BPS Happenings
#SharedHisSpare: Davis teacher donates a kidney for a friend’s son
When it comes to the decision to donate an organ, some people say they can’t imagine doing it. But Davis Grade 7 Science Teacher John “Jake” O’Neill couldn’t imagine not doing it.
O’Neill is already back at school after giving one of his kidneys to the son of a friend three weeks ago who was in dire need of a transplant. Nick Jarvis, 20, of Middleton, is a junior at Salem State University and the Baseball Team manager. Nick has had serious lifelong medical issues and required dialysis since October at least 10 to 11 hours a day. Jake’s gift has come along just in time.
The O’Neills and Nick’s parents met when Nick’s dad and Jake’s wife worked together at General Electric. Though they drifted apart for decades, the families reunited, as people do, via Facebook. When Jake heard of Nick’s need, he said, “I threw my blood into the hat to see what would happen.” As luck would happen, he was a match.
“It has made me feel good,” O’Neill said, promoting Friday’s Blue and Green Donate a Life Day at the Davis. “At first, I was a little worried about my kids and wife and about undergoing surgery. I’ve never even stayed overnight at a hospital.”
But as time went on, O’Neill said he realized how thankful he is that his family is healthy, and then his thoughts shifted to the what ifs like … what if his kids had needed someone to step up. Or his wife? He would hope someone would want to help.
“And then I never had a moment of doubt,” he said, pointing to the small silver bracelet he wears that reads #SharedMySpare.
You wonder, he added, why people come into each other’s lives as they do. How the O’Neills and the Jarvis family met and then reconnected at just exactly the time they did. And then this, the organ donation at Brigham and Womens Hospital: “We call that God wings,” he said.
Still there are some things he can no longer do. Like take Ibuprofen, for one thing. Or play football, for another: “I will no longer be backing up Tom Brady,” O’Neill said.
As for the sky-diving outing he has discussed with his son? Well, the jury is still out on that.
- MMB
