Tribute to Emerson Martin, Iowa's first heart transplant recipient

Here is the column I wrote for the Sunday, March 21, Gazette about the passing of Iowa's first heart transplant recipient, Emerson Martin of North Liberty:

The conversation with my wife would go like this:

I wonder how Emerson Martin is doing these days? I'd ask.

I wonder. That guy's life has been a miracle, my wife would respond.

I haven't seen him in ages, I'd say. We need to reconnect.

We reconnected this weekend, at his wake and funeral. The donated heart Emerson Martin received in June 1985 in Iowa's highly celebrated first heart transplant could not extend his life beyond the age of 50. He died a devoted husband, father of three daughters and grandfather of twin grandsons.

He was well known after his heart transplant and I covered health and science for more than a decade as a reporter. But I met Emerson through my daughter, Alison, and his daughter, Ashley. The girls were good friends growing up in North Liberty and my wife and I counted the Martin family among our friends. The Martins have a lot of friends.

Emerson was such a good guy. Over the years we'd have conversations about the things he loved: families; the Hawkeyes; the Cubs; his favorite auto racer, the late Dale Earnhardt. Family always was first. But he really liked the others, too. Another Cub fan goes to the grave waiting for the day that never seems to come on Chicago's north side.

Emerson coached the girls in softball when they were in grade school. The team's sole purpose was to have fun. In one game someone hit a ball to Alison, who wasn't what you'd call a natural at the game. She froze for a moment but then moved a bit and stuck out her glove in total fear to protect herself. The ball landed square in her glove for an out and her team erupted. Emerson was the lead cheerleader, treating Alison as though she had just saved the day. He was genuine about it, as he was with all the kids when letting them know how valuable and wonderful they were.

I wrote a few stories about Emerson over the years when he'd meet a transplant milestone. He always was gracious about telling his story because he wanted people to understand the value of organ donation. He and his wife, Traci, had a bombshell for me one year. Traci was pregnant, even though the medicine Emerson was taking was supposed to have made that impossible. They were delighted.

Emerson was a great ambassador for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' transplant programs. His message was clear about how much he appreciated the UI doctors, nurses and other transplant team workers and, especially, the family of an Illinois man from whom he received the donated heart.

He had plenty of milestones: one year after the operation; five years; 10 years; 15 years, a miracle given that he had to beat kidney cancer to get there; the birth of that child 12 years ago, Emily; the graduations from high school and college of Ashley and his oldest daughter, Amanda; both older daughters getting married; the births of the grandsons.

Many parents dream of experiencing such milestones when it comes to their kids. For Emerson, they were missions.

Children grow up, as ours did. We saw Ashley at her UI graduation and took a picture of her with Alison, who graduated the same day. Otherwise, my wife and I had not seen Emerson, Traci or their children for a many years

Funny how that goes. In this time of social networking I've reconnected with former co-workers dating back to 1975, friends from high school dating back even farther, a cousin who lives out of state. I keep track of them on Facebook. We haven't talked, though, in years. Decades for some.

Doing so would be nice but over the years you accumulate more friends but seemingly less time to enjoy their company.

Even when you know that time is borrowed.

Organ donation

For information on organ donation:

www.iowadonornetwork.org

www.unos.org

More links are in a blog item I wrote before posting the column.