Ken Mitchell, pancreatic and kidney transplant patient
December 01, 2012
When Ken Mitchell first met UCI Health transplant surgeon
Dr. Clarence Foster, he was a diabetic in kidney failure.
Mitchell, a 42-year-old caterer, had to prick his finger eight times a day to test
his blood sugar. His condition required four-hour dialysis sessions, four times
a week. His life was not his own.
He sought out Foster, a kidney transplant expert who also leads Orange County's first pancreas transplant program. Within months, Foster had performed Mitchell's
simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplant. The outcome was dramatic. The
Fullerton resident no longer needs daily injections of insulin. Regular trips to
the dialysis center are a thing of the past now that Mitchell's kidney function is
normal.
“It feels like I got my life
back,” Mitchell says. Prior to his surgery, taking an extended vacation was
unthinkable because he couldn’t miss his scheduled visits to the dialysis
center. Now, Mitchell is planning a trip to Maui. He credits Foster and the
transplant team for his greatly enhanced quality of life.
Learn more about the UCI Health Transplantation Services ›
