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Show IT I M S Dec. 27, 2012 7 ° LifURE2 niir w 1 Commanders share wing missions, and prospective kidney donation TODD CROMAR/U.S. Air Force Two wing commanders at Hill Air Force Base have taken the Air Force's Total Force Integration to a whole new, and very personal, level. When Air Force Reserve Col. Keith Knudson, commander of the 419th Fighter Wing (left) was diagnosed with kidney failure last year, his active duty counterpart, Col. Scott Long, commander of the 388th FW, volunteered to donate a kidney of his own. "We're taking TFI to a different level," Long joked. "We're talking total organ integration." BY LT. COL. KIM PONDERS Air Force Reserve Public Affairs W hile Total Force Integra- tion has spawned many resource-sharing initiatives, two wing commanders at Hill Air Force Base have taken it to a whole new, and very personal, level. When Air Force Reserve Col. Keith "K2" Knudson, 419th Fighter Wing commander, was diagnosed with kidney failure last year, his active duty counterpart, Col. Scott "Chemo" Long, 388th FW commander, volunteered to donate a kidney of his own. "He is truly an amazing person," Knudson said of Long. In early 2011, Knudson went in for his annual flight physical and wound up spending five days in the hospital where he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, or Berger's disease, which occurs when too many antibodies build up in the kidneys. Worse, the Berger's disease had led to end-stage kidney failure. Knudson learned that he would need either dialysis or a transplant. He was put on the donor recipient list and adopted a low-salt, low-potassium diet to stabilize his kidneys while the search for a donor cornmenced. Several family members were tested but none met the necessary criteria. Later that spring, Long took over the 388th FW, which under Total Force Integration shares resources with Knudson's 419th FW. He and Knudson had never met before, but they worked closely on ways to bring their wings together in a shared partnership. One day about six months into Long's assignment, he asked Knudson about his health issues. Knudson explained the situation. Long said he'd like to be tested. Knudson politely agreed to get him some information, but he didn't expect him to follow through. "A lot of people say that," Knudson said. "It seems like the right thing to say. Whereas when people really peel it back, taking that step is something entirely different." Long kept his word, but the preliminary tests showed that Long's kidneys were not functioning at the high level of capacity required to be a donor. "I was tenacious," Long said. "I figured there had to be something I could do." He asked Knudson for advice. That put Knudson in an odd position. While he knew Long could boost his kidney function by restricting his diet, he hesitated to encourage Long to take on such an ordeal on his behalf. But Long was determined. He immediately made changes to his diet, and his next test showed his kidneys functioning perfectly. But that wasn't the end. He still had to endure a lengthy and rigorous testing process, all while keeping up his responsibilities as wing commander. Three months ago, the tests came back with spectacular results. It was as though the two were siblings. The doctors told Knudson See TFI I page 8 2 Let's fix that bite BY MARY Lou GORNY Hilltop Times editor C apt. Johnathan Schubert, 75th Dental Squadron, found himself facing the longest tooth he had ever worked on when Military Working Dog HHouston was carried in to one of his treatment rooms Monday, July 9. HHouston had already had an extraction of one canine tooth, one of the four largest in a dog's mouth, and the po- tential loss of a second such canine tooth would effectively stop the young dog's military service. "This is an exceptionally good dog," said Army Veterinarian Dr. Melanie Swartz as she watched from the hallway midway during the procedure. She and her veterinarian technician had administered a sedative injection and placed an IV to HHouston as he quieted See BITE I page 8 ALEX R. LLOYD/U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian Seward, 67th Aerial Port Squadron, helps Ramon, a student at Ogden's Mound Fort Junior High School, unwrap a Christmas present. Air Force Reservists hosted a party for the school's special needs class Dec. 19, upholding a holiday tradition that began in 1990. Reservists help Santa BY BRYAN MAGAN 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 0 GDEN — Santa came to town — and he brought some Air- men with him. Reservists from the 67th Aerial Port Squadron threw a Christmas party for students with special needs at Mound Fort Junior High School in Ogden on Dec. 19. The party included treats and games, topped with a visit from Santa himself, who passed out gifts to each student. The reservists donated funds throughout the year to help buy items from the children's wish lists. Reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing have hosted the holiday party every year since 1990. "This never gets old," said Tech. Sgt. Ruby Contreras, who has a niece with Down syndrome. "Helping make Christmas special for these kids is so important. When Santa arrives, their See VISIT I page 11 0 1294 z L 1284 R 7* 4. ITV t Mirfir) 1274 Santa, played by retired Chief Master Sgt. David Sill, now a civilian in the 419th Force Support Squadron, gives a hug to Tami Youngman, Mound Fort Junior High School teacher, and Paola, a student with special needs. Sill is a former member of the wing's 67th APS. Chief Master Sgt. Matthew McElreath, 67th Aerial Port Squadron, looks over Christmas presents with Deena, a Mound Fort student with special needs. DETOUR NECESSARY The 75 CES SABER Office will be performing excavation work on Delaware Drive near Building 1283 for the installation of a natural gas pipe in January. Delaware Drive will be closed from 7 a.m. on Jan. 10 until 6 p.m. on Jan. 13. Barricades and detour signs will be in place to direct traffic around the construction area. Any questions or comments may be directed to Paul Beck at 586-0945 or 801940-2950. U.S. Air Force graphic |