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BY CHRISTINE KUMAR
UMConnection Staff

Jerry Bitzel, a member of Mt. Carmel UMC in Parkton, woke up early to go to the hospital. He went because of an aneurysm. He was not worried; at the time, it was a routine procedure for him.

But in the middle of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania hospital, Bitzel had a 'catastrophic' heart attack. After emergency bypass surgery, Bitzel?s heart functioned at only 20 percent.

He knew he was hanging onto life by a thin thread. Without a new heart, he would die.

Nine days later, the 74-year-old, retired Navy chief warrant officer was given the gift of life ? a new heart.

'I have an agreement with God,' Bitzel said. 'He takes care of the big stuff and I take care of the little stuff.' God, through an organ donor, had come through.

This gift of life was also given to Niranjan Jacob, member of First India UMC in Takoma Park. Jacob was in need of a kidney when his own failed. He spent three days a week at the hospital for dialysis. He spoke of getting dizzy spells, loss of sight and vomiting.

Jacob received a new kidney from a donor and it saved his life. '(God) is the one who gave me the kidney, without his mercy we are nothing,' he said.

Caroline Millett?s life was also saved when she was given the gift of life ? a new liver.

Millett, an active member of Parkwood UMC in Edgewater, was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. The disease had destroyed her liver, causing swelling in her fingers, ankles and feet. The whites of her eyes were yellow. She was in denial until one day she decided to take control of her life.

She underwent surgery for a new liver transplant at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore. 'I am so blessed,' she said while sipping coffee at Starbucks.

Her donor was a young a man who died in a car accident. She sometimes thinks of him. And she?s always grateful.

There is a dramatic, life and death need for organ donors in the United States. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), last year 10,935 people were organ donors while 21,265 people received transplants.

As of Jan. 4, UNOS reported, there are 90,635 people on waiting lists to receive transplants.

This need for organ transplants is so critical that Bitzel and Millett speak to churches and other organizations about organ donation and encourage others to give the gift of life. They educate people and ease their apprehension about being donors.

'You never forget your donors and I write to my donor family to thank them. I don?t hear back from them but I understand ? they are sad; they lost a loved one,' Bitzel said.

Bitzel and Millett also applaud the efforts of United Methodist churches, which observe Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday in November.

The United Methodist Church has issued a policy that 'recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation, and thereby encourages all Christians to become organ and tissue donors as a part of their ministry to others in the name Christ, who gave His life in its fullness.'

Within the Baltimore-Washington Conference, Memorial UMC in Poolesville has special speakers on Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday. 'The yearly service attracts a number of transplant recipients,' said the Rev. Kenneth Fell. The service is coord-inated by a member who is a transplant recipient.

The Rev. David Roberts of Centre UMC in Forest Hill made his own bulletin insert a few years ago, when one was not available, with information about being a donor. Every year, Centre UMC observes the special designation Sunday for Organ and Tissue Donors.

Bitzel, an active member at Mt. Carmel UMC in Parkton, is doing well even after seven years of having a heart transplant. 'I've got an extended warranty on my heart,' he said with a chuckle.

He has since developed lung, throat and skin cancer. But despite his many health problems, he maintains a positive attitude and humor towards life. 'I have faith and trust in God,' he said.

Bitzel also gives credit to his church family at Mt. Carmel. 'They were a tremendous support and a church family is extremely important,' he said.

He remains active and does volunteer yard work for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) near his home. He also builds fences. 'You need to do something constructive,' he said. But his greatest blessing is his two granddaughters, one of whom is just two weeks older than his new heart.

Jacob, too, is living a full life and was able to visit his family and friends in his native India. He is also able to sing in his church choir, which he loves to do. 'By the grace of God, I am doing well,' he said.

Millett has energy and joy in life since her transplant. She enjoys traveling and playing golf. She won a bronze medal in the Team Maryland tournament for organ recipients.

'My goal is to give back to the community. I don't want to take anything for granted; I have so much joy in my life,' she said.

To learn more about being a donor, visit the Web sites Transplate Resource Ceneter of Maryland  or Gift of Life Donor Program.