**** UPDATE to OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLE “HAMBURGER WAGON OWNER’S PLEA FOR HELP” ****
In a world of sad news, this story will restore your faith of people, and shows how special people are in the Miami Valley. As you may recall we had been following the story of HAMBURGER WAGON OWNER JACK SPERRY. He was fighting a lifelong illness, of all things called “Berger’s” disease. The progression of this syndrome, leaves the person with a gradual decline in kidney function over a 15 year period, eventually resulting in renal failure.
TIME OF NEED
It was early 2019, Jack had run out of time, he had just turned 56 years old and his kidney function was bordering on 15%. The doctors told him he was weeks away from dialysis, and he needed a new kidney.
Along with our readers, many news and social outlets reached out to the community. The response was overwhelming. There were so many requests for donors, that the University of Cincinnati hospital had to put a pause on processing any more matches for Jack.
Alex and Jack – Pre Operation
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
As the first batch of tests came through, he had a match. But they had to do more tests to make sure the match was exact. It was. Even more incredible, is that match was his fiancee Alex Frazier. Against all reasonable odds, it was fate that she would be his hero. Jacks chances were looking better.
Surgery was scheduled for Monday May 20th at University of Cincinnati. The plan was to take one of Alex’s regular functioning kidneys and insert it into Jacks abdomen and connect it to his existing 2 kidneys. Alex would be left with one kidney, which is strong enough that she could function normally with it.
As this past weekend went by, Jack visited with friends and relaxed. He talked with The Food Adventures Crew and rubbed it in that he had landed a Rock N Green Tomato Festival sponsor just hours before surgery. “Im in renal failure and still kicking butt” he joked.
SURGERY DAY
Surgery was performed Monday May 20th, in the morning. Then, the first word came through Monday afternoon, a friend wrote on Facebook. “Alex and Jack are out of surgery, Alex is recovering well and Jack’s new kidney is performing wonderfully.” This was the first news, and it was tremendous news.
RECOVERY
Today (Tuesday May 21st) we received some joking texts from Jack and an eventual phone call. Jack is sore as they have reduced his pain meds and he has gotten out of bed for the first time. Joking about his high school football days at Centerville, he said “I should be back in the locker room in a few days, but I will have some stadium steps to run as punishment for missing practice.” Asked how he feels, he said he is very sore. He also said that Alex was in pain yesterday too, understandably. He should improve every day and after a few weeks he will be cleared to drive again. “I am hoping to be at the Rock N Green Tomato Fest.” he said. We told him good, because Elvis, was looking forward to it.
THANK YOU
On behalf of the Sperry family, and Alex Heeter and the Frazier family, thank you for your support. In a time of need, to see so many generous people willing to take a risk to help save someones life is a lesson in humanity. We are cautiously optimistic that Jack and Alex will have a speedy recovery and a chance at a long, love filled life. The MostMetro.com family is grateful to call them friends, and also to have friends like the many of you who signed up to donate for Jack.
Here are 2 links to organ donation
