Note: Our good friend and compatriot John Peper passed away in March 2006

The bio below was submitted by John Peper

Born 2/19/41

Born again 9/17/70 (new kidney)

I am a 34 year kidney transplant survivor. I developed glomerular nephritis in January of 1966 after my second bout of strep throat in about 20 years. I started out with  nose bleeds, diagnosed as High blood pressure, and after 2 months, I was hospitalized for a month and put on a very strict diet to lose weight. I continued with the high blood pressure and nose bleeds for over a year until I went to a doctor in Mpls who referred me to an internist who diagnosed kidney problems. I was again hospitalized and put on medication. I had met my wife to be just prior to first getting sick, our 18 months of courtship to our FIRST wedding date was a time of much sickness for me. We had to postpone for six months at which time the doctor told me that I would probably need a transplant in the future, but could expect only about a five-year life span.

We got married October 14, 1967 and I had almost six pretty good months before I started getting really sick and missing a lot of work. I was then hospitalized where my internist told me I was now beyond his care and I was referred to Dr. Shapiro at HCMC. He put me into the kidney transplant program where I went through peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis, kidney removal, meatless diet (I craved hot dogs) and finally after having my whole family tested, my youngest brother proved to be a perfect match and the transplant was scheduled. I received such a healthy kidney, my brother lost five pounds on his O.R. table and I gained five pounds!! Nine months after the surgery, my brother’s wife gave birth to healthy twin boys and my brother has had a very nice life since. My surgeon was Dr Robert Anderson, just a really great person.

After my transplant, I was told that my wife and I would not be able to have children. We then adopted our son Joey from South Korea. Three months after he came, my wife had some corrective surgery and 4 months after that she became pregnant with our daughter, Kelley. Joey lives near us in Wisconsin and Kelley lives in Texas with her husband and 2 delightful children.

My 34 years have had ups and downs health wise but more up days than down. I have worked through it all and retired on disability just a few years ago. I am still able to garden and putter around and enjoy every day. I have had pericarditis, staph infections, A-fib, pacemaker, hip replacement, shoulder surgery, hearing loss, teeth loss, but good attitude, good meds, and good care have kept me going long after I should have been gone. I am still on my first wife and we just built our new home.

We have been able to travel over the years, had a hobby farm with livestock, been able to work with other farmers, and been active in our church. In 1970 I thought I would be a lifelong invalid and I am still NOT an invalid. I take 15 prednisone every other day, 2 imuran every day, atenolol every day, sulindac twice a day, 1 aspirin daily and ultracet as needed.

Life is good.