Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes

I was in Indianapolis last week at the headquarters of The Renal Network, Inc., where I am proud to sit on the organization's Patient Leadership Committee for Network 10, representing the state of Illinois.

I like this group a lot because, while this was just my second meeting, many of the members have been on the committee for years and have developed an easy affability with each other. They laugh and poke fun, but when we get down to business their familiarity allows them to speak candidly and tackle issues with lively exchanges of viewpoints.

We discussed a broad range of topics. (The last time I sat on a patient advisory committee and wrote anything about its meetings in Just Kidneying I was kicked off the committee, so let me just say the discussions were fruitful.) But the most fascinating highlight of the day for me was a newspaper brought in by a fellow member from Ohio.

The following article appeared in the Dayton Daily News on Nov. 1. I'm so happy someone thought it worthy to acknowledge Clark Beck's milestone. The lead is buried a bit because the rest of his life is so interesting, but the headline suggests the amazing fact: At 83, Beck may be the oldest living recipient of a single kidney transplant.

He's had his kidney for 40 years! What an inspiration! And when you consider that kidney transplants weren't even attempted in the U.S. until the 1950s, and how crude and perilous those operations were compared to the smooth, almost-commonplace procedures of today – well, Clark Beck is just a walking, talking miracle. Not to mention a pioneer, on many levels.

I'm doing what I'm doing today because of people like him. I hope to meet my new hero someday soon and shake his hand. But for now, let me shut up and allow you to meet him.

MAN CELEBRATES 40th YEAR 

WITH TRANSPLANTED KIDNEY

By Debbie Juniewicz

Contributing Writer

Clark Beck didn’t set out to be a pioneer – just a student.

But after Purdue University told the young black man that “your people cannot be engineers,” he continued on. With transcript in hand, he tried the University of Cincinnati the next day.

“The dean looked at my transcript and told me, ‘You’re going to catch hell from both sides of the desk,’” Beck said. “There was only one other black student in the engineering school at the time.”

The Harrison Township (Ohio) man was ready for the challenge and enrolled in the university’s College of Engineering and Applied Science in 1951. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering and later a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.

His challenges weren’t limited to getting an education. He started to develop serious health problems in the 1970s.

“I had a rough time when I was in school. I didn’t have enough money to eat well or take care of myself,” he said. “I got sick, and the strep throat settled in my kidneys. I didn’t know at the time the damage it did.”

When doctors told him he needed a transplant, Beck’s first option was to see if any of his three siblings were a match. They weren’t, and Beck was actually happy because he didn’t want to take one of their kidneys, he said.

Beck, who was working as an engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and teaching at Central State University, continued dialysis and waited for a kidney to become available. He almost missed his chance, however, on a late fall afternoon almost a year after he discovered he needed a transplant.

Beck went out early on a Saturday morning with his surveying class and missed the phone call alerting him that a kidney had been recovered from a deceased donor that morning. He didn’t get the message until Saturday night.

“The doctor told me that the kidney had a 50 percent chance of lasting six months,” he said.

Beck’s doctor might have underestimated a bit. The 83-year-old celebrated the 40th anniversary of his transplant Monday. It is a significant milestone as Beck is considered to be among the longest living survivors in the world with a functioning kidney, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

But with Beck, it’s about more than quantity – it’s the quality of life that matters.

“Any chance he has to make a difference, he takes it,” said Cathi Arends of Life Connection Ohio. “Whether it’s mentoring a young person or giving someone who needs a transplant hope, he is there for them. One of the things he frequently says is that he wanted to make the most of his second chance, and he has done just that.”

Beck founded the Wright STEPP program at Wright State University in 1987. The Science, Technology and Engineering Preparatory Program was designed to enhance the development and education of youth underrepresented in the fields of engineering, math and science.

Beyond the classroom, Beck had a 31-year career at Wright-Patterson and was the first black president of the Dayton Engineers Club. He is a Donate Life Ambassador for Life Connection of Ohio and serves on several community boards.

“He is our voice in the community, and we are so glad to have him working with us,” Arends said.

And Beck is happy to have the opportunity – just like he was when he was given the opportunity by the University of Cincinnati more than six decades ago.

“I was definitely a pioneer in many ways, and I’m proud of that,” he said.

Reprinted by permission. Contact this contributing writer at djunie@aol.com