[Medford, OR] Roger Crockett is scheduled to go through a much needed kidney transplant at the end of the 2008 racing season. Roger will be receiving a living donor transplant from his father Brian Crockett in November. Roger Crockett is currently the driver of the #7n Omlid & Swinney sprint car that is owned by Roger Henderson.
Roger Crockett was born with a urethral blockage. This causing urine to back flow into his kidney’s which caused a reflux. This condition resulted in only 55% kidney function in the first few weeks of his life. Roger had to have several surgeries in his first years of his life to repair the blockage. This was to delay his need for a kidney transplant as a child. Roger has managed to live a normal and healthy life up to this point. His most recent lab results show that he is now fewer than 10% kidney function. Often people with low kidney function can receive dialysis to delay surgery. With his hectic racing schedule requiring frequent traveling dialysis was not an appropriate option for Roger.
Early in 2008 the testing began to determine which of his family members would be the best match to provide their Kidney to Roger. The results have determined his father Brian Crockett would be a successful donor. The surgery is scheduled to take place November 11, 2008 at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, OR.
Roger is required to stay up in Portland for 4 weeks after the surgery. This is to allow the transplant staff to closely monitor his new kidney. This requires him to give blood samples three times a week, and have weekly physician visits with his transplant office. The first few weeks after his surgery are the most vital to his acceptance of his father’s kidney as his own.
Roger and Brian both own their own business and will be unable to return to work right away. Brian is expected to return to his home in Creswell, OR within one week of his surgery. But they both will be extremely limited on their activity level while they go through the healing process. This difficult time is going to be a huge financial burden on the Crockett family. An account has been set up for donations to the family at Bank of America. The account name is Roger Crockett Medical Fund.
There is also a website that is posting updates on the status of this pending surgery. You can view this website at http://www.crocketttransplat.blogspot.com. Roger is looking forward to getting this kidney transplant and being to his full health potential. He is expecting to run a full racing season in 2009.
