Woodbridge Man Shares His Story After Twice Needing Organ Transplants

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Woodbridge man is thriving today, several years after he entered kidney failure and twice needed a new kidney and pancreas donation.

People who know Christopher Bryant, 50, of Woodbridge may find it hard to believe that he has struggled with critical health issues for most of his life.

“I was 16 years old when I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,” said Bryant. “Taking injections daily and trying to avoid complications became a challenge that I figured that I would have to deal with for the remainder of my life.”

According to Bryant, his life was an emotional roller coaster as his health grew progressively worse, ultimately leading to retinopathy (a condition of blindness that is commonly caused by diabetes), and kidney failure.

“It happened at a time when my professional career was just starting to take off,” he said. “All I can remember is being numb and weak on the first day I started dialysis. But I kept a positive outlook on life with a lot of prayers.”

This was in 2005.

The next day, his wife of 24 years, Georgette, arrived home from work with some incredible news that gave Bryant hope. One of her co-workers offered to donate her kidney to him.

“At the time, I did not know this amazing and generous woman, but she ended up being a perfect match for a successful transplant,” he said. “She is my hero and words cannot describe my gratitude. I was off dialysis, had my strength back, and I returned to work with a second chance at life.”

Then, one year later, Bryant also received a donated pancreas.

This put his diabetes in remission for three years until his pancreas failed again. Then, after 11 years, his transplanted kidney began failing.

“The miracle of transplantation kept me alive for many years, but I found myself back to square one — having diabetes and being back on dialysis,” he said.

Bryant’s wait for a second transplant lasted three years until he finally received "the call."

His second kidney and pancreas double transplant in 2018 was a success and he was, once again, on the fast track to having his health fully restored.

“My donor hero this time was from Texas who had checked the box on his driver’s license to be an organ donor,” said Bryant. “His selfless decision not only saved my life, but also six others. I am forever thankful.”

Bryant is now living each day to its fullest along with his wife and their 10-year-old daughter, Gabrielle. His active lifestyle includes daily exercise, cheering on his favorite sports teams and tinkering on projects as a self-described “tech geek.”

Bryant now works as an Advocate and Care Guide for The Diabetes Foundation.

“I now visit folks that are on dialysis to give them hope," said Bryant. "I talk to patient’s families to consider being a donor, and I advocate to everyone about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor."

According to United Network for Organ Sharing, nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and 68 percent of those are people of color.

Although organs are not matched according to race and ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are large numbers of donors from multicultural communities, said Carolyn Welsh, president and CEO of NJ Sharing Network.

“Our caring and compassionate team of dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners are unstoppable in their efforts help educate others and dispel any myths and misinformation about organ and tissue donation in our diverse communities throughout New Jersey,” she said.

In 2021, 283 people donated organs in New Jersey, resulting in 670 organs transplanted, an all-time high for a single year. In addition, 40,000 eye and tissue donations enhanced the quality of life for those in need.

NJ Sharing Network has its headquarters in New Providence.