In Sickness and In Health

In February 2025, George and Sally Davidson will be celebrating 49 years of marriage! Over their nearly half a century together, they’ve brought three beautiful children into the world, welcomed seven grandchildren, and last month, their first great grandchild! They’ve lived in the same home in Colorado for the past 50 years. As you can imagine, over the years, the two of them have experienced many highs and lows together.

In March of 2022, George was surprised to learn that both of his kidneys had stopped functioning. He immediately started on dialysis three times a week for around five hours each session. In June of that same year, he qualified to be a part of the AdventHealth Porter transplant program and the National Kidney Registry.

In June of 2023, Sally was battling a bad cough. Her primary care provider recommended she get a chest CT, where they discovered a lump on the lower lobe of her right lung. After a series of several other scans, her oncologist confirmed that Sally had stage 4 lung cancer with a couple of tumors on her lung, one on her spine, and one on her hip bone. She started chemotherapy in August that same year.

After the first round of chemotherapy concluded, they found that the treatment was effective. Unfortunately, she began to cough up blood and wound up in the hospital. Her oncology team decided that targeted radiation treatments would be the best alternative, which she was schedule to begin receiving at AdventHealth Porter on Tuesday, November 20 of this year.

Meanwhile, on November 20, George was in his regular dialysis session when he got ‘the call’ that a viable kidney was available for him. George and Sally hustled to AdventHealth Porter where they would both receive care at the same time – what are the odds!

George recovered in the ICU for a few days after his transplant surgery, then went to 3North while Sally was getting her daily radiation treatments on 1North. They were able to coordinate their discharge date and went home together, holding hands while being wheeled out of the hospital on Tuesday, December 3!

“We can’t speak highly enough for the care we received during our stay at AdventHealth Porter,” said George. “To my surgeon, Dr. Dan Kuehler, his PA Melissa Quist, my nephrologists Scott Davis and Erik Stites, and Sally’s radiation oncologist John Stahl, all the radiation team, ICU nurses and 3North and 1North nurses, catering folks, and room cleaners - you are the best!”

After the happy couple was discharged and feeling better, their first stop was to get pedicures together.

While George and Sally are still on their roads to recovery, they are thankful to be with loved ones and at home this holiday season. “Our kids have helped set up our Christmas tree,” said George. “We are looking forward to gathering family around and celebrating all we have to be thankful for this year!”

We wish George and Sally a new year filled with renewed health and happiness!