Northwood High School teacher and former head football coach Dennis Harris, who has received a new kidney and pancreas, will be lobbying Congressmembers Wednesday as an American Kidney Fund Ambassador.
The Silver Spring resident had Type 1 Diabetes that led to end stage renal disease and the need for a new kidney. He was fortunate his wife, Dr. Darlene Harris, was a match, cutting short his wait time on the transplant list from about four months to what could have been multiple years.
Harris and his wife, who is executive director of human resources and development at Montgomery County Public Schools, spent about two weeks in a Baltimore hospital in 2012.
About three years later, he received a new pancreas, and therefore no longer is a diabetic. Except for the numerous medications he takes as a transplant recipient, both Harris and his wife are living healthy and active lives, he said.
Harris considers himself fortunate that his medical expenses were covered by insurance and that MCPS allowed him to continue working while receiving dialysis. He also was able to use flexible medical leave as he recovered.
But he knows not everyone with his medical issues is so fortunate. That is why he is looking forward to speaking with members of Congress Wednesday to urge them to them to increase benefit coverage for other recipients as well as those who donate their organs.
That way, he said, more people will be willing to donate their organs, and more people can go on to lead active, healthy lives.
