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Sisterly Love
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| Joe McGhee Jr. to receive kidney from sibling |
By Adam Prestridge
As with most big brothers, Joe F. McGhee Jr., took care of his little sister, Veronica, growing up.
Now Veronica, 42, has her chance to return the favor as she prepares to donate one of her kidney’s to help save her 56-year-old brother’s life.
“I’m a little bit nervous, but not really,” Veronica said Monday morning as preparations continued for a fish fry benefit scheduled this Friday and Saturday to raise money to help pay bills after the two undergo surgery at UAB Hospital in Birmingham on Jan. 27, 2010.
According Joe McGhee Jr., insurance will pay for most of the transplant surgery, but money will be needed to aid his family in paying everyday bills such as electricity, water and groceries, while the two are on the mend.
In August, the siblings traveled to UAB to undergo testing including blood work to see if Veronica was a possible donor. She turned out to be a “perfect match.”
“When I found out, I didn’t think twice,” Veronica McGhee said. “It makes me feel very good that I’m able to do this for him.”
His sister’s willingness to undergo surgery for him is touching to Joe.
“It makes me really feel love and care for her,” he said. “We have always been real close. I guess now we’ll be even closer.”
For almost three years, Joe McGhee has become a regular at DaVita Atmore Dialysis Center where he has been undergoing treatment twice weekly following kidney failure.
“That’s getting old,” he said. “By the time I begin feeling good, I’ve got to turn around and go back for treatment.”
Her brother living that type of lifestyle is what hurts Veronica the most.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” she said. “He’s in a wheelchair most of the time. If I can make him have a more productive life, I want to do that. He’s still young.”
Joe McGhee only has one working kidney, but according to his mother, Letha McGhee, that one has been rapidly deteriorating over the past few years.
“He only has one working kidney and that one has been getting worse,” she said. “The doctors say that the kidney has gotten much worse over the last couple of years.”
With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, Joe said although it would be late, his sister’s present to him would be unforgettable.
“It will be one of the best too,” he joked.
Veronica quickly added, “it’s also his birthday present.”
Friends and extended family will hold the benefit on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. Fish plates will be available and delivered to businesses in Atmore and Poarch on Friday. On Saturday, a fish fry will be held along with a yard sale and an auction located at 4455 Poarch Rd. Donations of cakes are needed for the auction and desserts. Donations of yard sale items are also appreciated.
For more information, call 368-1884, 251-359-6505 or 251-359-5643.
(Staff reporter Lydia Grimes contributed to this story.)
Now Veronica, 42, has her chance to return the favor as she prepares to donate one of her kidney’s to help save her 56-year-old brother’s life.
“I’m a little bit nervous, but not really,” Veronica said Monday morning as preparations continued for a fish fry benefit scheduled this Friday and Saturday to raise money to help pay bills after the two undergo surgery at UAB Hospital in Birmingham on Jan. 27, 2010.
According Joe McGhee Jr., insurance will pay for most of the transplant surgery, but money will be needed to aid his family in paying everyday bills such as electricity, water and groceries, while the two are on the mend.
In August, the siblings traveled to UAB to undergo testing including blood work to see if Veronica was a possible donor. She turned out to be a “perfect match.”
“When I found out, I didn’t think twice,” Veronica McGhee said. “It makes me feel very good that I’m able to do this for him.”
His sister’s willingness to undergo surgery for him is touching to Joe.
“It makes me really feel love and care for her,” he said. “We have always been real close. I guess now we’ll be even closer.”
For almost three years, Joe McGhee has become a regular at DaVita Atmore Dialysis Center where he has been undergoing treatment twice weekly following kidney failure.
“That’s getting old,” he said. “By the time I begin feeling good, I’ve got to turn around and go back for treatment.”
Her brother living that type of lifestyle is what hurts Veronica the most.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” she said. “He’s in a wheelchair most of the time. If I can make him have a more productive life, I want to do that. He’s still young.”
Joe McGhee only has one working kidney, but according to his mother, Letha McGhee, that one has been rapidly deteriorating over the past few years.
“He only has one working kidney and that one has been getting worse,” she said. “The doctors say that the kidney has gotten much worse over the last couple of years.”
With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, Joe said although it would be late, his sister’s present to him would be unforgettable.
“It will be one of the best too,” he joked.
Veronica quickly added, “it’s also his birthday present.”
Friends and extended family will hold the benefit on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. Fish plates will be available and delivered to businesses in Atmore and Poarch on Friday. On Saturday, a fish fry will be held along with a yard sale and an auction located at 4455 Poarch Rd. Donations of cakes are needed for the auction and desserts. Donations of yard sale items are also appreciated.
For more information, call 368-1884, 251-359-6505 or 251-359-5643.
(Staff reporter Lydia Grimes contributed to this story.)
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Donna wrote on Nov 13, 2009 5:43 PM: