A liver for Chris

Winfield resident Chris Finnell’s life was normal, until it wasn’t. In 2019, when Chris was 59, he began an uncharted (and unplanned) journey. For several years, his life would no longer be “normal.”

He began to experience unusual muscle cramps in places a person normally does not experience them. He also itched all over and his liver enzymes were abnormally high.

Chris explained the beginning of his life-changing journey: “I went to my regular doctor, and he said I had a fatty liver, but nothing to worry about. I didn’t until my symptoms worsened and I was told I needed to go to a specialist who placed me on the path of a transplant.”

Then Chris was concerned.

“The biggest stress was the unknowns,” he said. “How long will I survive. What would my family do without me? I did turn heavenly to God. There were a lot of people out there praying for me and I could really feel those prayers. Without them, I don’t think I would have made it. I am very thankful for those who prayed and for God’s blessings.”

After a year of waiting on the transplant list at the University of Iowa, Chris was told he could be listed at multiple hospitals and that the University of Nebraska had a liver doner program. Part of a liver can regenerate itself. Chris’s brother was willing to donate part of his liver, so Chris and his wife Sue traveled to the University of Nebraska and filled out the necessary papers and go through the testing necessary to get the process started. Chris’s brother would have to undergo tests to determine if he was a viable candidate. Chris and Sue returned home to await the results.

“On Wednesday after the test, I was told that I was in their program and that the level of my sickness [and Chris readily admitted that by that time he was very sick!] and my blood type to be ready and that it could happened very quickly.”

Because he had been on the Iowa list for a year without receiving “the call,” he said he hadn’t packed a bag nor was he concerned about getting a call very soon.

Two days later, on a Friday, Chis was fixing lunch and at 12:30 the phone rang. Sue said, “Wouldn’t it be neat if that was from Nebraska?” Chris answered the phone and after listening for a second he turned to Sue and said, “This is it.” It was from Nebraska. They told Chris they had a liver if he wanted it. If he wanted it—a silly question.

“I was very thankful, very overwhelmed,” Chris said after receiving the call.

Time was of the essence as they were told to be there in five hours. From Winfield, Iowa, to the University of Nebraska Medical Center is 291 miles and according to GPS the drive takes a little over 4 hours. The Finnells wasted no time preparing for the trip. Sue said she threw a few things into a bag, grabbed Carter, their two dogs, and Chris. Soon they headed west. The only stop was at the Bondurant exit where they met their daughter Shelia who was going to babysit both Carter and the dogs. (At this time, Carter was the only one still at home.)

“I know I was crying all the way while I was literally speeding down the Interstate,” said an emotional Sue. While they were speeding toward Nebraska, the hospital called them several times to make sure they were on their way. Chris assured them they were as the speedometer showed 90 mph! Later Chris said they had the option to take a charter plane out of Mt. Pleasant, and they probably should have taken it.

They arrived safely at their destination, and because of COVID, Sue could not accompany Chris to the hospital.

“I got a hug and a kiss then watched as Chris walked to the hospital entrance door. He looked back and waved, and it hit me hard,” said Sue.

Chris was in the operating room by 8:00 p.m. for surgery that lasted 12 hours. Sue had to wait at the home of Chris’s cousin who lives in Omaha.

“The doctors kept me informed about the surgery every hour,” said Sue.

After the surgery was successfully completed, and because Sue could not visit him, she headed home, picking up Carter and their dogs on the way.

Because it is the policy of the hospital, Chris does not know who his donor was. They did find out a little information from a relative who had a friend who knew a man that had a heart attack the same day and was an organ donor.

“If it was the same person, he was in his 50’s and died suddenly from a heart attack. He was a baseball coach during his life at the high school and college level,” said Chris, adding “We never found out his name, but I did send the family a letter that goes through the hospital, but we haven’t heard anything back.”

Chris stayed in Nebraska where he was in and out of the hospital for about six weeks before he was allowed to go home. During that time, when he wasn’t in the hospital, he stayed at the home of his cousin.

“I don’t know where I would have stayed if he wasn’t there,” said Chris.

During his stay in Nebraska Sue and Chris talked on the phone every day.

“It was good to hear his voice” Sue said, “but it was even better when he was well enough to come home. It was weird not having Chris at home.”

Sue just happened to go visit Chris the same day he learned he was well enough to go home.

“It was a wonderful feeling to hear the news” said Sue, adding, “Chris had gone through a lot of struggles leading up to his surgery. Ups and downs. Medicine costs so much. I don’t know how others can pay for high-cost medicine.”

Sue was beside Chris every step of the way.

“I went with him to his many doctors’ appointments. It was hard, Chris would have good days and bad days. It was a tough time. He lost a lot of weight. He would get confused about things. He even thought it was his daughter Shannon talking to him when it was a friend of ours, Liz Hinkle, a nurse,” said Sue. “I had asked her to come over and visit Chris to help alleviate his anxiety. Liz was a lot of help that day.”

Chris said, “Sue was and still is very instrumental to the success of my life.”

Following his stay in Nebraska, Chris was in and out of the hospital several times. At one time, due to the medication he was on, he was fighting three viruses. It was about two months before the surgery was deemed a success, and his body had accepted the transplant. He will have to stay on rejection medication for the rest of his life. Chris said it took several months before he began to feel better and regain some strength.

Today, Chris is living a new normal life and is grateful for a second chance.

Chris, now 64, gives this advice to others: “I would say that it is so important to protect your health. Also, it is important to go to your doctor regularly. The biggest thing I would say is don’t underestimate the power of prayer. When I was in the hospital, I could physically feel those prayers, and the Holy Spirit close to me. I am so very thankful for all that prayed for me. Know that the Holy Trinity is real and with the power of prayer anything is possible.”

Chris also urged people to be organ donors.

“You never know whose life you may save. Those who donate are heroes.”

Chris and his family moved to an acreage just two miles from town in the fall of 2020, not long after Chris’s recovery, and are enjoying the country life. “Sue, Carter and I raise sheep and chickens,” said Chris.

Sue summed up their journey, saying “Our greatest treasure is being able to have Chris back home with us. To be able to grow old together, watching his kids and grandkids grow. Every day is a new chapter to spend and cherish forever.”

BACKGROUND ON CHRIS

Born in 1961 in Atlantic, Iowa, to Tom Finnell and Margaret Andrew, he grew up doing farm jobs, “walking beans and bailing hay.” He is the oldest of three siblings, He has a younger brother Scott and the youngest, a sister, Amy. Sadly, Amy was killed in a car wreck in 2022.

Chris graduated from Farragut Community High School in 1980. He went on to attend Iowa Western Community College where he received a degree in mechanical engineering in 1982. Chris continued his education at the University of Iowa and graduated as a certified paramedic. For 20 years, Chris served as a volunteer firefighter and first responder for Winfield Fire and Rescue. He also served 5 years as a paramedic for the Henry County Health Center in Mt. Pleasant.

“I spent considerable time trying to help the community including holding the office of mayor for two terms.” Chris added, “I don’t do much community work like I did before, but I’ve always been devoted to my family, and I spend most of my time with them now”

Chris had interviewed at the Natural Gas Pipeline while he was still in college.

“I started the job in 1982 at the Red Oak station as an entry level mechanic which was the beginning of my 41 years career with the Natural Gas Pipeline,” said Chris.

Before Chris was transferred to the Columbus Junction station, his job took him from Red Oak to Winterset and Gibson City, and Ainsworth before he was transferred to the Columbus Junction site in 1995. He soon purchased a home in the nearby town of Winfield. During his years at NGP, Chris held the positions of mechanical, technical and managerial work. He retired in 2022.

Chris met his wife, Sue Lorack from Columbus Junction, in 1983 when a friend introduced them. Chris was living in Ainsworth at that time. They were married on Aug. 4, 1984, and began their married life in Ainsworth before moving to Winfield in 1987.

Chris and Sue are the parents of three daughters and one son, Carter, a grandson whom they adopted in 2010. Their daughters are Savannah who lives in Wheatland, Iowa, and works for River Valley Coop. Sheila, who lives in Bondurant and works for an industrial and home paint company in Marshalltown, and Shannon who lives in Muscatine and works for Hon Industries. Son Carter is 15, lives at home and will be a sophomore at WMU this fall. They have four granddaughters.

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