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Friday, September 27, 2024 Volume 20 • Issue No. 40
Susan Gross By Susan Gallagher, Staff Reporter YORK Long before the first gold medal gleamed from its ribbon around her neck, Susan Gross was already a champion. As impressive as her performance was at the 2024 Transplant Games of America in Birmingham, AL, where the petite 60-year-old York mother of two swam her way to five medals, it was her selfless donation of a kidney to her adult son, Stephen, 14 months earlier that crowned her a hero. The long road Gross traveled leading up to the life-saving transplant forged a strength and perseverance in her that fueled her competitive spirit. But the
From Transplant Triumph to Gold Medal Glory
journey through her son’s battle with kidney disease was arduous and fraught with worry. Stephen’s health problems
began early in life. When he was just three years old, he became suddenly ill, suffering kidney failure for five weeks and ending up on dialysis. Fortunately, the boy soon recovered enough to go home, and he grew into a teenager who appeared normal on the outside: a talented athlete, good student, and amiable classmate. But behind the healthy façade, his kidney disease was slowly and silently progressing. At age 33, the disease reared its ugly head. Thirty years to the day he first fell ill, Stephen realized something was terribly wrong. At Massachusetts Gener-
al Hospital, doctors determined he was on the verge of needing dialysis again, and a desperate search began for a kidney donor. “I always knew in the back of my mind we would be facing this someday,” Susan says. “I feared it and dreaded it all those years.” She was determined to get her son off dialysis. “Dialysis,” she says, “is not what most people think. It is not just a time-involving nuisance.” Sadness shadows her face as she adds, “Stephen told me he couldn’t even describe how dark he felt after dialysis.” Already aware she and her son shared the same blood type, she
moved quickly ahead with testing to find out if she was a match to donate a kidney. Susan was indeed a match, and on May 18, 2023, at Mass General, 34-year-old Stephen received the priceless gift of his 59-year-old mother’s kidney. On the day following the procedure, after spending the night in a room agonizingly far from Stephen’s, Susan opened her eyes to the most beautiful sight she had ever seen: her son walking unaided into her room. It was a profound experience for them both. See GROSS on page 4 . . .
Wells Fire Department Second Annual Open House WELLS The Wells Fire Department is thrilled to announce its Second Annual Open House, set to take place on Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. This exciting event promises a day full of familyfriendly fun and an exclusive look into the workings of the Fire Department. The event will showcase the talents and capabilities of the department, providing a unique look into the day-to-day operations of the station. Guests can enjoy guided tours of the Fire Department facilities, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the department’s operations. Members of the Fire Department team
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will conduct two demonstrations throughout the day: one featuring the donning of full turnout gear and the other a vehicle extrication demonstration. An obstacle course will allow adults and children of all ages to gain firsthand experience wearing firefighting gear and maneuvering through various challenges, with prizes for the fastest times. The event will also feature a special showcase of the Tower Truck, highlighting its capabilities and advancements. Attendees will have the chance to
YORK This fall, First Parish Church in York celebrates the 11th anniversary of its partnership with Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers. Together, the organizations provide an opportunity for visitors from near and far to enjoy a quintessential New England fall experience while generating income for families of the Navajo Nation in Farmington, NM. Sales from the Pumpkin Patch help provide much-needed support for families in need both locally and globally. This year marks the beginning of the second decade of the partnership between Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers and York’s First Parish Church. Each fall, participants from
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People & Business
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Finance & Career
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The Wells Fire Department is located at 1563 Post Road, in Wells. For more information,
visit www.wellstown.org, www. facebook.com/tow nof wel ls maine, or call 207-646-5113.
The Pumpkin Patch Opens for its 11th Season
Arts & Entertainment 15-18 Calendar
enjoy the popular Touch-a-Truck experience, providing a handson opportunity for both children and adults to explore emergency vehicles up close. Family fun extends beyond the fire trucks, with an array of food and activities. The Wells Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 4652, will be firing up their grills and serving cookout style food. Attendees will also have the chance to win a ride to school in a fire truck, an experience of a lifetime!
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far and near come together to create a community of caring that impacts the lives of those who share the experience: the farmers in Farmington, NM, who grow the pumpkins; the
Health & Fitness
A section concerning your health . . .
24-25
families who pick the pumpkins and use the proceeds to improve their children’s lives; the driver who travels countless miles to deliver them; the dedicated volunteers, including Chief Petty Offi-
cers stationed across Submarine Squadron Two and Boy Scout Troop 0301; the volunteers who create and staff the Pumpkin Patch; neighbors from around the world who come to shop and stay to chat; and the folks at Pumpkin Patch USA who have brought everyone together in “a wonderful partnership of trust.” What distinguishes this partnership are the principles on which Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers was founded. Established in 1974 in North Carolina, Pumpkin Patch Fundraisers began “with three acres of pumpkins and a partnership with one church. There was no contract, no legal proceedings… just a See PATCH on page 22 . . .
home & garden Tour Our
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featuring guest columnist
Cheryl Farley
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