• Introduction
• A Timeline of Kidney Transplantation
• Patient Identified
  • In Their Own Words
• Research and Preparation
  • In Their Own Words
• The Operation
  • In Their Own Words
• Post-Operative
  • In Their Own Words
• Media Coverage
  • In Their Own Words
• Post-Script
• Development of the MUSC Transplant Program
• Biographies
• Glossary of Medical and Scientific Terms
• References
• For More Information
• Acknowledgements

In Their Own Words: Post-Operative

Velma Jean McAlister

“It wasn’t what I expected. I had I guess I had never been sick or gone through much pain or suffering of any type so this was the first and I thought I’d just be able to get up and walk the next day. But I didn’t. It took me two days before I could get up or before I’d let them get me up.”

Fletcher C. Derrick, Jr., M.D.

“As well as I remember, I think Billy Ashley did very well. I think he recovered nicely from surgery, was up walking, and also he made urine immediately; the kidney functioned. We all joined the pee-watchers club, as we say, because we all have our eye on the bag on the side of the bed. As well as I remember, he went right to functioning properly and was alert and then got up and started moving around.

Now, of course we had to watch out for the rejection phenomenon, and we didn't have all of the drugs that we have now, but as well as I remember, he did very well for a while. For a long time.”

Velma Jean McAlister

“I wish I could remember the names, but it’s been a lot of years. But the nurses were just, they were so good. I wish I could remember every nurse and every doctor because they were good to us.”

Fletcher C. Derrick, Jr., M.D.

“As well as I remember, she [Velma Jean Madden] had a very uneventful course and was probably out of the hospital in five or six days, and also I think did well immediately following.”