ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997 TAG: 9703060056
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS THE ROANOKE TIMES
Shawsville man, waiting for his second kidney transplant in two years, keeps busy with his family, volunteer work, while awaiting a donor.
The answer lies in the family. The question? For Shawsville native Russ Spangler, it could be a number of things.
Who was there for you when you were first diagnosed with diabetes at age 10? My family.
Who has been there with you through the nearly 30 surgeries since your kidney-pancreas transplant in 1995? My family.
But it is not Spangler's family, but perhaps yours, who will ultimately control the strings of his fragile life. At age 40, he is awaiting his second kidney transplant in two years - awaiting a donor.
Despite his burdening illness and continual trips to the University of Virginia Health and Science Center where he is treated, Spangler still volunteers his time to help others.
"He's honest, real," said Sandy Thornton, a friend of Spangler's. "He's just an all-around great person, and there's not many people like that left."
Spangler and Thornton met at a Teen Parent Support Group under the Community Action program, where Spangler not only shared his experiences, but took charge of fund-raising efforts as well, including playing chef for the group's annual pig pickin'.
Spangler was also a volunteer for the Elliston Fire Department for years, but has had to put that on hold because of his deteriorating health. He continues, however, to offer a helping hand in many activities at Park Street Methodist Church in Christiansburg.
"He helps them with their apple-butter fund-raiser every year," Thornton explained. "He'll get up at 3 a.m. to cook it all day long, then can it himself, too."
"He just does everything right and here he is dying for no reason. There's just no justice in it.
"He's still trying to make everything work, to do it all, even though he's supposed to be bedridden. His main concern is still everyone else."
Spangler's name is on the top of the list for a kidney at UVa, but they not only have to find a donor ... but a match. Spangler has O-positive blood, a common blood-type, but there is more to matching the organ than mere blood type. And the waiting never gets any easier.
"I had to wait a year and a half for the first transplant," Spangler said, "and the kidney failed after just one month. I've been on a dialysis three days a week since February of 1996. Now here we are, waiting again, and praying. With faith in God it will be here in time."
Half of patients treated by dialysis machine, which filters impurities from the blood, will die within two years, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse. With a successful kidney transplant, however, two-thirds of the patients will live 10 years or more, according to the group.
Somewhat unique to kidney transplants is the option of living donors. Of the 10,892 kidney transplants done in 1996, 3,208 kidneys came from living donors, according to Mark Sampson of the United Network for Organ Sharing.
"Living donations are on the rise for two reasons," Sampson said. "First, there is a greater awareness that this is a viable procedure shown to work. Second, the need is being driven by the organ-donor shortage. People are getting tired of waiting and watching their relatives suffer."
Spangler said his wife of 23 years, Reba, wants to donate one of her kidneys to him, but he refused.
"Somebody's got to be here to take care of [Ann Marie]," Spangler said of the couple's 15-year-old daughter, tears forming in his eyes. "It would amount to us both being in the hospital for several weeks, and we can't afford to do that."
Spangler said he can't thank Reba and Ann Marie enough for being there for him. Since his transplant in August 1995, he has undergone close to 30 surgeries to combat complications. The countless hospitalizations have taken their toll on the family both mentally and financially.
Although insurance is covering 90 percent of medical expenses, Spangler has still accumulated bags of bills. The first two bills he received after the 1995 transplant were for $88,000 each. Even 10 percent of such bills poses a financial strain for an average family.
"It has been a constant struggle," Spangler said. "But my wife and daughter have been there for me through it all. Reba is a wonderful woman, and a registered nurse, so that helps a lot. I just can't say enough good things about her."
And he couldn't help but take a minute to brag about his daughter, too.
"Ann Marie is an honor student at Shawsville," Spangler said. "And she has taken all of this so well. She was at the hospital the first time for the transplant. She wrote a story about the whole experience for one of her classes ... she's one tough kid."
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM THE ROANOKE TIMES. Russ Spangler's name is onby CNBthe top of the list for a kidney at UVa, but they not only have to
find a donor ... but a match. color.