Trending
MIFFLINTOWN – Andy Kinzer can’t wait to go the principal’s office – his own office.
The Juniata County School District principal for three of the eastern elementary schools is speaking out about the liver transplant that saved his life.
Kinzer has been on medical leave from the district where he oversees Fayette, Monroe and Thompsontown elementary Schools, since March, 2015. However, Kinzer did help in the school offices just before students returned for the 2015-2016 school year.
It is likely he will not return to work until this summer.
Kinzer underwent a liver transplant courtesy of his son, Wesley, who was his living donor, on July 28, 2015.
Kinzer, who grew up in Juniata County, had always been in good health. Even though he lost his older brother in the 1980s to pancreatic cancer at age 23, Kinzer had no medical issues.
He did, however, experience a bout with mononucleosis at age 21. It was the second occurrence of that illness at age 44 that prompted doctors to take a closer look at the principal’s liver.
“I had elevated enzymes that never went down,” Kinzer said.
It was determined Kinzer had a fatty liver, or non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.
That was in 2012, and Kinzer’s health was so good – even with the fatty liver – that doctors did not see a need to put him on a transplant waiting list.
“I was fine for a long time,” he said. Then he and son Wesley were involved in a serious car accident in which a drunk driver entered an intersection without stopping near East Waterford. Kinzer T-boned the vehicle. Even though Kinzer and his son were both able to walk away from the accident, he suffered some muscular damage.
Again, he seemed fine.
But then, in the summer of 2014, Kinzer began retaining fluid, a sign that his liver was not functioning properly.
“I was put on some medications, and I was good for six months.”
By Christmas 2014, Kinzer was retaining more fluid and underwent paracentesis, in which 19 liters of fluid was removed from his body.
Into 2015 Kinzer’s scenario grew worse. By Easter, ammonia levels in his body were so high, he was delirious.
“It took me two days to know what was happening,” he said. Kinzer was sent to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC.
Meanwhile, oldest son, Wesley, was finishing up his freshman year at Thiel College in Greenville. His dad’s failing health sent him traveling to the hospital on multiple occasions. He took his finals online to be available for his family.
“All along we were looking at getting a living donor,” Andy said.
Even though his situation was serious, it wasn’t considered dire.
“They said we could wait two to three years (for a donor),” Andy recalled.
Wesley, however, had his mind made up well in advance.
“As soon as I knew he would need a transplant, there was no real question in my mind.”
Other relatives and friends offered to be donors as well.
Andy described the process to get Wesley lined up as a living donor as an “anxious” one.
“The thought was until we dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s, then we would get that call.”
Even though Andy was out of the school from March through June last year, he decided to go into work and help prepare the school for the new year in July.
Wesley was working within the school district that summer through a program where he helped do maintenance and cleaning in the schools. His cell phone rang one morning.
It was the call.
The surgery took place at UPMC. Wesley had 60 percent of his liver removed and he was in the hospital about a week. Andy was hospitalized for 28 days. Eight days after the surgery, Andy experienced complications and was leaking bile and had to have surgery again.
His wife, Dixie, a nurse, maintained living arrangements in the area so she could be nearby during his stay.
Wesley said his liver is already regenerated. He was put on a restrictive diet.
“They took all my college food. No greasy, fried, food or anything cheesy.”
Andy has missed out on this entire school year, and though he is feeling better, the doctors warn he should not jump so quickly to return.
“I wanted to go back after Thanksgiving,” he said, “But the doctor asked me, ‘How long did it take you to get like this?’ I said, ‘Seven to eight years.’ He said to me, ‘Then why would you think you can go right back to everything after only a few months?'”
Because of the effects of the liver disease, Andy is also considered diabetic and has to give himself several insulin shots a day.
He is able to do things like split wood in his back yard, but he gets tired easier.
Andy said he has received many cards and notes from students, staff and others in the community. Teachers and others in the district contributed their sick time for his sick bank. He and Wesley noted they are very appreciative of all of the support and prayers they have received.
The principal said he has avoided going out too much into the community, but he occasionally takes in baseball games when his younger son, Jake, plays.
“There is always someone who asks, ‘When are you coming back?'”
Summer can’t come soon enough.