Kidney transplant gives South Easthope farmer a second chance at life

Kidney-transplant recipient Gerald “Chick” Scheerer and his wife, Gail, stand beside their South Easthope home and gardens. Twenty years after receiving a donated kidney, Scheerer is encouraging others to consider registering as organ donors and giving someone else the same second chance at life he received. Gary West photo

By Gary West

For South Easthope farmer and licensed farm mechanic Gerald “Chick” Scheerer, the decision of a stranger to become an organ donor gave him something he could never adequately repay – another 20 years with his family.

Scheerer recently sat down with his wife, Gail, at their home near Shakespeare to reflect on the kidney transplant that saved his life two decades ago and encourage others to consider becoming organ donors.

Before receiving his transplant, Scheerer faced a difficult choice – continue dialysis for the rest of his life or hope a suitable donor kidney became available.

He began dialysis in November 2005 and continued until August 2006, when the call finally came that a kidney was available.

Scheerer was 50 years old and had no kidney function when he underwent the transplant at University Hospital in London. His donated kidney came from a deceased donor whose identity he has never known.

“You don’t get to meet your donor, and you don’t even know if they’re male or female, young or old, or what race they are,” Scheerer said.

“All you know is they had parents and family who loved them, while being a kind and giving person.”

After the transplant, Scheerer wrote to the donor’s family to express his gratitude, though he said a simple thank you hardly seemed enough for the gift he had received.

Twenty years later, that gift has allowed Scheerer to experience milestones he once feared he would miss.

“None of my children were married and I had no grandkids yet,” he said of the time of his transplant. “We now have a son-in-law and two daughters-in-law and 10 grandkids. I would’ve missed all this if it wasn’t for my caring donor and his or her family.”

Though there have been a few health challenges along the way, Scheerer continues to live an active and productive life and said the experience has given him a new perspective.

“I think of my donor often, knowing they missed the last 20 years, and I’ve got a duty to live for them,” he said.

Scheerer and his wife attended a seminar last fall with doctors, transplant recipients and organ-donor families. He said one of the messages shared by donor families was the comfort of knowing a part of their loved one continued living while helping change the lives of others.

It is a message Scheerer hopes will encourage more people to register as organ and tissue donors and, importantly, discuss that decision with their families.

“One person can save up to eight lives,” Scheerer said, adding tissue donation can improve the lives of many more.

Scheerer recalled a slogan from the transplant unit that has stuck with him throughout the past two decades: “Don’t take your organs to Heaven because Heaven knows we need them here on Earth.”

Gerald and Gail Scheerer are also encouraging area residents to participate in the Stratford Kidney Walk at Upper Queen’s Park on Oct. 3. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m.

For Gerald Scheerer, participating or sponsoring a walker is another way of supporting those living with kidney disease and awaiting the same life-changing opportunity he received 20 years ago.