Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
John Picco was feeling “just a little sore” Dec. 1 as he was recovering from a kidney and pancreas transplant, but he has no more diabetic symptoms or insulin injections and no longer faces regular dialysis treatments.
Picco, who was the beneficiary of “Piccofest,” a rock festival held last Sept.17 to raise money for the surgery, went to Oregon Health Sciences University on Nov. 14 for the operation. The timing was a surprise, he said.
“Shawn Dewar was helping put a transmission in my truck,” Picco said. The hospital called at about 7 p.m. “I had to race home. The transmission just got finished, and the truck was the only vehicle we had.
“I didn’t believe it. I didn’t think it was going to happen, not for another couple years.”
As he headed for Portland, Picco said, he was nervous and kind of scared, but he was relieved after four years of dealing with progressively more difficult complications from diabetes and kidney failure.
“It was very surreal at the time,” Picco’s wife Sandie said. She was in “disbelief, complete shock. It was a very long night. “I probably didn’t sleep for 24 hours” because she was worried and excited, she said.
Picco was in surgery for about 10 hours.
Now, it’s “a whole new world,” Sandie said. “I’m so proud of him for everything he’s gone through. He’s a trooper. I’m amazed, and I can’t wait to get home.”
“I feel great,” John said. “Every day, I’m getting a little stronger. All my tests are really good. My blood sugars are normal.”
Picco and his wife will stay in Beaverton for about three more weeks, he said, although they are visiting Sweet Home regularly.
His doctors want him to stay close to the hospital in case he has any problems.
“Our life is going to change completely,” Sandie said. “We’ve been in limbo, a bad dream, for like four years.”
Now John can return to work, Sandie said. “We’re both excited about that. He’ll be, you know, normal.”
Picco used to deliver milk but is interested in attending college.
Insurance covered the cost of the operation, but it does not cover the cost of anti-rejection drugs, about $3,000 per month.
Friends, family and members of the community have helped raise funds for John to pay for anti-rejection drugs. That money was all spent the first two weeks after the operation.
John wanted to “thank everyone for their support and helping us out,” he said.
Sandie also appreciates Sweet Home. She went to the grocery store a few days earlier, and people came up to her congratulating her and John.
“That’s what I love about Sweet Home,” Sandie said.
The Piccos will be looking for ways to pay for the drugs he’ll have to take the rest of his life, and John is busy planning next year’s Piccofest a rock festival held at Rockin’ Red Ranch outside Holley to help raise funds. It raised about $3,000 in September.
Those interested in helping may contact the Piccos at 367-5799.