Rev. Bernie Etienne and his nephew are scheduled for surgery today in Indianapolis.
Posted on 09/12/2007 7:34:44 AM PDT by NYer
An Evansville priest is poised to provide the gift of a lifetime to his nephew today.
The Rev. Bernie Etienne, pastor at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, is scheduled for surgery today at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis so that he can donate one of his kidneys to nephew Eric Etienne of Newburgh.
Eric Etienne, 21, has lived with diminished kidney function his entire life. His mother, Connie Etienne, was in a car accident 10 days before Eric was due to be born. As a result of injuries sustained in the collision, Eric Etienne was born with brain damage and kidney damage. He has limited mental function and also exhibits autistic characteristics.
Because of his brain damage, Eric is not able to tolerate sitting still for dialysis. Until now, doctors had used medicine to aid his kidney function.
As Eric Etienne grew, his kidneys' function faded and the medicine was no longer enough.
"This spring it was clear that had run its course," said Eric's father, Rick Etienne.
Testing revealed one of Rick Etienne's brothers, the Rev. Bernie Etienne, was a suitable donor.
Bernie Etienne said doctors have told him to expect a two- to five-week recovery, after which he should experience no noticeable health effects. The remaining kidney should strengthen over time, he's been told, until he eventually attains 65 percent of his previous kidney function.
In his absence, the parish's newly appointed associate pastor, the Rev. Alex Zenthoefer, will handle pastoral duties.
Though Eric Etienne will have to take anti-rejection medicine for the rest of his life, his father said, the transplant should give him more energy, and they hope to return to Newburgh on Sunday.
Bernie Etienne, 49, said he doesn't feel what he's doing is out of the ordinary.
"I really believe if people experienced this in their own family, the need, I think many people would do it as well."
Rick Etienne said he hopes the situation might encourage others to consider organ donation if the opportunity arises.
"It may change somebody's life," Rick Etienne said.
Holy Rosary, at 1301 S. Green River Road, will be open from 7 a.m. to noon today for anyone who wants to pray for the success of the surgeries.
God’s blessings on both of them!
My dad's been running on part of one kidney for over 30 years, with no ill effects at all. Once Fr. Etienne recovers from the surgery, he should be just fine.
What a sacrifice, bless him.
BTW, Evansville is in Indiana...
God bless and heal them both.
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