Posted on 03/17/2008 8:48:13 AM PDT by BGHater
A woman claims to have undergone a complete "personality transplant" after receiving a new kidney.
Cheryl Johnson, 37, says she has changed completely since receiving the organ in May. She believes that she must have picked up her new characteristics from the donor, a 59-year-old man who died from an aneurysm.
Now, not only has her personality changed, the single mother also claims that her tastes in literature have taken a dramatic turn. Whereas she only used to read low-brow novels, Dostoevsky has become her author of choice since the transplant.
Miss Johnson, from Penwortham, in Preston, Lancs, said: "You pick up your characteristics from your donor. My son said when I first had the transplant, I went stroppy and snappy - that wasn't me.
"I have always loved books but I've started to read classics like Jane Austen and Dostoevsky. I found myself reading Persuasion."
The former Preston North End football steward's life has been turned round since her successful operation. After developing kidney problems in 1998, she had previously undergone every available form of dialysis as well as a failed transplant in 2001.
Miss Johnson added: "It's given my 16-year-old boy his mum back.
"I totally respect the family who gave me this kidney. They have given me the best thing they can - a chance for a normal life. I am forever grateful to them."
Academics in America have developed a theory called cellular memory phenomenon to explain the personality changes that are allegedly experienced by some transplant recipients.
Examples include a Massachusetts woman with vertigo who became a climber; a Milwaukee lawyer who began eating Snickers, having always hated chocolate; and a seven-year-old girl who had nightmares about being killed after being given the heart of a murdered child.
However, the only case recognised by the scientific community is that of a 15-year-old Australian girl whose blood type changed following a liver transplant.
UK Transplant also remains sceptical about the phenomenon. A spokesman said: "While not discarding it entirely, we have no reason to believe that it happens. We would be interested to see any definitive evidence that supports it."
Aw jeez.
That happened to me when they put in a new liver....hic
Well, she probably has a much better quality of life now, so I am not surprised that her tastes might have changed.
There are documented incidents of people assuming the blood group of the donor, after certain transplants. It was posted here on FR itself.
Yes, bone marrow — which makes blood.
Bingo.
Drink more fluids, that will wash Jane Austen out eventually.
This does not fit the dominant model of consciousness, yet it is also not uncommon for such effects to be reported.
H’mmm, perhaps an attachee came with the transplant.
I saw this in a movie where a man got a replacement hand from a killer. Classic.
Yer Father’s run off again??? NOICE!!!
This person has to be on drugs to keep her body from rejecting the kidney. The tone of the article suggests she blames the kidney. I suggest it is the drugs.
Personality linked to organs and following the organs into a new person is every bit as real as interstellar wormhole traveling space monsters, telekinesis, and government mind rays. It all exists in the world of coast to coast AM. And that’s the only place it exists.
I want Ted Kennedy's liver when he is done with it. No, not to be transplanted. I just figure that it is so hard it would be great for making armor piercing rounds of ammo.
Now she has an uncontrollable urge to scratch herself and burp. And her perfect night out is dinner at the Golden Corral and a couple of hours at the Bass Pro Shop.
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