The Gift of Life: J.D.'s Story

April is National Donate Life Month, a time to honor organ, eye and tissue donors and their families, celebrate the lives they’ve saved and encourage more people to register as donors. This month serves as a reminder of the critical need for organ donors and the difference a single donor can make. 

J.D. Busby, Jr., a Phelps Health Home Health patient, understands this better than most. His story highlights the powerful impact of organ donation.

A Startling Diagnosis

A little over 2 years ago, J.D., age 60, of Edgar Springs, was at work in Rolla when he began to feel ill. He made his way to the Phelps Health Emergency Department, where doctors assessed his condition and quickly transferred him to a hospital in Columbia. There, he was diagnosed with pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), kidney failure and liver sclerosis (scarring and hardening of the liver). 

The cause of J.D.’s illness was uncertain, as he hadn’t felt sick before his diagnosis, but it was clear to his doctors that he needed a double transplant — both his liver and his right kidney.

The Long Road Ahead

Before being placed on the active transplant list — a process that can take months or even years — J.D. had to meet strict medical criteria. Patients must maintain key lab values and undergo extensive evaluations to ensure they’re healthy enough for transplant surgery. 

“It took me 2 years to get my numbers right,” J.D. said.

Finally, in early 2025, J.D. was added to the active transplant list, where he was at the top of the list for his blood type. His doctor sent him home with the expectation that he might wait 3 to 5 weeks for a donor. Instead, he waited just 5 hours. 

“I felt great when I got that call,” J.D. said. “Since I got sick, I was always tired and hurting, so I was ready. I said, ‘Let’s go!’”

While traveling to the transplant hospital in St. Louis, J.D. got a second call — another donor had become available, one who was an even better match. This donor would save J.D.’s life with his gift of both a liver and a kidney

Recovery and Resilience

Today, J.D. is recovering and adjusting to life post-transplant. He is currently fully disabled and doesn’t know exactly how long his recovery will take.

“My transplant doctors [in St. Louis] say there’s not a predictable time frame for healing,” he said. “It’s different for everyone, so we’ll have to play it by ear.” 

J.D.’s recovery includes weekly follow-up visits in both St. Louis and Columbia. Phelps Health Home Health nurses also visit him regularly. 

Post-transplant, patients require anti-rejection medications for life. For J.D., these medicines are causing severe anemia (low red blood cell count). So far, he has received enough transfusions to total 2 gallons of blood. His medical team expects the anemia to subside as his body adjusts to the new organs.

Although it hasn’t been easy, his recovery is going well, and J.D. is optimistic about the future. He won't be able to return to his previous career as a medical aide at an independent living home. He does, however, plan to explore new opportunities through a State of Missouri job retraining program once he is well enough.

In the meantime, he’s staying busy doing fine work – the art of carefully knotting and braiding paracord into intricate items such as bracelets, keychains and lanyards. He looks forward to returning to an active, outdoor lifestyle — hunting, fishing, tinkering with motors and playing with his dog.

A Message of Gratitude and Hope

J.D. doesn’t know much about his donor yet, but he expects to receive an informational packet from the hospital soon. He intends to write a card of thanks to the donor’s family.

“I’m grateful,” J.D. said. “Without their gift, I probably wouldn’t be here.”

He encourages everyone to consider becoming a donor. 

“If you’ve already signed up, good job! It’s a great thing to do,” J.D. said. “If you haven’t, think about it. When your time comes, you won’t need your organs anymore, but someone else will.”