By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Janice Uible and husband, Richard, in their Golf Manor home Monday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

GOLF MANOR - All Richard Uible wanted for Christmas was a kidney that worked.

He received his wish early. The Santa Claus who brought the kidney was his wife, Janice.

The transplant surgery was performed by Dr. J. Wesley Alexander on Oct. 29 at Christ Hospital, Mr. Uible's 61st birthday.

"This is my birthday present, my Christmas present, my 4th of July present, said Mr. Uible, a retired army veteran. "This is the greatest gift I have ever received. I was just overwhelmed that my wife was able to give me one of her kidneys."

Mr. Uible had started dialysis treatment a year ago, three days a week, five hours each time.

Even though the procedure kept him alive, the dietary restrictions, aches and pains made it hard for him to think about the future, he said.

"It was hard on him and it could take its toll on him physically and disqualify him as a kidney transplant recipient," Mrs. Uible said.

His kidney problem was diagnosed in January 2001 during routine pre-operative lab tests for sleep apnea surgery.

The sleep apnea surgery was cancelled as doctors began a series of tests. He was told that it would only be a matter of time before his kidney functions would stop entirely.

He went through access surgery in February to prepare for the dialysis treatment.

After extensive tests, Mr. Uible was finally qualified as a candidate for transplant surgery, but there were no kidneys available. No match was found after examining 22 relatives.

With about 99 people waiting for kidneys, the waiting list for a cadaver transplant was about a year and a half.

Mrs. Uible asked to be tested, but doctors at first refused, telling her that it was unlikely that she could be compatible. But she insisted, and on May 9, 2001, doctors determined that she could donate the kidney.

Until the mid-1980s, nonblood relatives rarely could be matched as donors, but are becoming more frequent now.

Dr. Michael Cardic, a transplant nephrologist at Christ Hospital, said with improved medication, spouse-to-spouse transplants are becoming more common and appear to be more successful.

"There has been less rejection with the improved medication and also statistics are showing that spouse-to-spouse transplants are extremely more successful," he said.

According to statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing in Richmond, Va., spouse-to-spouse transplants went from 40 in 1988 to 220 in 1995, the most recent ststistics available.

"During all this time, I always said God will find a way," Mrs. Uible said. "When they told me I was a match, I felt like I had been accepted as an astronaut. Beside saving Richard's life, having a living donor would free up a cadaver kidney for someone else."

After the transplant surgery, Mrs. Uible, 54, a retired beautician, was able to go home in three days. Mr. Uible remained in the hospital two weeks.

He is recuperating now in their Golf Manor home. Doctors say his prognosis is good.

"I have a few discomforts, but otherwise, I am doing fine," he said.

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com