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Finally, I heard from UPMC’s Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute after three months of echoing silence.

But the offer of a kidney and pancreas involved high-risk organs.

The 25-year-old female donor had been found with a needle in her arm. That always implies added risk of HIV-AIDS or hepatitis infection when the donor is an intravenous drug abuser. If the donor had been exposed to the viruses in the days or weeks prior to her death, it could mean she could be infected even though the infection did not yet show up in blood tests.

It also could mean the organs were perfectly fine.

So transplant officials make such risks known and let the potential recipient decide.

I thought for a while about accepting the organs -- maybe a half hour -- but ultimately decided against it. Family and doctors support that decision. My health is solid enough for now to avoid added risk.

I’m still not on dialysis. At least not yet. I still feel well, although I’ve been dragging a bit lately. I’ve added an exercise bike to the household to increase my activity with hopes of remaining in some semblance of shape prior to the transplants. I remain patient but a bit antsy.

I’m sure that’s the case with most of us on the transplant list.

After being called to the hospital three times in one week in February for potential kidney-pancreas transplants, but unsuccessfully so due to ultimate rejection of the pancreases for quality reasons, I felt confident of receiving the transplants in quick fashion.

But that’s how this game works. About the time you think it’s going to happen, then you face prolonged silence. UPMC officials have assured me that I’m still active on the list. I’ve even called and asked when  I  hadn’t heard from anyone in several months. I was first in line for the recently available organs had the higher risk not scared me away.

My wide-eyed wait continues.

I’ve now been on the list 18 months — ever since Dec. 3, 2009. I have big events in the offing including my daughter Abbie’s wedding on June 25.

She predicts I’ll get the transplant call the day before the wedding.

Let’s see if Murphy’s Law comes into play.

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