Make A Difference
Family, friends, and the community are coming together to make a difference. John Morgan needs our help and we are looking for a viable kidney donation to save the life of a beloved and respected father.
John Morgan
I am a devoted, divorced father to two beautiful and talented girls, Taylor (age 27 – a nurse) and Ryanne (20 – a retail specialist for Athleta). I was born on September 7, 1962 in St. Louis, Missouri and presently live in the Sunset Hills community of St. Louis. I also have two dogs – Darby (Black Lab – 3 years old) and Gunnar (White Lab – 5 months old) –named after former hockey players, Darby Hendrickson and Carl Gunnarson.
I have 5 siblings – 3 brothers, and 2 sisters. My older siblings are Tom (lives in St. Louis), Bob (lives in St. Louis), Bill (lives in Rancho Santa Fe, CA and Vail, CO), and Sally (lives in Del Sur, CA). Last but not least is my younger sister Sue (lives in Naples, FL).
My parents – Ed and Donna Morgan – are deceased. They were the best parents a kid could ever have – they were supportive, inspiring, encouraging, loving and gave all us children the best morals and values. My parents sacrificed a lot for us – for me; they allowed me to live my dream of playing hockey, the greatest sport on earth. They never missed a practice or game.
My maternal grandmother, Ruby Helmke and Uncle John and Aunts Ruth and Janie lived next door to us when I was a kid growing up. My grandma was also a big supporter of mine. And my Uncle John instilled in me at a young age my love of cars.
I’ve worked for 25+ years in the Energy Industry, dealing primarily with Power Plants. My expertise and experience ranges across the energy sector. Working collaboratively with engineers to improve efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness of plants to ensure they are fully optimized and have limited downtime.
John has had no match to-date.
Organ donations fall into two categories: living or deceased donations. Most living donations have higher success rates and longer average functioning life for the donated organ. However, most living donations are done between family members and relatives. Potential donors can be tested for compatibility, increasing the chances for a successful operation. There is only a 25% chance of having a compatible match via family. As of now, there are no viable matches from family or friends, and now we are reaching out to the community for support in an urgent drive to find a viable living donor before it is too late. Without a living donor, the wait time for transplants can be as long as 3 to 5 years for an organ that will last half as long. Please spread this message so we can help find a viable donor for John Morgan.
People on the national transplant waiting list.
%
20% will receive a transplant this year.
%
Will pass before receiving their transplant.
Hockey has been a major influence in my life.
I was lucky enough to begin playing organized hockey starting at 9 years old. I played from 9 up until just about 6-8 years ago – although lately I have been getting the itch to play again. When you have hockey in your blood, it never leaves you.
The St. Louis Blues
My dad knew the Solomons, the original owners of the St. Louis Blues. And he tried to help get a lot of the players on the original teams – Noel Picard, the Plager brothers and others – off-season jobs. Back then, the players did not make the money they make today and needed summer work. Although we were a large, very middle class family, my dad managed to get us a couple season tickets to games after the Blues were in the league for a few years. Our seats were in the highest section of the old Arena. Eventually, we moved down to the Arena Circle seats, at center ice. Those were good times. Never missed a Blues home game – and we used to attend all the St. Louis University hockey games, too.
My Hockey Career
My first team was the Meramec Sharks. My first year of playing at age 9, I was named an Assistant Captain. That meant the world to me. I wore a letter (Captain or Alternate Captain) for every team I ever played on – I took pride in the name on the front of my jersey and I left everything on the ice for my team. That was just the way I was raised – you give everything you have at all times. Always. I also played for Webster Groves, St. Mary’s High School and a slew of amateur teams throughout the region. The relationships you develop in hockey stay with you forever; teammates and those you played against, you never forget and always respect.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the St. Louis Blues tryout camp in 1983 (in Peoria, IL). I trained hard for a month at Affton Ice Rink to be as ready as I could be. It was a lifelong dream come true and a true honor to get the opportunity. I acquitted myself well at the camp and the Blues brass told me that they saw a future for me with the team. Unfortunately, I suffered injuries, including a serious shoulder injury, in a car accident immediately after tryout camp. I worked vigilantly on rehabbing from the injuries but fate was not on my side. Injuries are so frustrating and can snuff out a dream before you know it. Bu what was important to me was that I went for my dream and did my best to get there; the injuries may have negated my dream from being fully realized but they did not impact how grateful I remain for the opportunity.
Hockey continues to be – and always will be – a core part of my life. It has brought me so much joy, has taught me so much about life (Teamwork, commitment, leadership, and dedication) and remains the greatest sport of all.
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Music
I have loved music since as long as I can remember. I have an exhaustive vinyl collection and have a pretty good knowledge of music from the early 70’s through today. My favorite era of music is around 1975-1982. My collection includes a lot of one-hit wonders and KSHE (renowned St. Louis rock station) classics. A lot of the places around town have asked for my playlist of music as word has traveled through the years about my music library.
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Cars
I love cars. The design aesthetics and performance engineering amazes me. My Uncle John was the big influencer on my love of cars – when I was a little kid, he had the cars everyone dreamed of owning – a Corvette, a 396 Chevy Chevelle, a 1968 Camaro SS 396, a Plymouth Cuda. I would sit in his Camaro when I was like 7 years old or so and pretend I was drag racing, complete with a racing helmet and a checkered flag.
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People
I love getting out and meeting people. I think I may have inherited that trait from my dad – he knew everyone in town and treated everyone he met, no matter their lot in life, with the same level of respect and interest. No matter how tight things might have been personally for him, if he met someone and they needed something, he would somehow find a way to get them what they needed.
I have been fortunate to have met and gotten to know many wonderful people. Everyday people always have such interesting, fascinating parts to their life that makes you appreciate how incredible this world is and how people really make the world go round. From my hockey days, I made close friends with lots of players, especially Blues players over the years.
My favorite local hangout is Sportsman’s Park (Clayton, MO), which has been around for many, many years and remains the same as the first day I stepped foot in the place. I have met so many great people there – lifelong friends, who are so kind and special.
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Dogs
I love dogs. Our family always had a lot of dogs – everything from St. Bernards to Chihuahuas- when I was growing up. I started naming dogs after sports figures when I was a kid. My first dog I named was “Mookie”, after baseball player Mookie Wilson (I just like the sound of his name!) Today I have two labs – a black lab, Darby (named after Darby Hendrickson, hockey player) and a white lab puppy, Gunnar (named after Carl Gunnarson, hockey player).
Donation FAQs
Anybody over 18 years of age that is healthy can be a donor.
· You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long, normal life
· A donor does not need to live in the same geographic area as the recipient
· Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically – no big incisions at all, just a tiny incision
· The recuperation period for a donor to be back to normal is fairly quick — about 2 weeks
· A donor does not have to worry about the costs – your evaluation and surgery costs are covered by the insurance of the individual receiving the kidney
· And a donor has a separate, dedicated team of healthcare professionals to ensure that all your health needs and questions are fully met. Their #1 job is to ensure that your best interests are met 100%
What is a living donation?
A live donation occurs when a living person decides to donate all (or part) of their organ for transplantation to someone in need. Often the donor is a relative such as a mother, brother, or cousin.
These donations can also come from someone with a strong emotional connection to the patient such as a spouse, close friend, or even an in-law. The connection and willingness to help another is the through line allowing any donation that is proved a viable match to occur and save the life of another. Because of advances in health and science, a genetic match is no longer required to ensure a safe procedure.
The third type of living donation is one that comes from a kind-hearted stranger who saw an opportunity to help another in need and reached out to donate their organ.
Who can be a living donor?
The main requirement for any donor is a healthy mind and body with normally functioning organs free of diseases. An age requirement of 18 years or older is the general rule, and blood tests will be used to determine compatibility between your donation and the receiving patient. While deceased kidneys last only 10-15 years, living patient donations can last as long as 25 years! This along with the risky wait times for deceased donations, make a living donation the safer and more permanent option. Even if you are not eligible or able to donate, we would be so thankful if you would share this page and help us connect with those who might! BJC HealthCare has successfully transplanted many kidneys from spouses or others who are not related to the recipient.
How do donors get matched with patients?
If the patient in need of a transplant doesn’t have a willing living donor, they will typically go to the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and register on the waiting list for a kidney, kidney/pancreas, or pancreas transplant. This is the only option for pancreas transplant candidates (Living pancreas donation is not available at our center)
How long will a living donor kidney last?
On average, a kidney from a living donor can last up to 20 years. Some donations often last longer; others can fall short or even fail in some rare cases.
The more common types of organ transplantation often have high rates of success that continue to improve over the years. However, issues can still arise. Kidney transplants can fail due to host rejection, complications during surgery, or even the original disease that caused the need for a donation.
Who covers the donor's testing expense?
All of the living donor’s testing is covered by the recipient’s insurance.
What’s the advantage of living donor vs. deceased donor?
The extended lifespan of the donated organ is one of the many benefits of a living donation. One of the most important resources to someone in need of a transplant is time, and living donations by far have the fastest waits with the only limiting factor often being the personal schedules of the patient and donor.
Deceased patient matching plans can have waits of up to 3 to 5 years, increasing the risk of health complications that could potentially lead to worsened conditions and even potential death. These lists have well over 100,000 waiting patients, where as many as 5% never get the opportunity to receive a lifesaving organ donation. A living donation is the best chance for a happy and healthy future, and with your help, we hope to find one and give Morgan a second chance.
Is a living or deceased donor better?
We highly recommend that you think about living donors first.
Research shows the success rate several years after transplant is much greater with a living donor. You don’t have to wait for a deceased donor kidney, and you can schedule the surgery to meet you and your donor’s schedule. There is no long-term harm to the donor, who will have 1 kidney left after he or she donates.
How can I reach a deceased kidney donor?
If you don’t have a living donor, you will go on the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list for a kidney, kidney/pancreas, or pancreas transplant. This is the only option for pancreas transplant candidates (living pancreas donation is not available at our center).
How does deceased donor match with recipient happen?
Your blood typing and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) tissue typing is needed to find a compatible donor for you. Your blood type and HLA tissue type is registered when you are placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list. When you are ACTIVE on the list, you are eligible for a possible transplant.
What is the waiting time to get a deceased donor?
Patients are chosen for a deceased donor kidney, kidney/pancreas or pancreas based on a point system set up and managed by UNOS. Points are given based on:
- Your blood types
- HLA tissue type
- Antibodies
- Time spent on the waiting list
Because of these factors, waiting times will vary from patient to patient and with each deceased donor.
How does a deceased donor get matched with the recipient?
When a donated organ becomes available, a list of patients is made up from the UNOS database. It starts by matching the blood types. For example, if you are an O blood type you would only be matched with O deceased donors. When you have a living donor, different rules apply.
The patients on the top of that list have their medical history and testing reviewed by the transplant coordinator and the transplant surgeon. If your testing is not up to date, you could be passed over for the transplant. The surgeon will then tell the coordinator which patients will be admitted for the organ(s).
A Perfectly Matched deceased donor and recipient are the exception to this rule. A perfectly matched deceased donor organ(s) is first offered to that recipient no matter where they live or how long they have been on the waiting list.
All deceased donors are tested for 6 HLA tissue markers. A perfect match is when you match all of the 6 HLA tissue markers of the donor.
Advantage of Living Donor vs. Deceased Donor
There are distinct difference in outcomes and results when it comes to receiving a kidney from a living vs deceased recipient.
Living Donor
- 15-20 years average kidney transplant life.
- Less wait time
- Higher chance of making incompatible kidney transplants possible
Deceased Donor
- 10-15 years average kidney transplant life.
- Long wait time, with a 3-5 years average.
Getting Ready for
Living Donor Kidney Transplant Surgery
Living Donor Kidney Transplant Surgery
When you have a suitable living donor, the surgery will be scheduled on a Tuesday or Thursday. You and your donor will complete final testing and appointments 2 weeks before your admission for your surgery.
In most cases, you and your donor are both admitted at 5:30 a.m. the morning before surgery to Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
The day before surgery
- You won’t be able to eat or drink after midnight.
- If you are on dialysis, you’ll be asked to complete a treatment the day before surgery (or the night before for PD patients).
The morning of surgery
- You’ll check in at the Operative Registration Desk.
- It is on the main level of Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus.
- Friends and family may wait in that area while you are in surgery.
Right after your surgery
- You’ll go to the observation unit on the transplant floor.
- Your donor will go to the main transplant floor.
The day after your surgery
- You’ll be moved to the main transplant floor.
- You won’t be able to share a room with your donor.
- When it is possible, private rooms are given to both the recipient and donor.
More Information on Kidney Transplants
Whether you think you might be a match or just have some questions, check out some of the informative documents provided by respected medical professionals.
Living Donor Program
Barnes-Jewish Hospital | Washington University Physicians
Transplant Orientation
Barnes-Jewish Hospital | Washington University Physicians
Living Donor Program
UNOS | United Network for Organ Sharing
Contact Us Today
John Morgan, his family, and his friends, need your help. If you are able or know anyone who can potentially donate a kidney for John, get in touch today.
Make A Difference
Thank you for reaching out. We will get back to you as soon as possible.