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By Linda Galway
CHELSEA — A little dancing, a bit of socializing, a kidney transplant and a life saved.
Some days, the winding paths are inexplicable.
Cherie Winterbottom, of Bath, and Mike Martin, of Westbrook, now have something in common — one of Winterbottom’s kidneys.
“A power stronger than I am set me on this path,” Winterbottom said. So it would seem, especially to Martin, who added, “I’m very thankful for my second chance at life, thanks to my angel.”
The path began in Chelsea. Winterbottom had been attending dances at Crystal Falls, an event center, for many years, and during that time, she met and became friendly with Donnie and Betsy Stevens of Skowhegan. About two years ago, the Stevens invited their niece and her husband, Lynn and Mike Martin, to join in the fun.
“My mom was introduced to the couple that evening, and over the course of the next year, saw them a few times,” said Winterbottom’s daughter, Felicia Cates of Mount Vernon. One of those times took place on New Year’s Eve, 2016.
“Mom asked Mike what kind of diet he was on,” Cates said. “He replied, ‘You don’t want my diet; I need a kidney.’ ” That’s when Winterbottom found out Martin had been on dialysis for five years, having been born with one kidney; now that kidney was failing.
Cates recalled her mother thinking a lot about Martin’s condition. “She thought about him every single day. She spent all of her free time researching renal failure, kidney donations and life after the donation,” she said. “When February rolled around, she sent Mike’s wife Lynn a message, asking her to call.”
After a lengthy conversation about Martin’s condition, Winterbottom called the Maine Transplant Program in Portland and asked what she needed to do to start the process. She was determined to be a living donor for Martin.
There was the inevitable testing, not only for compatibility but also for the health of both the donor and recipient. Winterbottom finally received the call she had been anticipating.
“Not only was she a match,” Cates said, “but there wasn’t a better match out there for him.” By then, however, several months had passed, and Martin’s condition was worsening.
After all the testing and checking for rejection, “We got the green light,” Cates said. Nearly a year after learning about Martin’s condition, “Mom received a call telling her Mike was healthy enough to withstand the surgery.”
Cates said the donor “gets to pick the date” for the surgery. “Mom thought about the possibilities offered and decided the day after Christmas would give the Martins the best possible gift,” she added.
The patients checked into Maine Medical Center in Portland at 5:30 a.m. Dec. 26; an hour later, Winterbottom was being wheeled into surgery, stopping first at Martin’s room. “We got this,” they said to each other.
“After making the decision in February that I was definitely going to give up my kidney to Mike, I never once thought I had made the wrong decision,” Winterbottom said. “I can only give up my kidney one time to save one life, so now I want to continue to educate people about the living donor program.”
Cates said after four hours of surgery and four hours in recovery, both patients were taken to their private rooms. “That evening, Mike walked, unassisted, into Mom’s room, gave her a little hip shake and asked, ‘Do you care to dance?’ ”
Cates noted it’s typical for the recipient to look much healthier shortly after getting the transplant, while the donor is tired and sluggish. “The recuperation is harder on the donor, because the body is trying to adjust with one less organ,” she explained.
Although Martin was discharged three days later and Winterbottom on the fourth day after surgery, the journey for both continues. Martin is off dialysis, and “his new kidney loves its new home,” Cates said, but another concern has risen. Martin is facing “a life of expensive medications and lots of adjustments for the rest of his life,” she continued. “Although Mom should be back to somewhat of a regular routine in four to six weeks, sometimes it takes three to six months for a full recovery for the donor.”
The ordeal has been a financial strain for both patients. Martin hadn’t worked in six years, and it may be another year before he is cleared medically, while Winterbottom has worked only temporary jobs, not knowing when surgery would take place.
Cates, a fundraiser at heart, said she has raised more than $35,000 for other families in crisis. “I never thought I would be doing such a thing for my own mother,” she said.
Her most recent endeavor was a family-friendly benefit Jan. 14 at Crystal Falls. She is also planning a paint night at Margaritas restaurant in Augusta Sunday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. The cost to attend is $25 per person, and all proceeds will be donated.
“I am so thankful, beyond words, for our angel Cherie for giving my husband life,” said Lynn Martin. “We will never be able to say thank you enough. My prayer is that more people will become a live donor and give life, even if its to a stranger.”
TOP PHOTO: Mike Martin and Cherie Winterbottom get a chance to chat during their check-in at Maine Medical Center Dec 26. Martin received a kidney from Winterbottom. (Submitted photo)
Would you like to do more? Here’s the info
As with any surgery, especially transplant surgery, there is a period recovery during which bills must still be paid and other expenses covered. Anyone interested in making donations to help Cherie Winterbottom and Mike Martin through this period of adjustment may contact Trademark Credit Union, 44 Edison Drive, where a tax-exempt account is being set up. The number to call is 207-623-1134 or toll free, 800-696-1146.
The Maine Transplant Program at Maine Medical Center estimates about a hundred people at any given time are on the wait list for a kidney transplant in Maine.
Once listed on the registry, the typical wait time for deceased donors in this region is between two and six years. The average life span of a living-donor kidney is about 30 years, and the average life span for a deceased-donor kidney is 15 years.
For more information about the Maine Transplant Program, call 207-662-7180 or toll free, 800-870-5230.
