For the last decade, Father's Day has brought back a special memory for Dr. Edward Lowe, a professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati.

On June 28, 1992, his life was saved by a heart transplant.

He said he reflects on the gift which has led, so far, to "11 additional years of life for me."

Dr. Lowe received a heart through LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, the Tristate's local nonprofit organ recovery agency.

"I never knew the young man who provided the heart, which has sustained me over this period of time," Lowe said. "I am most grateful to his family, whom I have never met, for consenting to allow this young man to provide the gift of life to others."

At 65, the Springfield Township man continues an active professional life teaching and doing administrative work and consultations at many levels at the UC College of Medicine. He has been able to travel, golf, ski and swim, he said.

"Not too much skiing, since I broke my leg," he noted.

He is a member of the Institutional Review Board at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the LifeCenter Advisory Board, Adolescent Medicine Trustee Board and on committees at his church, Northern Hills United Methodist.

"Because of the gift of life I have been able to spend additional years with my spouse, Alice, who has been the wind beneath my wings throughout this cardiac transplant experience," Lowe said.

He lived to see four grandchildren born.

Jeff Lueders, public affairs manager for LifeCenter, said the agency honors all fathers on Father's Day who have been organ recipients.

• • •

A walk in Winton Woods Saturday honored the memory of Dr. Scott Heath and brought awareness to the particular kind of cancer that took his life in 2000, said his widow, Lynn Heath.

Lynn Heath of Finneytown said about 100 people participated in the walk, called Miles to Melanoma.

Dr. Heath, who practiced neurological medicine at Riverhills Medical Group in Mount Auburn for 20 years, died June 8, 2000. He was particularly interested in multiple sclerosis care and conducted extensive research in that field.

Lynn Heath said she and their three sons made a promise to Dr. Heath that they would do something to honor him each Father's Day.

"He had asked us to have a rock-and-roll party because he was also a musician," Lynn Heath said. "He didn't want people to feel sad on this day. For the first two years, we had a big dance on the tennis courts at the house (in Anderson Township). But that didn't bring in any money or any awareness for the disease."

---

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.