Courtesy photo
By Tony Gutierrez: CNJ staff writer
BROTHERS-IN-LAW Woody Wood and Larry Herring tease each other that they are now related by blood.
Wood, 73, of Clovis lost a kidney to cancer and Herring, of Michigan, donated his when Wood’s remaining kidney began to fail.
Wood continues to face health issues, including having had his leg amputated and needing dialysis because his new kidney isn’t functioning well.
According to his wife, Dee, 77, the people of Clovis have stepped in to help.
EL DESAYUNO KIWANIS CLUB members built two handicap ramps for the Woods’ house. VFW Post 3280 provided a $1,000 check for the Woods to use as they saw fit.
“The Kiwanis took it upon themselves to help us out,” Dee said.
Dee also has frequent hospital stays because she suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy. While she was in the hospital recently, a member of the community spent evenings with Woody watching over him.
“I JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL a week ago,” Dee said. “I wasn’t out of there four days, but I’m not on my feet yet. They came and took care of him and took him where he needed to go.”
Members of the community, she said, have helped enormously, picking up the mail, taking care of the lawn and even doing housework. They also donated meals and provided transportation.
Dee hopes people are inspired by her husband’s story to become organ donors.
Reporter’s notebook was compiled by CNJ staff writer Tony Gutierrez. Suggested items may be mailed to Managing Editor Rick White at P.O. Box 1689, Clovis, NM 88102. The e-mail address is: rwhite@cnjonline.com
