By Molly Thompson

When word spread that middle school teacher Dave Treptow needed a kidney transplant, his colleagues at Salem Grade School jumped into action.

Nine teachers offered kidneys to him and underwent tests to see whether they were compatible. No one was a perfect match, but 7th-grade special education teacher Michelle Walter was the closest. Doctors performed the transplant on October 19 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.

"He needed a kidney, and I had an extra," said Walter, 34. "There was no question in my mind that this is what I wanted to do. Other people, like my husband, were more worried than me. But I knew that I had something that could help someone live."

Walter spent six days in the hospital and is recuperating at her Twin Lakes home, awaiting her doctor's permission to return to school, hopefully in December.

Because it wasn't a perfect match, Treptow underwent plasmapherisis twice before surgery and twice after surgery in the hospital. Plasmapherisis is a new treatment that fights organ rejection by cleansing blood of harmful rejection antibodies. Now, he's going to Froedtert for vitals and bloodwork three times a week. He also hopes to return to school as soon as possible, but the treatments are temporarily lowering his immunity, and he cannot risk exposing himself to large populations of people, especially during flu season.

"I made it through the one-month milestone, when there's the biggest chance of rejection," said Treptow, who teaches health, careers and tech ed. "Now the three-month point is crucial. I miss the kids and people I work with. But I know I'll have more energy soon, and I'm excited about that. I used to be dogging it by the end of the day, and then I would have to go to dialysis."

This was Treptow’s second kidney transplant. He received his mother’s kidney in 1978, when he was 16.

“That one lasted for 27 years,” said Treptow, now 43. “I am hoping Michelle’s will last as long or longer.”

Before the transplant, Walter and Treptow knew each other casually, occasionally stopping in the hall for small talk. His brother had originally planned to donate his kidney – until five days prior to surgery when doctors discovered an issue that made surgery too risky for his brother.

"When I found out my brother couldn't do it, I was getting pretty worried," said Treptow, who had been in need of a functioning kidney since September of 2004. "I was surprised when Michelle volunteered, but so thankful."

"Sick bank"

Nearly everyone in the school is getting involved. First-grade teacher Shelia Dittmer and 8th-grade teachers Sue Boudreau and Jody Marver helped organize a "sick bank," where co-workers donated their extra sick days to Walter and Treptow.

"My co-workers felt strongly that if I was going to give up a kidney, there was no way I should burn up my vacation or sick time to do it," Walter said.

The sick bank needed approval from Administrator Dave Milz and district officials.

"It didn't take any convincing," Dittmer said. "We just met as a union, and it was a unanimous vote that we would support this. Some people were disappointed they could only give one or two days."

Co-workers also organized a dinner-drive for Walter's family, figuring she wouldn't be able to be up and about, preparing food for her husband and two children, Nathan, 9, and Emily, 7, for at least a week.

"I thought that we'd be lucky to get a week's worth, but we got a month's worth," Dittmer said. "There was a sign-up sheet in the lounge and people complained that the days were full, so they had to double up. The outpouring of generosity has been tremendous."

Salem Grade School is the largest K-8 school in the state, with about 1,200 students. School officials have tried to build a separate elementary school, but costs exceed state revenue caps and residents voted the last proposal down. Despite the size, teachers band together and have created a community of solidarity.

"I've worked at other schools and it's not always like this," Dittmer said. "At some places, it's your problem if you're sick. This school has a great positive morale where everyone cares about everyone else. It's like a big family."

Walter, who had never had a major surgery before the transplant, said the experience not only makes her feel like a better person, but it will also make her a better teacher.

"As educators, we try to teach our students to be productive, giving members of society," Walter said. "I have never asked a student to do something that I wouldn't do myself. Next time a student complains about having to do something for someone else, all I will have to do is show them my scar."

Organ donation

Last December, Eau Claire health teacher Gretchen Beckstrom donated part of her liver to Peg Dosch, her health professor at UW-La Crosse.

More information on organ donation can be found on the Wisconsin Organ and Tissue Donor Program Web site or organdonor.gov.

Posted November 23, 2005