2021 telethon has extra special meaning for Courier associate editor

By Correne Martin

For the past 45 years of the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon, I’ve been content to watch from the comfort of my home or a family member’s home. I’ve also attended in person, of course, to gather photos and information needed to report about the telethon after the fact. Last year, I proudly watched as a mom of a first-time performer: my 7-year-old son who nervously sang a slow, heartfelt song in honor of his grandma who briefly battled cancer a few years back. Certainly, I’ve also contributed by bidding on auction items or sending in a small donation as I could afford it. 

It’s always been entertaining, not to mention, impressive to see what this amateur, smalltown effort has been capable of doing for its cause. In 2020, it was a highlight of my year to report that this little telethon had surpassed the million dollar mark.

This year, though, I reflect on the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon from a more appreciative perspective. The 2021 telethon has an extra special meaning to me and my family. 

The reason for this is personal. My only, older brother medically benefitted from the monies that local viewers have donated toward heart disease research opportunities at one of the recipient regional medical facilities.

My brother’s name is Nick Morgan. He’s 39 years old and makes his living as a chef. We grew up in the Bagley area, went to River Ridge to school and have lived in the Prairie du Chien area most of our lives. Many area residents may know him as a longtime cook and bartender at numerous area establishments as well as at Crossing Rivers Health. 

His story began at the age of 13, when he was diagnosed with diabetes. He managed it fine over the years, but over time, it got out of control and his health seriously declined. About five years ago, he moved to Madison, where he currently works at the Meriter hospital. About the time he moved to Madison, his diabetes took a massive toll on his body, as minor infections turned major when they simply would not heal like they do for most people. He eventually had an infected toe amputated. It was devastating and depressing. But he continued to try his best to work and see the positives in his situation. 

Little did we know that this would be the turning point toward better health for him. 

In the fall of 2019, Nick’s medical team advised him that his kidney function was declining and that he should look into becoming a candidate for a simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplant, which is a double organ transplant that places a pancreas and kidney from a deceased patient. This would allow Nick to no longer have diabetes, and it was a relatively new transplant offered at UW, whose SPK transplant team is No. 1 across the globe.  

As a family, we decided this would be the route Nick would take, to pursue the SPK transplant. 

Along the way, he had his setbacks, including starting dialysis because his kidney function decreased dramatically. It was rough, but we stayed positive, knowing that there are always others out there experiencing more dire circumstances.

In preparing to be “accepted” onto the SPK transplant list, Nick had to take a series of tests to ensure his body would be capable of withstanding such a major surgery. During this process, it was found that he had three blockages in his heart and he needed to undergo triple bypass surgery as soon as possible to repair those issues. 

So, in February of 2020, he underwent open heart surgery. It was a very scary time for all of us. The saving grace for us was that he was in the best place for this kind of surgery at UW Health. The doctors there do these types of surgeries all the time, and Nick was a pretty straightforward case. He went in for surgery. Everything went well, under the phenomenal leadership of Dr. Amy Fiedler, who happens to be also one of the best in the nation at what she does. 

Nick was out of the hospital within about a week, started recovery and healing and was, in about six months, officially placed on the list for the SPK transplant. 

Because of the fantastic heart surgery and post-surgery care he received, Nick, in fact, received his SPK transplant in October of 2020. Both the pancreas and kidney came from the same anonymous donor, and Nick no longer has diabetes, which is a complete miracle. 

We’re forever grateful to his donor and his team of doctors and staff. But we’re also so incredibly thankful for the opportunities he was afforded there at UW Health. 

I’m so used to writing the news that it feels super awkward to be in the news. Yet, telethon host Tom Nelson convinced me to share my brother’s story because this is truly what the Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon is all about. 

The money that you are donating, and the money you have donated over the years, is making a huge difference in the lives of people like my brother. It’s impacting the lives of our neighbors, our families and our friends right here in Prairie du Chien. What this Eagles Heart and Cancer Telethon has done in the past 45 years is unbelievable, and we can keep it up—COVID pandemic or not. 

This year, the telethon might look a little bit different. The televised portion isn’t happening, so much of the familiar talent and banter we’re used to watching may not appear. There aren’t as many raffle prizes to take home. 

However, at the end of the day, we still have the same goal, and that’s to fundraise for heart disease and cancer research. We are using our smalltown efforts to make a real difference. We should all be very proud of that. 

I hope that by sharing my brother’s story, I’ve compelled at least one of you to make a donation. 

Be sure to watch the telethon Saturday night, beginning at 6 p.m., at eaglestelethon.org. I’ve also shared Nick’s story to be aired during the online telethon show, along with some more pictures of his journey.