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American Morning

Interview of Michelle Long, Don Long, Lori Brigham

Aired March 08, 2002 - 09:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to move on now to another remarkable story. This happens to be an American story of love and sacrifice.

More than 51,000 Americans are currently on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant, and Michelle Long's younger brother, Don, is one of those desperately in need of one, but no one in her family is actually compatible with him.

So, through a living donor program in the Washington, D.C. area, Michelle was able to actually donate a kidney to a complete stranger, so that her brother would go to the top of their waiting list. It is estimated that Don Long's wait now for a transplant could be weeks instead of years because of that.

And joining us now from Pensacola, Florida, is Michelle Long, and from Washington, Don Long and Lori Brigham, executive director of the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium.

All of you are smiles this morning for a very good reason. Thank you all for joining us. Michelle, I wanted to start with you, this morning. How did you hear about the program?

MICHELLE LONG, KIDNEY DONOR: I heard about the program accidentally. My brother first heard about the program in April of 2001, and I think it was a long time before he even decided to even approach anybody in our family about participating in the program and donating a kidney, but he went to my brother first, my brother Elton (ph).

And one day, in the middle of December, I overheard him talking to Elton about it, and I said, how come you didn't ask me? And he said, Well, everybody depends on you, and if something were to happen to you, what would everyone do? And I said, Well, God will take care of me, and I think I should be the person to do it.

I feel like I am the healthiest person, and unfortunately, sometimes you think you are the strongest person. You know, they are my younger brothers, I'm the oldest, and I thought, well, let big sister do it. So he said, Do you want to think about it? I said, There's nothing to think about. And then, from that moment on, God just took my hand and he gave me peace about it, and I was just completely overjoyed to help my brother out.

ZAHN: But you had to endure a lot of pain in the process, didn't you? It is a tough surgery.

M. LONG: There was some pain, but nothing like my brother has endured over the last three years, every day, you know, that he goes to dialysis, which is four times a week. He gets stuck with needles, and he has to sit in a chair four hours during the session, and you know, because I've seen him and I've been there, I know what he's been through. That pain that I went through was nothing, and I would do it again for him.

ZAHN: Boy, Don, that's quite a sister you have in your life. When you heard she was going to do this for you, to help you move you up on this list, were you surprised, or was big sis always that kind of loving person?

DON LONG, KIDNEY PATIENT: Definitely. She was always that kind of loving person, and I knew it wouldn't have been -- if I had asked her to do it, I knew that she definitely would have done it, but at the same time, I just knew she was the backbone of our family. I didn't really want to put her through that kind of surgery, but she's tough and she's -- she can be stubborn. So, when she puts her mind to something, there's no question after that. But I'm just really grateful for her to, you know, give up a part of her body to help me, you know, live on.

ZAHN: Well, in a way, isn't she saving your life, Don? I mean, this really has moved you up on the waiting list. At one point, you were going to have to wait for years. Now, it might be a matter of weeks.

D. LONG: Yes, definitely. And my life has really been on hold for the past two and a half years. This is allowing me the opportunity to move on with my life and do something positive with this situation. So I'm very grateful.

ZAHN: Michelle just described some of what you have to put up with on a weekly basis. Lots of needles, needles being -- piercing your body as you go through kidney dialysis. What is your condition like today? How are you feeling?

D. LONG: My condition is really good. I'm in really stable condition. The people at the Renal Care Group where I participated with the dialysis there, they really took good care of me. Nancy and Biotta (ph) and the rest of the crew there, they really took good care of me there. My lab work is very good, and I'm feeling really great.

ZAHN: Well, we are rooting for you. And Lori, as you listen to this remarkable story, Michelle telling how she got involved and Don as well, give us some perspective, how many other families have participated in this program?

LORI BRIGHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON REGIONAL TRANSPLANT CONSORTIUM: We've done four of these other -- type of swap donations, where you can see, Michelle does not match her brother, Don, in terms of blood type. So, what Michelle did is she donated a kidney to someone waiting on the list in order to move Don to the top of the list, and we have four other couples here in the Washington metropolitan area that have done similar types of things, and we've had six other people come forward since we started the program and just anonymously and voluntarily donate kidneys. So, for the 1,600 people here in the Washington, D.C. area, this program is a real blessing. We can begin to transplant more people that are waiting on the list for kidney transplants.

ZAHN: And Michelle, one thing that is quite clear, organ banks all over the country are in desperate need of donations. Do you have any advice for Americans out there who might have thought about it, or a little squeamish about it, not comfortable with filling out that little line, in many cases, on their driver's license that would allow them to become donors if something catastrophic happened to them, or like in your case, to donate organs if you are healthy?

M. LONG: Well, I know that everyone wouldn't feel comfortable donating a kidney while they are living unless it is to help a loved one. But certainly, I encourage everyone to be organ donors. I personally believe that my spirit will go to heaven, and then insects will feast on organs, and rather than letting that happen, I would rather have my organs go to help someone else. You know, and several people, possibly.

You know, they use so much of body now to help other people, including your corneas. And I certainly want every part that they can use of me to go to help someone else. And even people who aren't spiritual, I just tell them to think about themselves living on in someone else. You know, you don't really die because a part of you lives on and helps someone else.

Also, I think people need to be aware that just because you tell the people at the driver's license bureau that you want to be a donor, you also need to make your family members aware that you do want to be a donor as well, because, unfortunately, when people pass away, it's an emotional time, and family members really aren't comfortable in making that decision, but if you let them know ahead of time, then they will know your wishes, and someone else can be helped as a result of your death.

ZAHN: Well, Michelle and Don, we really appreciate your sharing your family stories with us. Don, we are rooting for you. We are going to stay in touch with you, and hopefully maybe we will be visiting with you in a couple of months, after you have had surgery, when you will have, obviously, a great deal of hope about your future, and Lori Brigham, best of luck to you with this program. Thank you all, and good luck.

BRIGHAM: Thank you.

M. LONG: Thank you.

D. LONG: Bye-bye.

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