Organ donation binds two families

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

She may be forced to wear what she calls weird shoes and she may be legally blind, but Maureen Templeton-Adams is thankful to be alive.

That is because the donation of a kidney and pancreas by a woman killed in an automobile accident saved her life. It was an unexpected blessing from an unfortunate tragedy.

Diabetes has taken its toll on the 57-year-old Marietta woman's body.

“I have lived 46 years as a Type-1 diabetic and have suffered many of the side effects,” she said. In addition to being blind, she has also experienced some nerve damage and has had a number of operations done on her feet. “Today my kidney function is normal and because of the new pancreas I am no longer a diabetic.”

Two years ago, Templeton-Adams was on the verge of losing hope. She had run out of options and was refusing to start dialysis for her kidney failure.

Around 11 a.m. on April 26, Naiyareh Karimimanesh, an Iranian-American woman was on her way to work. She had just passed the bar exam and was practicing law here in Atlanta.

She was killed in an auto accident on I-85.

A few hours later, Templeton-Adams was on a gurney, preparing to receive a new kidney and pancreas. Karimimanesh was an organ donor and her family, in Iran visiting family, had gotten the news of their daughter’s death. They consented for her organs to be donated to whoever needed them.

“She was a better match for me than my own sister,” said Templeton-Adams.

At the time, Templeton-Adams knew nothing about the woman other than she was a match. She would not find out how the woman died until a few days later. And it would take a whole year before she got to know the woman’s family and history.

Today Templeton-Adams and Karimimanesh’s parents are like old friends -- family even -- said Templeton-Adams. And on Saturday, Templeton-Adams and her adopted family will be participating in a walk to help raise money for juvenile diabetes.

Even though she is no longer diabetic, Templeton-Adams will be walking in the annual JDRF Walk for a Cure at Centennial Olympic Park Saturday, which she expects to attract close to 8,000 participants.

“My husband and I have participated in this walk for the past seven years. I still work to raise money to find a cure to support all those kids (and adults) that fight the daily battle with diabetes,” she said. “It will be special to have her parents join us.”

To support Templeton-Adams and her walk, visit http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87340057.