“Overall, we both feel good, but my dad is far outpacing me,” said Brian, who is 39 and an associate professor of education on sabbatical from Wittenberg University.
“His energy level, appetite, movement far exceeds mine,” something the medical team expected, since the surgery to remove a kidney is more invasive than the one to transplant one.
Brian Yontz said his own pain has been minimal and that his 67-year-old father’s upbeat mood and speedy recovery “shows how bad he felt prior to the transplant.”
“The chemistry with trying to figure out his anti-rejection medications has been going better than expected,” the younger Yontz added, in explaining that the balancing of medication is the reason for his father’s longer stay.
The elder Yontz, a lifetime educator who most recently has tutored kindergarten through third grade students at Snowhill Elementary School, experienced kidney failure due to the effects of diabetes and recently began at-home dialysis.
Doctors removed Brian Yontz’s right kidney leaving in place his larger left kidney marginally improving the prospects of his kidney function during the remainder of his life.
A fuller account of the Yontz family’s journey to the transplant written by News-Sun columnist Tom Stafford before the transplant can be found online at http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local/springfield-family-hopes-transplant-story-encourag/nqznm/.
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