May 2008: Bisson Kidney Donation
BRUNSWICK, MAINE, May 12, 2008 – In October, Susie Bisson, a long time employee of Downeast Energy & Building Supply, sent a letter to all 450 of her coworkers. It was a plea for help. Her brother, Russell was in desperate need of a kidney transplant. As Susie explained in her email, Russell suffers from a life-threatening hereditary condition, polycystic kidney disease. Within minutes, Susie received a response from Charles Wilson, a dispatcher in the Hallowell office. His blood type was O, the same as Russell’s blood type. “I knew Susie and when I read the e-mail I could almost see her face in the monitor and I just knew I had to do it,” said Charles Wilson. “I knew in my heart and soul it was the right thing to do to help this family, and I am fortunate to be working for a company that supports and cares for their employees.” Charles immediately agreed to go through the necessary tests at the Maine Transplant Program in Portland. Within weeks, Charles learned he was a match for Russell. In late April, Charles and Russell met for the first time the Sunday before the surgery. Both are now home recovering after a successful kidney transplant procedure. “It’s amazing that someone would just step up and just do it,” said Russell Bisson of Topsham, “Charles is an incredible guy, just incredible. He never even knew me and I am very grateful that he was so generous and we are all like family now.” When Susie Bisson sent her email, she knew in her heart that her coworkers would respond. That’s because this was not the first time she has had to ask for help. Four years ago, Susie sent out a similar cry for help… but at that time, it was she who needed a kidney. Susie suffers from the same kidney disease. And, unbelievably, it was another coworker, Patty Kitchen, who offered a kidney and saved Susie’s life. “We’re like a family here at Downeast Energry,” said Susie Bisson. “The president, John Peters, and the other managers, have always been supportive and willing to do whatever I needed when it was time to reach out for donors.” “When you have such dedicated workers that help make this business successful, you have to give back and help when your employees are in need,” said John Peters, president of Downeast Energy & Building Supply. “The Morrell family, who started the business 100 years ago and still help run the company, believed in taking care of their employees and building a strong family environment and it’s something we have continued to nurture and grow within the business.” Since the surgery on April 29, Charles and Russell have come home and their recoveries are going very well. The two families plan to meet at the end of May to honor Charles for his life saving gift and to celebrate the first month of new life for Russell! For more information on kidney donation visit www.kidneyme.org To learn more about Downeast Energy & Building Supply please visit www.downeastenergy.com About Downeast Energy & Building Supply Downeast Energy and Building Supply operates 13 offices in southern and central Maine and Dover, NH, and a building supply store and lumber yard in Brunswick, Maine. For more information, please visit www.downeastenergy.com.