Living History Makers:

Reverend Paul Johnson

Organ Recipient

Turning 60-years-old this year has been a triumph of sorts for me! My family has had a history of kidney failure, on the male side especially. My father’s kidneys failed first, followed by mine and then my two older brothers. I am the only survivor.

My kidneys failed in 1982, and I was placed on dialysis for nearly two years. I became very ill and was placed on ‘the list’ for a kidney transplant. I received a kidney on December 17,1984 from a fireman who died on his way to a fire. Though I never met him, I try to testify about that fireman every year. I was told my transplant wasn't to last more than three years…it lasted almost twenty.

I was placed on dialysis once again when the gracious fireman’s kidney couldn’t help me any longer. Luckily, many things had changed in the world of organ transplants since 1984. They were now engaging ‘living donors’. Surprising to me, several people stepped forward ready to designate themselves as living donors to offer me a kidney! The first person was a writer in my local newspaper, but unfortunately was not a match. The second was a local pastor friend who was indeed a match, but his own health conditions denied the required surgery. I was overwhelmed at the levels of gratitude. Finally, my niece became a perfect match and on April 26, 2003 she became my living donor.

I have now been retired for six years, but I am continuing to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ after 25 years. I pastor the Eighteenth Street Community Church, in Altoona Pa, had a 26-year marriage (of which I am since divorced), and I served my country during Vietnam in 1968-69. I also serve as a chaplain in my local VFW and chaplain of a veterans group called Fire Base Eagle.

I served on the governor’s commission for Organ Donation and Education for six years, and am a volunteer speaker for CORE of western PA and have served on their community advisory board. I continue to speak in Junior High and High School Drivers-Education classes. I am grateful to the donor families, the transplant teams and the doctors, and all of those involved in the ongoing support and medical maintenance of recipients. I expect to be a vocal voice and a living example of organ, tissue and eye donation till the day I die, and become a donor myself.

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