P . i The home dialysis machine which had been in- stalled in Coulter's livingroom was removed, after the operation and for him, the most dramatic factor in its removal was "that nothing really changed." "My family had never even considered that machine obvious. They never said a word and because my kids (Tracey, 14, Lisa, 12 and Greg, five) treated it that way that is why I was so suc- cessful (on home dialysis)." There are fewer than 10 persons in the Quinte area who are now on home dialysis says Coulter. "It is so wrong to give up to go to Kingston for dialysis." He feels more persons could be successfully treated with home dialysis, if their families were to accept it as his did, instead of feeling ill at easewith it. Coulter says his health is better today than it has been in the past 10 years. For the first time, he can wrestle with his son, Greg or run the length of his backyard. His energy level is up and his hemoglobin count is up, as well. "I don't have any illnesses or anymore itching - that was terrible - and there is no more restlessness. I used to be up all night, sometimes. I don't have anymore muscle pain and the life has come back to my hair. I lost 22 pounds in five days, after the operation." "I eat like a horse, now. Before, I could eat on- ly so much and then I got bloated." Coulter, who has had major heart surgery, says he will never be well enough to return to work but his improved health has made it possi- ble for him to do a limited amount of hobby work. "My heart still gives me problems and I have just got to take it easy. Basically, I'm retired." In gratitude for his new kidney, Coulter has asked his father, who is a professional sign painter, to letter a sign saying "Thank God for people who sign their licences and donatej organs." "Anyone who says they are too old for a transplant is nuts' If a person is doing fairly well on dialysis, he should go for it," Coulter says. Since his return from hospital, he has visited I three other Prince Quinte area residents now in Kingston hospital where they are being treated for the rejection of transplanted kidneys. "I went planning to visit with them for just an hour or so and stayed about four hours," he says. Coulter adds that he is aware that his own transplanted kidney could reject but he has strong optimism for the future. While in hospital in London, he was told that his was one of their most successful transplants. His improvement since the surgery has been steady and dramatic. «-r Picton man Wayne Coulter, with five-year-old son Greg and daughter. Lisa, 2. After a long wait he finally had a kidney transplant at a London, Ont., hospital. He says his health is now the best in years and he's thoroughly satisfied with the It's togetherness results. Since the transplant-and now that he's back home in Picton-- he and his wife, Sharon, want to form a support group for families experiencing similar cir- cumstances. (Staff photo)