ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. - A few days after Thanksgiving, two Julius Twymons checked into UAB Hospital in Birmingham for kidney transplant surgery. For one man, this would be a life-saving operation. For the other, he was giving life to his son for the second time.
This journey for the Twymons began in July 2007, just one week after the son's marriage. The younger Julius was rushed to the hospital with his blood pressure skyrocketing.
The diagnosis was membranous nephropathy, a kidney disorder involving inflammation of the areas in the kidney that filter waste and fluids.
Julius lived with this disorder, which his father says he was born with, though it didn't surface until adulthood, for another three years. In 2010, it had progressed to the point where his only options were either dialysis or a kidney transplant.
His father and brother-in-law were tested as potential organ donors. Other members of the family volunteered for testing as well, but, by that time, Julius' father, who works as a mechanic on the depot, had learned he was a good match.
"They gave me four dates, Nov. 1, 8, 16 and 29," said the elder Twymon. "That's when they wanted to do the transplant."
Ultimately, Nov. 29 was chosen for the surgery and the day before both men checked into the hospital.
The surgery lasted about two-and-a-half to three hours and, though the son came out of recovery before his father, his dad was able to stand first, about nine or 10 hours later. Of course, the younger Twymon was hard to keep down for long, according to his dad.
"The UAB staff really had to make him sit down. After he started standing up and walking around, he didn't want to stop," he said.
Both men are doing well now. The younger Julius had to remain in the care of the hospital longer than his father and his progress with the new organ is still being monitored. Meanwhile, his dad was released a few days after surgery and said he has quickly been able to return to normal life.
"I was just glad I was able to do it," he said. "It took about six weeks for me to recover, but I'm feeling good. I don't feel any different."
Social Sharing