Lower Burrell mayor with 2 donated lungs now sets sights on a new kidney

After surviving a double lung transplant in 2015, the mayor of Lower Burrell is looking for a new kidney.

But you would never know Rich Callender, 51, needs a new kidney, as he often arrives at city hall by 9 a.m. on weekdays, ready to tackle the problems of the day.

That’s because he rises by 4 a.m. for a four-hour dialysis session in Harrison three times a week and is done by 9 a.m.

That is by design, according to Callender.

Even with the fatigue, he prefers to stay in motion, heading straight from dialysis to city hall.

“If I would come home to watch television, I might fall asleep,” he said.

Callender was approved for UPMC’s transplant list April 1 for a kidney, he said.

A live donor is preferred, according to Callender, because of his previous transplant. However, a kidney from a cadaver will work, although it could take as long as 4.5 years to receive one, he said.

Although Callender’s life is not in danger at the moment, average life expectancy on dialysis is between five and 10 years, according to the American Kidney Foundation. Studies have shown many patients have lived on dialysis for 20 or even 30 years.

Callender’s kidneys took a hit from medications and complications related to his double lung transplant in 2015, which was necessary after Callender was diagnosed with a chronic lung disease, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

He doesn’t look at his medical history as a hardship, but as an opportunity.

“The bottom line is that the doctors and donors give you a second chance at life, so you take advantage of it,” he said.

Callender said he is looking forward to his next transplant. “I know people who got transplants and waited to die — they didn’t want to take risks.”

Callender’s sister, Kim Morris of Harrison , said she was excited that he was on the transplant list and is healthy enough to go through with his second transplant.

“He amazes me. My brother realizes death is around the corner at some point in time, but he is not going to sit and wait for it to come to him,” she said.

Morris credits their Christian upbringing and continuing faith for Callender’s pluck in the face of a series of health issues.

Morris remembers being in Florida and talking to her brother before this first transplant. He told her he would either get the double lung transplant or they would carry him out in a body bag.

The body bag part was not going to happen, Callender reassured her. Then he added, “God didn’t bring me this far not to pull through.”