "You can have money and material things, but people, that's what really matters in life." From the time I was first diagnosed with diabetes 20 years ago, people have always been there for me. People were there for me through the related complications, the hospitalizations, and most of all, when I made the decision to have a transplant.

When news came that I had been accepted on the transplant list, family and friends wholeheartedly pitched in to help financially, emotionally, and physically. On October 1, I was called to the Twin Cities for a pancreas transplant. My family and friends had a simple pancake breakfast to raise money to help pay for the transplant three days later.

I was treated like royalty at the hospital. I had a successful transplant with an identical match, and I felt fabulous almost immediately after surgery. The recovery has been a typical one as I have had to get my body back in shape.

One of the largest hurdles that I have had to overcome is dealing with the emotional aspects that come with a transplant. I still get paranoid every time I don't feel well because I fear that my body is rejecting the organ. In most cases, my illnesses are the results of a bladder infection or something simple. It is also tough to deal with the fact that something tragic had to happen to someone else for something good to happen to me.

Almost two years have passed. I am insulin free and feel great. I am eager to share my story with everyone and love receiving e-mails from people. You can e-mail me at brunks@siouxvalley.org.

I would like to thank my family and friends for all that they have done. I would also like to give special thanks to my donor family for making the difficult decision to donate their loved one's organs.

To my donor family:

You're Special to Me

God knew from the beginning just how special you would be. And just how much your thoughtful ways would one day mean to me. He must have loved you very much to guide your steps each day. And He blessed my life when He made our paths cross this way.

Author Unknown

Thank you for your wonderful gift!