FRANKLIN, N.H. – Jim Friel, a Houlton native and graduate of Houlton High School, plans to make an extraordinary donation to a student in need – one of his own kidneys. Friel is the principal of Franklin Middle School in Franklin, N.H. and one of his students, Morgan Corliss, 13, was diagnosed with FSGS (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis), which prevents her kidneys from filtering out impurities, when she was 4 years old. Her health has declined dramatically recently, and she is in need of a new kidney.
Friel and several others volunteered to be tested as possible donors, and Friel was a match. Right now, Friel is in the process of completing of a variety of medical tests. When all the tests are completed the results will be sent to a donor evaluator in Boston, who will then determine if Friel is a suitable donor.
The story has been covered on Good Morning America and other national news outlets. Although Friel described the media attention as “overwhelming,” he said that good has come out of it as well. Friel and the Corliss family have been offered support from past donors and recipients, and others have even offered to be tested should Friel not be a viable candidate. Friel noted that the story has also brought attention to living organ donations.
Friel’s family is also very supportive.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Friel’s wife, Cathy, “It’s something he feels compelled to do, and so I definitely support him in it. Morgan is a wonderful little girl, and she just wants a chance to live a normal life.”
“If we can help her, it’s just the right thing to do,” she added.
Friel hopes to leave a lasting impression not just on Morgan’s life, but his other students, as well.
“I hope that what the other students will take from this, is that you need to look beyond yourself. You need to look at what you can do to make a difference,” Friel said.
Friel will complete his donor screening process and find out if he is a viable organ donor later this month. Friel graduated from Houlton High School in 1977, and his mother and four sisters still live in town.
Friel and several others volunteered to be tested as possible donors, and Friel was a match. Right now, Friel is in the process of completing of a variety of medical tests. When all the tests are completed the results will be sent to a donor evaluator in Boston, who will then determine if Friel is a suitable donor.
The story has been covered on Good Morning America and other national news outlets. Although Friel described the media attention as “overwhelming,” he said that good has come out of it as well. Friel and the Corliss family have been offered support from past donors and recipients, and others have even offered to be tested should Friel not be a viable candidate. Friel noted that the story has also brought attention to living organ donations.
Friel’s family is also very supportive.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Friel’s wife, Cathy, “It’s something he feels compelled to do, and so I definitely support him in it. Morgan is a wonderful little girl, and she just wants a chance to live a normal life.”
“If we can help her, it’s just the right thing to do,” she added.
Friel hopes to leave a lasting impression not just on Morgan’s life, but his other students, as well.
“I hope that what the other students will take from this, is that you need to look beyond yourself. You need to look at what you can do to make a difference,” Friel said.
Friel will complete his donor screening process and find out if he is a viable organ donor later this month. Friel graduated from Houlton High School in 1977, and his mother and four sisters still live in town.
