Third Time's A Charm

People are lucky to have one hero in life. I am blessed; I have three. Each has changed my life and now I live life to the fullest with all three of my special men!

My name is Victoria Beckley and I am a three-time kidney recipient. I was born with a kidney disease called Reflux Nephropathy. After many years of re-occurring infections I was in need of a new kidney. Both my parents wanted to be tested; with the hope one could give me the kidney I needed to survive. After our consultation it was decided dad would be the better candidate, due to adult diabetes in mom’s family. Dad was tested and it was determined he was a good match. Dad and I went into the hospital on July 16, 1993 and went through transplant surgery. Everything went well until the end of 1993 when I began getting infections in my new kidney. It was discovered the infection was coming from my native kidneys. The doctors decided to remove my native kidneys in December 1994 so the infection would no longer spread. Unfortunately, I suffered too much damage in the kidney my dad donated and again needed a new kidney.

On July 30, 1991 I met my husband, Tom, at church camp and we married on July 30, 1994. He wanted to donate one of his kidneys and testing revealed he was a good match. On April 9, 1996 my husband and I went into the hospital for my second transplant surgery. After surgery things seemed great, but that evening my new kidney clotted and I began filling with fluid. I was rushed into emergency surgery and had three surgeries in 72 hours trying to save the kidney my husband donated.

I awoke in ICU to news that they had to remove the kidney. For the third time, I needed a new kidney. At that time I was put on the national transplant waiting list for a kidney and began dialysis on October 24, 1996. I remained on dialysis until March 3, 2003 – 6 ½ years of waiting for my third kidney transplant.

March 4, 2003 changed my life; this is when I received my third kidney. This time my brother, Mike, donated a kidney. A perfect match! We’re headed into our fifth year since the transplant. His decision to donate has truly given me a new lease on life and I am looking forward to living it to the fullest. This GIFT of LIFE has given me so much. TIME being the most important! More time with my Friends and Family. In July 2004, I was able to celebrate my ten-year wedding anniversary by taking a trip to Italy. In 2006, I was able to watch my oldest niece graduate from high school and I got a brand new puppy, Riddick. I get to enjoy volunteering for things that are important to me; our community fire department (president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary), Lifeline of Ohio, and Angels in Action. I am a Creative Memories consultant specializing in scrapbook supplies, which is great for helping preserve all of my memories. Also, my husband and I are now in the process of adopting our first child and look forward to being parents. These are all memories I will never forget, but are memories that would not have occurred without the chance to live my life.

I am so thankful for my heroes – the men in my life who donated to me. I am also grateful to the BMV staff who ask everyone the question, “do you want to be an organ and tissue donor?” That question has given LIFE to so many people, and for that, I say thank you.

GIFTS, by Victoria Beckley 

Precious Gifts have been given to me.

Not once, not twice, but three times you see.

On July 16, 1993 my dad gave my first Gift to me

by giving me life with a new kidney.

The disease is dropping the doctors’ say,

“your native kidneys must be removed right away”.

So in December 1994 off to surgery I went once more,

but dad’s kidney would work no more.

Now another transplant must be done.

so my husband says he’s the one!

On April 9, 1996 my husband blessed me

with my second Gift.

Six hours after surgery a blood clot formed and

three surgeries in 72 hours doctors had to perform.

However, with every effort the doctors gave

my husband’s kidney they could not save.

On October 24, 1996 I started dialysis

to wait for my third Gift.

The wait was long and I got sick so

my brother decided he would fix this.

On March 4, 2003 that third Gift was

given to me and my brother is the one it would be.

I am very thankful that I am now healthy!

Because not one, not two, but three men you see

gave the Gift of Life to me!