NKF-MD Honoring MD's Longest Surviving African-American Transplant Recipient

LUTHERVILLE, Md. – The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland (NKF-MD) will celebrate life at a reception honoring the 40th anniversary of George Franklin’s kidney transplant, Thursday, Mar. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Grand Historic Venue (225 N Charles St. – Baltimore 21201).

About George Franklin
Franklin (61) of Cumberland is Maryland’s longest surviving African-American transplant recipient and the nation’s second longest surviving African-American transplant recipient from a deceased donor.

After being ill throughout junior high and high school in Washington, DC, Franklin was diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD) after earning his high school graduation.

Following three years on hemodialysis at the George Washington University Medical Center (because there were no neighborhood dialysis centers then), he underwent a transplant there in November, 1975.

“I feel great! I never expected to live to 30, let alone 61,” says Franklin.

Since then, he has eaten relatively healthy, stayed properly hydrated, taken his “meds” and still enjoys an active lifestyle. In fact, he started competing in the International Transplant Games in 1978 and has won 11 medals in swimming and bowling.

This June, he will participate in the 2016 Transplant Games of America taking place in Cleveland.

“I will compete in the 50 meter and 100 meter Backstroke, as well as the 50 and 100 meter Freestyle,” he explained. “And, depending on how the sports are scheduled, I’ll also compete in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles Bowling.”

Besides being one of 12 TGA Athlete Advisory Council Members, as well as Chair of the Minority Athletes Council, Franklin has participated in NKF-MD events for several years, “to show support for the Foundation and to raise awareness of the need for more people to become organ and tissue donors.”

About the Event
In addition to sharing Franklin’s inspiring story, this event will feature food and wine, networking, and a “Fund the Mission” auction to support kidney patients who are on dialysis or waiting for a transplant.

The program will feature remarks by:

• Traci Barnett (NKF-MD President & CEO),
• Rodney Scaife (NKF-MD Chairman of the Board),
• Dr. David Leeser (NKF-MD Board Member & Chief of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, University of Maryland Medical Center),
• Dr. Sumeska Thavarajah (NKF-MD Medical Advisory Board Chair & Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Division of Nephrology),
• George Franklin,
• Rev. Barry Hargrove (two-time transplant recipient and NKF-MD’s “Ambassador of the Year”), and
• Kristy and Michael Ferracci (Kristy is a dialysis technician who donated a kidney to husband, Michael. She also chairs the Southern Delaware Kidney Walk.).

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at http://www.kidneymd.org/events/george-franklins-40th-anniversary-of-receiving-kidney-transplant-march-3-2016/ or by calling NKF-MD at 410.494.8545.

About NKF-MD
Serving central and western Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of Virginia and West Virginia, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland is the area’s only voluntary health agency dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation. For more information, visit www.kidneymd.org.