By Frank Gray
The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
INDIANAPOLIS — A little more than two weeks ago, four people were assembled in a ward at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis and waited.
Three were awaiting single organ transplants. The fourth, Josh Lash, a volunteer firefighter from Kendallville, was awaiting what is called a multivisceral transplant. Essentially, most of the organs in his torso would be replaced at once.
If the organs from a donor that had just arrived weren’t suitable for Lash, the other three would get transplants.
For Lash, though, who has been described by his mother as a guy with a lot of luck, all bad, the news was good for once. On Aug. 16, Lash underwent the first of two massive surgeries that gave him a new small intestine, stomach, liver, pancreas and kidney.
Lash’s mother, Kelley Lash, says her son is still in a lot of pain from the surgery, but that the organs are all working properly and there is, at this point, no sign of rejection.
We wrote about Lash a little more than two months ago. Everyone in his family - his father, a Kendallville firefighter; his mother, an EMT; and his sister - are all perfectly healthy.
Josh Lash, though, began experiencing major health issues early in life. At 3 he developed pancreatic cancer. Doctors removed 85 percent of his pancreas, and he survived.
Then he got liver cancer, but survived when doctors removed half his liver.
His gallbladder was later removed; he then went blind in one eye, and then he lost his right leg to a staph infection aggravated by diabetes that he developed because his pancreas had been removed.
Through all that, though, Lash lived what appeared to be a normal life. He worked at the water treatment plant in Kendallville, got married, had a child and worked as a volunteer firefighter.
Continuing health problems took their toll, though, and it was announced last summer that he needed the multivisceral transplant.
Fellow firefighters held fundraisers to help his family with medical bills that had mounted due to his illness, but what was really needed was a donor with all the organs necessary.
On Aug. 10, a Wednesday, as his condition worsened, Lash was moved to the top spot on the list of people awaiting transplants. The next Monday he was told a donor had been found, and most of the transplants took place the next day, Aug. 16. Kidney transplant surgery was delayed until the next day.
“The pain is pretty bad,” Kelley Lash said.
She said doctors haven’t commented specifically about the pain issue, but they have suggested it is because Lash had most of so many other organs removed from his body when he was young. His body is not accustomed to having all these organs in it.
“His stomach muscles are being stretched around the organs,” Kelley Lash said. Also, when Lash got the kidney transplant, his other kidneys were left in place, she said.
As grim as it sounds, the news is positive, Kelley Lash said.
“He’s really accelerated. All his blood levels are normal. He hasn’t had normal blood levels since he was 5.”
Meanwhile, more fundraisers are planned for Lash, who at last report had about $75,000 in medical expenses not covered by insurance.
A softball tournament will be Sept. 10 at the Kendallville Sports Complex. The deadline for teams to enter is Sunday. Teams can register by calling Kelley Lash at 260-318-6509. Food and raffles will be held for members of the public who want to watch.
On Oct. 29, there will be a dinner at the Kendallville Windmill Museum. Tickets are $8.50 in advance and $10 at the door. A raffle and silent auction will be held after dinner.
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