Blount Makes Strong Recovery After Transplant Surgery
Second Chance Of Life
In mid-July of 2025, George Blount was busy cleaning graves in Oswego. He wasn’t aware that he was missing a phone call that would change his life.
Once he experienced better cell service, he finally received a call from his wife, Candy, telling him that the hospital in Fargo, N.D., had a kidney ready for his transplant surgery.
With their bags already packed, the Blounts were ready to make the trip across North Dakota for the surgery. They left Wolf Point at about 8 p.m. on July 14.
“We got on the road and drove all night,” George said. They arrived at the hospital at about 3:30 a.m. “They were waiting. We went right into surgery.”
Blount explained that he lost a kidney to cancer in 2016. He was on dialysis for four years. Once he was put on the “active” transplant list, it took only about a week to have a kidney available.
“We were both elated when the day finally came,” Blount said. “We were thanking God and giving him all the praise.”
After the four-hour surgery, he needed to stay in the intensive care unit for four days and then in a regular hospital room for five additional day. His treatment had him remain in Fargo for two more weeks to be monitored and daily lab work.
Blount’s trips to the hospital were slowly reduced from once every two weeks to a month and now to two to three months apart.
“All the lab work is back. I feel good,” Blount said last week. “I was feeling better weekly.”
He thanks the transplant team in Fargo as well as the dialysis staff in Poplar for excellent treatment.
“It was a life changing experience,” Blount said. Blount also appreciates the care from his wife, Candy, that included changes his bandages and watching his diet. They will celebrate their 47th anniversary on Feb. 24.
George, who recently turned 67 years old, has enough energy that he’s even talking about playing in basketball tournament this spring held in Fort Hall, Idaho.
His increased energy also permitted him to successfully run for Fort Peck’s Tribal Executive Board last fall. “There was a lot of praying about it and talking to elders. There was a lot of positive encouragement,” he said.
His advice to others is to listen to the doctor’s instructions and orders to discipline yourself.
“It gave me a new lease on life,” Blount said. “My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, gave me a second chance.”
