A frequent flyer needed a kidney transplant to live. This Delta worker gave him one
Jill Hickey, a part-time Delta agent who's been with the airline for four years, got used to seeing Gamble stop by the customer service counter to get a water after his flights. Little did either of them know those encounters would save his life.
Hickey, 57, said she believes she crossed paths with Gamble for a reason.
'I knew Bruce had been having some health concerns, but I didn't know the extent, how serious it was, and what it was that he needed,' Hickey said.
In November 2022, Gamble, now 74, discovered he needed a kidney transplant. Gamble has been a Type 2 diabetic since 2002, and an internist noticed his kidney function was declining. He was told his blood type had a three-to-five-year waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor. By then, he would be 75 to 78 years old, ruling out surgery. He was left with no option but to be 'an advocate' for himself, he said.
'It really started when somebody would say, 'How are you doing today, Bruce?' and I said, 'I'm doing fine, except I just need to find a kidney donor,'' he told CNN.
That revelation 'opened the whole conversation up' about what donating an organ entailed, he said, including compatibility testing and making sure the donor is healthy. He started talking to people about his search for a kidney during his trips to the airport and just about anywhere else he went.
The wait Gamble faced is average at most centers for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, but in some parts of the country, it can be even longer than five years.
Waiting times depend on several things, including the length of time a patient has been on dialysis or on the transplant waitlist; blood type; where the patient lives; and their antibody levels, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
But a kidney transplant from a living donor can be faster.
One evening, some Delta employees were talking about ways to help Gamble, whom they had all met at one time or another through his trips in Birmingham. Hickey overheard her coworkers' conversation.
She and a coworker decided together that they would get tested.
When she brought the idea to her family, her husband and kids questioned her a lot. She's a mother of two daughters, both in their late 20s, and one of her daughters was in tears out of fear of what could happen in surgery. But her family ultimately understood why she wanted to help.
Hickey works as an elementary school teacher for gifted children during the day. Throughout her career in education, Hickey has met students who needed organ donations. Recalling those moments in her life, she said, made her want to help someone who might be in that same situation.
If healthy and able, Hickey was going to donate.
'I was stunned, beside myself,' Gamble said when he learned of Hickey's intention. He told his wife of 51 years that a donor had emerged from all the time he'd spent spreading the word.
Kidneys transplanted from a living donor are more likely to start working right away and may last longer than those from a deceased donor. Kidneys from living donors last an average of about 15 to 20 years, according to the National Kidney Foundation, compared with 7 to 10 years for those from deceased donors.
A person can live a full life with one kidney but must protect the remaining organs by staying as healthy as possible, the foundation says.
Over two years, Gamble had 10 other people volunteer to be tested, but all were disqualified for varying reasons — then came Hickey, the 11th person to be tested.
Not everyone who wants to donate is able to give, but the test found that Hickey and Gamble were fully compatible.
'When Jill called me and said she was an exact match, I can't tell you – I was just speechless at that point,' Gamble said. 'But here we are. God blessed me with Jill at this point in my life. She's extending my life, and I've told her that many times.'
Hickey's decision felt especially fateful after she was gifted a daily devotion book from a friend of Bruce's. She opened the page to the date of the surgery, and it read, 'Let Me lead you step by step through this day. If your primary focus is on Me, you can walk along perilous paths without being afraid.'
'It really solidified my faith that everything is going to be all right, that I'm here for a purpose,' Hickey said. 'Our paths crossed at the right time for a reason.'
Gamble's desperate search for a donor isn't unusual. There are not nearly enough organs to fill kidney transplant needs.
About 90,000 people are on the kidney transplant waitlist, according to data from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration cited by the National Kidney Foundation. In 2023, about 27,000 people received a kidney transplant — and roughly 6,300 of those were from living donors.
Gamble and Hickey underwent surgeries in December 2024 in Birmingham. During the procedure, doctors discovered issues with the blood vessels around Hickey's kidney that could have caused more health problems. The result was a longer surgery, but one that still went smoothly.
Months after the surgery, Hickey, Gamble and their spouses went on a trip to California. Gamble has collected animation art for over 35 years. On their trip, Hickey bought artwork of Marvin the Martian, which Gamble hopes will 'get her hooked' on the hobby.
Hickey said that Gamble's love for animation art sparked creative ideas that will apply to her teaching job. The two couples enjoyed spending time together and they say it won't be their last vacation as a group.
Donation doesn't change life expectancy for donors. In fact, some studies, according to the National Kidney Foundation, have shown living donors live longer than the average person because only the healthiest people are accepted for kidney donation.
In some ways, life has gone back to the way things were before. Hickey is teaching gifted children full-time during the school year, and she works for Delta as a customer service agent in the evenings. Gamble travels on occasion. He's 'semi-retired' but continues to do some training at car dealerships.
In one important way, however, things are forever changed.
'We were strangers at first, but we're more like family now,' Hickey said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
If You Have a Headache, Experts Recommend Eating These 9 Foods
Next time you have a headache, consider looking in your fridge or pantry for relief. Though they're not miracle cures, several foods may provide relief next time you have a headache or migraine, in addition to maintaining your hydration, exercise routine, sleep and managing stress. "The most important thing I tell patients is that migraines are highly individualized," says Dr. Nicholas Church, a board-certified member of the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians. "What helps one person may not help another, and what's a trigger for one might be therapeutic for someone else." We spoke with doctors and dietitians to help you narrow down which foods may help with headache symptoms. They also discussed which foods to avoid to prevent headaches in the first place. 1. Omega-3-rich foods like walnuts "I recommend omega-3-rich fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines," says Church. "These fish are high in anti-inflammatory fats (EPA and DHA), which can reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the vascular system and brain." Citing a 2021 randomized controlled trial, Church explains that because migraines are believed to involve inflammatory and vascular changes in the body, omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce their frequency or intensity when eaten regularly. "The study's findings also align with earlier data showing that omega-3s help regulate prostaglandins, which play a role in headache inflammation," says Church. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that impact bodily functions like inflammation, pain and menstrual cramps. Fatty fish also contain vitamin D, coenzyme Q10 and B vitamins like riboflavin, which support healthy brain metabolism. Kiran Campbell, a registered dietitian nutritionist at MyNetDiary, also mentions a 2024 meta-analysis revealing that omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the frequency, duration and severity of migraines. She adds that plant-based sources include chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseed and algae oil. Example foods: salmon, mackerel, sardines, chia seeds, walnuts, flaxseed and algae oil Chia and flax seeds are great sources of omega-3s. mikroman6/Getty Images 2. Magnesium-rich foods like spinach Daniel Redwood, the director of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine at the University of Western States, explains, "Attention to the potential importance of magnesium in migraine grew in prominence with the discovery (Ramadan, 1989) that people with migraines had lower levels of this mineral in their red blood cells, serum and brain tissue." Dr. Paul Daidone, medical director at True Self Recovery, seconds this, stating that food rich in magnesium -- like pumpkin seeds, spinach and avocado -- may reduce the severity and occurrence of migraines. He cites a 2022 study examining the potential connection between magnesium deficiency and migraine, which describes how magnesium deficiency is implicated in migraine attacks due to processes like cortical spreading depression, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter imbalance and electrolyte imbalance. "Although clinical evidence of the acute dietary magnesium deficiency as a direct migraine trigger remains limited, scientists are investigating the involvement of intra- and extracellular magnesium levels in migraine pathogenesis," Daidone explains. Dr. Schonze Del Pozo, a board-certified internal medicine physician and medical director at East Sacramento Concierge, states that many of the patients she sees for headaches and migraines are deficient in magnesium. She also cites a 2012 study in the Journal of Neural Transmission entitled "Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium." As a result, she recommends a healthy diet of magnesium-rich dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, broccoli and Swiss chard. Example foods: pumpkin seeds, spinach and avocado, kale, broccoli and Swiss chard 3. Ginger "Many swear by ginger as a way to help with migraines," states Dr. Maria Knöbel, a general practitioner and medical director of Medical Cert UK. "Studies have proven that ginger reduces nausea and can decrease the inflammation that leads to migraine pain. Ginger has helped patients during my practice, whether they take it as ginger tea or in supplement form." She references a 2014 study that found ginger powder to be as effective as the medication sumatriptan in treating acute migraine attacks, but with fewer side effects. Ginger tea may be especially beneficial because, Knöbel states, "It's important to drink enough water, as well as eat ginger. Drinking enough water might stop your migraine from getting any worse." Church also recommends ginger because it contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds like gingerol. "I've had patients find relief from migraines or migraine-related nausea using ginger tea, powder or chews," he explains. A 2019 study also found that 400mg of ginger extract, in addition to 100mg of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, may help treat migraine attacks. Ginger tea combines the benefits of ginger with the hydration of water.4. Nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds "Another group of foods I recommend are nuts and seeds, including almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and walnuts," Church states. "Like leafy greens, these are rich in magnesium, and some also provide vitamin E, which has been shown to help with menstrual migraines and migraines with aura." A 2015 study reflected this. Example foods: almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and walnuts 5. Cinnamon "Cinnamon contains a high amount of antioxidants that may also reduce headache frequency," Campbell explains. "Stir it into your morning oatmeal or tea, or bake it into muffins and breads." She cites a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled 2020 trial, stating, "Studies suggest that cinnamon supplementation may lower inflammation, cutting down on migraine frequency, severity and duration." The antioxidants in cinnamon may help treat headaches and migraines. FreshSplash/Getty Images 6. Foods rich in vitamin B2, like eggs "A well-known [1998] randomized controlled trial found that 400 mg of riboflavin daily significantly reduced migraine frequency and severity over a three-month period," Church says. Though this high dose usually comes from supplementation, riboflavin-rich foods support the same metabolic processes in migraine prevention. These foods can include eggs, dairy and lean meats. "Riboflavin is essential for mitochondrial energy production, and many researchers believe that migraines stem in part from dysfunction in energy metabolism within brain cells," Church adds. Redwood adds, "There exists a small but promising body of research on the effectiveness of some nutritional supplements for migraines, especially riboflavin (vitamin B2), coenzyme Q10 and magnesium. The first research-based indicator of riboflavin's potential as a migraine treatment appeared in a small 1946 article by a medical physician, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which reported dramatic effectiveness from what would now be considered low-dose B2 supplements." A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis found that supplementation of 400mg/day of vitamin B2 for three months affected the duration, frequency and pain score of migraine attacks. Example foods: Eggs, dairy and lean meats 7. Turmeric Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric and, according to Campbell, is "high in antioxidant power and shines especially when paired with omega-3s." To add it to your diet, consider sprinkling it into smoothies, curries or teas. Campbell references a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled 2021 trial that concluded, "Present findings revealed that n-3 fatty acids and curcumin co-supplementation can be suggested as a promising new approach in migraine headache management." However, more studies are needed. When combined with omega-3s, turmeric may help with migraine headache management. Rawlstock/Getty Images 8. Whole grains like brown rice Church mentions that whole grains like quinoa, brown rice and oats may also be beneficial since they "provide a steady release of glucose, preventing blood sugar crashes that can trigger headaches, and are good sources of fiber, B vitamins and trace minerals." He cites a 2023 cross-sectional study of 12,710 participants with all data collected from a 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It found that for every 10 grams of fiber added to the diet, there was an 11% reduction in the odds of having severe headaches or migraines. "By providing magnesium, iron, and B vitamins, whole grains support brain health, oxygen delivery and a stable glucose supply, which are all relevant to migraine prevention," concludes Church. A 2023 comprehensive review also found that curcumin is a promising candidate for preventing and controlling migraines due to its anti‑inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-protein aggregate and analgesic effects. However, additional studies are needed. Example foods: quinoa, brown rice and oats 9. Water-rich foods like watermelon Dr. Kimberly Idoko, a developmental neurobiologist and board-certified neurologist, reveals that dehydration can also trigger headaches, which is why staying hydrated can significantly improve migraine treatments. "Water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon and citrus fruits also help you stay hydrated," adds Church. To prevent dehydration-caused headaches or migraines, enjoy more water-rich foods like watermelon. Anucha Muphasa/500px/Getty Images Foods that may trigger headaches or migraines Chocolate, cheese and alcohol: "In one [2007] study of over 500 migraine sufferers, 44% reported at least one food as a trigger. Among the most common triggers were chocolate, cheese and alcohol, " reveals Dr. Adam Lowenstein, a board-certified plastic surgeon who runs the Migraine Surgery Specialty Center. Gluten: "Gluten can be a highly inflammatory food substance, especially among those who are prone to sensitivities or gluten allergy," explains Trista Best, a registered dietitian at The Candida Diet, environmental health specialist and adjunct nutrition professor. "This inflammation causes a host of health conditions, including migraines." When it comes to caffeine, moderation is "The most fascinating study I've seen on the role of nutrition in the treatment of headaches (Hering-Hanit and Gadoth, 2003) was published in Cephalalgia, the premier headache journal. Over a 5-year period, doctors at a neurology clinic in Israel treated 36 children and adolescents (average age 9) with severe daily or near-daily headaches who drank an average of 11 quarts of cola drinks per week," says Redwood. "At the end of a gradual withdrawal period (because too speedy a withdrawal can trigger even worse headaches), 33 of these 36 young people were headache-free, a truly stunning result. Nearly all cola drinks contain substantial amounts of caffeine (Chou and Bell, 2007)." Note: 11 quarts of cola per week is extreme, and the average person doesn't consume this much caffeine. Moderate caffeine intake is still OK, according to Amelia Ti, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator in New York City who is also part of CNET's medical review board. However, when it comes to caffeine, Church notes, "Caffeine, used strategically, can enhance the absorption of pain relievers and constrict dilated blood vessels in the brain, which may ease migraine pain. This is why many over-the-counter headache medications include it. Studies have shown that 40–100 mg of caffeine (the amount in a small cup of coffee or strong tea) can reduce migraine or tension headache pain. But, chronic overuse can lead to rebound headaches, so moderation is key." Added sugars and highly processed foods: "Research has shown that people following a 'Western' diet, which includes substantial amounts of added sugars and other highly processed foods, are at greater than average risk for developing migraines, while the risk is significantly lower than average for those following a healthier diet," states Redwood. download (1) Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family physician and author of Your Guide to Cellular Health , adds that in addition to incorporating foods rich in specific nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins, you'll want to eliminate triggers like processed foods that contain nitrates, MSG, added sugars or yeast.
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
Tocilizumab Delays: A Barrier in Giant Cell Arteritis Care?
TOPLINE: Patients with giant cell arteritis started tocilizumab therapy an average of 43 days after diagnosis, partly because of delays in insurance approval. METHODOLOGY: Overall, 82 patients (average age, 73 years; 60% women; 87% White individuals) newly diagnosed with giant cell arteritis at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, between November 2017 and August 2024 were prescribed 162 mg of subcutaneous tocilizumab. Data on demographics, insurance type, and detailed timelines for medication request, approval, and initiation were collected. When available, cost data for tocilizumab were obtained from insurance quotes, along with information on prior authorization requirements, copay assistance, and medication coverage. The time from the initial tocilizumab request to insurance approval and medication start was analyzed, and costs by insurance payer were compared. TAKEAWAY: Delays in approval for and administration of tocilizumab therapy for newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis increase the risk for vision loss, glucocorticoid exposure, and side effects. The average time from tocilizumab request to the start of treatment was 43 days; from request to insurance approval, 17 days; and from approval to medication start, 30 days. Out-of-pocket costs for tocilizumab averaged $1399 for Medicare patients, $823 for those with Medicare Advantage, $211 for those with commercial insurance, and $0 for Medicaid (P < .01). Commercially insured patients used copay cards more often than other payers (P < .01); Medicare or Medicare Advantage patients had a higher utilization of medication coverage from drug manufacturers (P = .04). IN PRACTICE: 'During the study period, there was only one FDA-approved medication for GCA [giant cell arteritis], yet the high cost and delays to medication start remained high. Understanding the delays, costs, and factors that prevent timely therapy is critical to rheumatologic and geriatric care,' the authors of the study wrote. '[T]he results offer important insights into the administrative and financial frustrations related to securing biologic approval and coverage, which has been documented in other conditions,' experts wrote in an editorial. SOURCE: This study was led by Dominique Feterman Jimenez, MD, University of Washington, Seattle. It was published online on March 15, 2025, in The Journal of Rheumatology. LIMITATIONS: The single-center design may limit the generalizability of the findings beyond Washington State because insurance plans vary by state. The predominance of patients with Medicare may also limit applicability of the findings. The small sample size restricted the ability to analyze differences among various Medicare supplemental plans. DISCLOSURES: One author disclosed receiving support from a Rheumatology Research Foundation Investigator Award. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Medscape
an hour ago
- Medscape
US Cuts Injure Canada's Infectious Disease Surveillance
US President Donald Trump's plans to slash discretionary and research funding to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by as much as 53% have Canadian public health officials and experts worried. One of the most concerning challenges might be the consequent loss of invaluable surveillance efforts and data, Jasmine Pawa, MD, a public health and preventive medicine specialist physician and adjunct lecturer of clinical public health at the University of Toronto, Toronto, told Medscape Medical News. Pawa is co-author of a recently published editorial on the effects of the US federal government's dismantling of the structures that Canada has long relied on to keep its population healthy and safe. Jasmine Pawa, MD 'We wanted to focus specifically on the health data around numbers and how they relate to communicable diseases,' she said. 'In the short term, we're losing access to a lot of information on US websites that we might have referenced or used, and I'm aware that people might now be using archived or older sources.' In the long term, the ability to track pandemic threats or mitigate the spread of diseases like HIV or avian influenza will likely be impaired. 'If those data don't exist, it means that we cannot measure trends,' she said, which, in turn, affects response planning. Communicable Diseases Increasing While US surveillance and data collection have declined, Canada has been facing an infectious disease crisis. The country has seen substantial increases in the rates of preventable sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis; adult infections rose by as much as 109% and congenital syphilis by as much as 599% between 2018 and 2022. New HIV cases have also been a cause for concern, rising by almost 25% between 2021 and 2022. 'We're also seeing a surge in measles cases in Canada, which you could say is an emerging infectious disease, in the sense that it's previously been controlled,' said Zahid Butt, PhD, Canada research chair in Interdisciplinary Research for Pandemic Preparedness at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. Butt is especially worried about the spread of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases, including pertussis. 'We're seeing more cases because vaccine coverage is not at optimal levels,' he said. Avian flu has also been on the minds of public health officials, said Butt. Though the CDC continues to monitor confirmed human cases, reporting frequency has declined to once monthly, and the responsibility for detection in animals has been transferred to the US Department of Agriculture. 'We've seen an increase in physical cases, mostly in birds, but there's a potential to jump from birds to humans and cause outbreaks,' he said. Pawa and her coauthor wrote that they expected to see rising rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis, which has long been considered a pandemic of the 'poor.' Similar increases (especially local outbreaks) in hepatitis B and imported Oropouche are also anticipated. Widespread Misinformation The surge in health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic was largely attributed to social media and conservative news sources such as Fox News . In addition, US government officials during the first Trump administration sought to tamper with data sharing that other countries had long relied on. Fears about health misinformation have returned, according to the coauthors, who pointed to current deliberate efforts by Trump's cabinet to promote misinformation and publicly discredit national health institutions. 'People living in Canada are vulnerable to a cross-border bleed of not only microorganisms, but also of attitudes, health misinformation, and exposure to biased US media,' they wrote. 'In addition to the loss of data, the changes at the US Department of Health and Human Services, especially with regard to Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Make America Healthy Again, green light a lot of dis- and misinformation and falsehoods about health in general,' said Amy Kaler, PhD, professor of sociology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Kaler's expertise is the confluence of infectious diseases and social determinants of health. Amy Kaler, PhD 'It doesn't stop at the US-Canada border,' said Kaler, explaining that local media capacity has been dwindling, while platforms like Facebook have banned Canadian news sources. 'The availability of local, reliable, journalistically sound information has declined at the same time exposure to stuff ranging from outright crazy to just plain misinformed coming from the US has increased,' said Kaler. Though research has shown that Canadians trust their healthcare providers, Kaler also pointed out that many Canadians don't have access to primary care (a recent survey showed that more than 1 in 5 adults lacked a primary care physician). 'That gap gets filled by social media nonsense,' she said. Dwindling media sources are only one part of the problem. Kaler teaches in Alberta, which has a far-right government that 'imitates some of the worst of what's happening in the US, in terms of health and infectious diseases.' 'The big problem that I see is their willingness to entertain or give more respect than should be given to the extreme voices that say things like, 'Don't get vaccinated because your DNA will mutate,'' said Kaler. 'While our minister of health has said that people should get vaccinated, it's couched in rhetoric like 'This is a personal and private decision, and every family should weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination,'' explained Kaler. 'It's not vaccine denialism; it's a soft way of encouraging hesitancy.' Strengthening National Capacity Public health experts have long called for a stronger national infrastructure that supports interoperable systems that easily share health data between provinces, territories, and the federal government. Factors that affect equity (eg, socioeconomics or demographics) should also be considered, said Pawa. This type of robust, evolving surveillance system is needed to support domestic public healthcare efforts. 'They're something that we've needed to do anyway, but being focused and pushing it forward now is really important,' she said. At the same time, 'there needs to be a higher accountability for dedicated public health services, a mechanism that requires provinces and territories to pay attention to this, as distinct from other services that they are currently providing,' said Gaynor Watson-Creed, MD, preventive medicine specialist, physician, and associate dean of medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Gaynor Watson-Creed, MD Watson-Creed, a former deputy chief medical officer of health at the Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, recalled that during the first severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, public health officials believed that they could create a 'CDC North' that would provide data and surveillance to the world just as CDC had done. 'Now that we're seeing the decline of the collaboration between CDC and its international partners, including Canada, that need is real. And it's not just the need for communicable disease surveillance but a new need for chronic disease surveillance, injury surveillance, and well-being surveillance in this country,' said Watson-Creed. 'We called for federal public health legislation [in 2017] similar to the way that we have federal legislation for acute care services (ie, the Canada Health Act), she added, citing a decline in Canada's public health systems. 'The trouble is that the provincial governments, ministers of health, etc., may not know enough about public health to even know what they don't know.' Clinicians must step up to the plate, said Watson-Creed. 'Clinicians have not stopped long enough to consider what's at the end of the spectrum after primary prevention. Now would be a good time for them to lend their voices to continued efforts to strengthen the primordial prevention end of public health,' which targets the root causes of disease. No funding for the editorial was reported. Pawa, Butt, and Kaler reported having no relevant financial relationships. Watson-Creed provides consultation services through her company, Sweetfire Consulting.
