Sisters woman thriving after life-saving surgery

Nearly three years ago, Sisters graduate Monica Offield experienced unmitigated kindness that changed her life. Having dealt with the knowledge that her kidneys were shutting down, no matching donors in her family, and then becoming harnessed to the three-times-a-day grind of dialysis starting the day before her 18th birthday, something changed.

Americana Project teacher, Brad Tisdel, put on a concert to raise money to cover where insurance would not. Offield, who was the SHS Sparrow Club sparrow for the 2006-2007 school year and a talented musician, was one of the performers.

Fifteen people called to inquire how they could donate one of their kidneys. The hospital was surprised and delighted. Yet, after testing, none proved eligible.

The news of Offield's plight found its way to the wife of one of Offield's sister's schoolmates. Right before Christmas, 2006, OHSU called to say Angela Delgado was a match.

"Our family hardly knew Angela," said Offield's mom, Ginger. "It's an overwhelming feeling; 'thank you' is never enough. This person has chosen to literally give a piece of themselves. It's still unbelievable to me."

On April 10, 2007, Delgado and Offield underwent surgery. One to give a kidney, the other to receive it.

Fast forward to 2010:

Offield is now Monica Hodges, the wife of a soldier. After a long-distance phone romance between Iraq and Sisters, she married fellow SHS grad Justin Hodges on September 6, 2008. Specialist Hodges is in the Army serving with the 3rd Brigade out of Ft. Lewis in Washington.

"I'm doing really well," Offield said. "I recently had my routine three-month blood test and it came back normal."

Since her health returned, the once intensely active Sisters girl has resumed doing the things she enjoys, only now she does them with her husband.

"Most weekends, when Justin is home and not training, we go on hikes," she said.

Offield's health experiences opened a window into the field of medical massage therapy. After receiving her training at the Sage School of Massage in Bend, she is eager to reduce the strain of illness on her patients.

"I've always been interested in massage, but my illness was a big factor in my career choice," she said.

Medical massage therapists work in clinical settings, are educated in diseases, learn the language that accompanies those diseases, and all about the medicines the patient is taking.

"Massage moves the patient through their symptoms more quickly, so it's important the therapist has a working knowledge of the illness," said Offield.

Just like any young woman, Offield has hopes for her future.

"I hope Justin doesn't have another deployment in this enlistment," she said. "I hope my career takes off. I hope to travel after we leave the Army. And I want to continue playing my music, possibly even in hospitals."

While the battle to become healthy is a significant part of her life, Offield is not focused there.

"I'm a transplant recipient. That is a big part of me now, but it doesn't define me," she said. What does define Offield? "My family, my career and being one with Justin."