Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Summer 2021

SAHealth.com 7 KEEPINGWELL — SUMMER 2021 Adonor’s story By Samantha Garza, living kidney donor I was blessed with an opportunity that would forever change my life in the most amazing and meaningful way. I have always said that I would love to be a part of something that is bigger than I am. In 2019, I would get that chance and be blessed to help my brother-in-law, Edward Garcia. In 2006, Edward received his first successful kidney transplant. Ten years later, he would find himself back in the dialysis chair. After great efforts by the team at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Trans- plant, Edward, like many others, would find himself reaching out to family and friends for help. In 2019, the request came. I realized that my life had greater purpose. After going through the required testing, I learned that I was not a direct match. However, I could still help through the Kidney Exchange Program. I would still be donating on behalf of my brother-in-law and be able to help someone else while they found a match for him. Our family, friends, employers, and the entire trans- plant team were amazing throughout this entire process. Our surgery was a success. I was in the hospital for two days and my brother-in-law was in for a total of four days. My pain was minimal, and if I could, I would do this again. I would tell anyone who is considering it to do it! You will never look back and question why you did this; better still, you may find yourself asking why you didn’t. To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit SAHealth.com/organdonor . Trumpet-playingWorldWar II veteran continues his love for music after heart procedure prolongs his life Lyle Bird, 94, vividly recalls the days of riding a motorcycle across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco, setting up at the Golden Gate Theatre for a full day of shows. Having grown up in a musical family where his mother played the piano daily, Lyle, 15 at the time, played the trumpet in several swing bands during the Big Band Era. When Lyle was 17, his parents agreed to let him join the United States Navy to fight in World War II. Stationed aboard the USS Okanogan, Lyle’s role was a signalman, though his fondest time spent aboard the ship was playing in the jazz band. Lyle was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, and it was there where Lyle honorably played “Taps” with his bugle for the soldiers fighting on the frontline who were buried at sea. Today, Lyle and his wife, Deena, share a life of joy. They have 10 children, 20 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and a social life met with weekly happy hours and musical gatherings. His present day glory is shared with celebra- tions of his historic past. Lyle is among the 325,000 World War II veterans alive today and has been recognized through many honorary events. He at- tended the Changing of the Guards in Arlington, and in 2018, Lyle was invited to participate in a wreath presentation at the Pearl Harbor Day event at the World War II Memorial, followed by an Honor Flight from Austin, Texas. Lyle lived a life far beyond what many ever experience. But just years before marking a century of existence, Lyle was told he had aortic valve stenosis, requiring a heart valve replacement. He underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure at Methodist Hospital. TAVR is a mini- mally invasive procedure and an effective option to improve quality of life in patients who otherwise have limited choices for repair of their aortic valve. “He had surgery on a Thursday, came home on a Friday with oxygen, and by Sunday I could hear him playing his trumpet again in his studio,” Deena recalled. Lyle now feels better than ever, sharing “Life is good!” Lyle Bird, then and now, playing his trumpet Samantha Garza and Edward Garcia The heart of your care. At Methodist Hospital, your heart is in good hands. Learn more at SAHealth.com/specialties/structural-heart .