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Ken Williamson, a heart transplant recipient 15 years ago, tries to educate people on the lifesaving organ donor program. Banner-Press/J. Merritt Johnston |
Ken Williamson’s celebrated career may have taken him around the world, but it is literally his heart that gives him purpose and perspective today.
Fifteen years ago he was the recipient of a successful heart transplant, and now he is living proof of the value of organ donation.
Although years have passed, he is still as committed today as he was then to share with others about the gift of life that exists through organ transplantation.
“People have a lot of misconceptions about organ donation, so my main thrust is to demonstrate the fact that we need organ donors,” says Ken. “There are so many people that are antsy about it, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a donor. I am a living image that disputes some of the rumors that exist.”
Before his transplant, Ken was as skeptical as some of the people he now tries to educate.
After a major heart attack in 1991, he opted to have a quintuple bypass in favor of heart transplantation, but the operation did little to improve his health.
“I had no quality of life. I couldn’t even go up the stairs in my house,” says Ken. “All of the sudden I changed my mind about having a strange heart in my body.”
Within six months of being added to the waiting list, Ken received a call notifying him that a match had been found.
“There are so many criteria that have to be met in order to find a match, and there are so many people waiting for transplants. That’s why it’s unbelievable that I got a heart within six months,” says Ken.
After the transplant surgery, Ken was able to return home after a mere eight days, just one day more than the record for heart transplant recuperation time.
And although he still makes biannual trips to Houston for maintenance procedures, the overall results of the operation have been truly miraculous.
“The donor was 40 years young and was a health nut. He had no blockage in any of his arteries, and to this day, I still have no blockage,” says Ken. “People from all over benefited from this man’s donation. He is living on in many, many people.”
As a result of his personal experience, Ken now spends his time championing the benefits of organ donation.
He has shared locally at numerous community organizations and church groups as well as manning a booth each year at the Trinity Health Fair.
“There are more than 104,000 people waiting on transplants in the United States, with over 3,000 of them in the Houston area alone. This year 8-10,000 will die because they were unable to get an organ,” says Ken.
“That’s why I conduct talks with various groups. I’m glad to do that to bring people up to date and to give them the true facts about organ transplantation. It’s important for people to understand the need and to re-consider becoming a donor.”
Ken also spends his time volunteering with Helping Hearts, an organization that provides counsel and comfort to those who are waiting for organ transplants.
“You can imagine that those who are waiting are pretty concerned, not knowing whether they are going to get an organ or not. Some do not know if they are going to live or die,” says Ken. “We come in and try to answer any questions they have. That was done for me while I was waiting, and it helped me a lot.”
Ken also invests much of his time volunteering with the Brenham Elks and spreading the word about the scholarship opportunities they provide.
Having studied at both Texas A&M and MIT, Ken undoubtedly understands the importance of education. In his role as the district scholarship chairman, he enjoys providing resources for others to experience the benefits of a college education.
“We have several outstanding scholarship programs,” says Ken. “The Elks donate over $2 million in scholarships each year, and I want people in this area to know about the opportunities that are available. The awards are based on scholarship, leadership, and financial need, and membership in the Elks is not required.”
In addition to the Elks educational efforts, Ken is also excited about the other contributions they make within the community.
“Our number two charter is to provide scholarships for young adults, but our number one charter is to help special needs children with prosthetic devices,” he says. “We furnished a prosthetic device that cost over $7,000 for a young man that enabled him to get out of his bed by himself. You should have read the thank you letter we received from his mother. When you see all the pain out there and you are able to do something to help, it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Ken has certainly seen his share of pain and poverty throughout his lifetime. He spent his childhood years facing the struggles of the Great Depression, and his teen years watching the suffering of World War II.
And in 1947, he was one of the men who volunteered to assist on-site after the disastrous explosion in Texas City.
“We went down and volunteered to help dig out the bodies. Over 600 people died and many more were injured. At that time, it was one of the worst disasters in history,” says Ken.
During World War II, Ken began his career in the valve industry, originally assisting with the valves used for cargo carriers known as “Liberty Ships.” It was just the beginning of a career that would ultimately take him around the world.
“I had to go into East Germany and Hungary and Poland when it was still communist,” says Ken. “We’d always guess who was the KGB or the Gestapo man because they never smiled.
“Another way you would be able to identify the Gestapo agent was through the business cards. All of the guys would have cards that outlined what type of engineer they were. The agent’s card said, ‘Diplomatic Engineer.’”
Whether spending the night in the Philippines at the same hotel as the controversial Imelda Marcos or negotiating union terms in New Jersey with Jimmy Hoffa’s old bodyguard, Ken has crossed paths with some of the world’s most infamous people.
But he never allowed anything to deter him from doing his job with integrity and excellence. He was a trendsetter in his field, authoring numerous articles that appeared in trade magazines as well as being quoted in publications like Business Week and the Wall Street Journal. And throughout it all, he earned and maintained the respect of his colleagues, who named him “Man of the Year” in 1984.
“I am proud of that because I was recognized among my peer group,” he says. “I was so surprised to receive the award. In fact, at the ceremony, the first thing I said in my speech was, ‘If I’d known about this, I would have worn a better suit.’”
Although Ken has enjoyed success of his professional life, he is more proud of the blessings in his personal life.
In December, he will celebrate his 62nd wedding anniversary, an accomplishment that few people can claim. Over the years, his lovely bride has brought joy and a little music into his life.
“I once had the opportunity to conduct Lawrence Welk’s orchestra. Lawrence Welk wanted to dance with my wife, so he had me conduct his orchestra while he danced with her,” says Ken with a smile.
The Williamsons share two wonderful children, a daughter who lives near Austin and a son who lives in California. Ken’s son is continuing his father’s legacy of interesting travels, having journeyed to Athens for the Olympics in 2004.
“My son is the technical director for NBC Television In Burbank, Calif. He was one of the people they sent to Athens, Greece, for the Olympics. He won an Emmy for his work on that,” says Ken.
In addition to his role as a father, Ken is also enjoying the opportunity to be involved in the lives of his three grandchildren, a chance he says he would not have had were it not for his new heart. As he looks back on the adventures of over eight decades of living, he sums up his philosophy for life.
“Success is not measured by your wealth and money. It’s measured by the other wealth you have — wealth like family, friends, and your ability to help others.”
A poignant message from a man who lets his heart do all the talking.
This article was originally published in the Brenham Banner-Press.
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