A peacock for a little girl

“Dr. Moira Dwyer saved my daughter’s life,” says mom, Becky Sheetz, whose daughter, Reagan, woke one night screaming in agony. The little 5-year-old’s right kidney was larger than a normal -- and the left much smaller, essentially ‘dead.’ Surgery was scheduled for March 2016 at Geisinger in Danville. “This was when Reagan met her surgeon, Dr. Dwyer. I was nervous and Reagan was terribly nervous, too. She threw a complete fit while they were taking her back to the OR. It broke our hearts, but Dr. Dwyer’s team called us hourly with an update. I could not believe how caring this surgeon was. I mean genuine, honest care.”

Between Reagan’s surgeries, she was referred to the Make a Wish Foundation. “Dr. Dwyer told us that Reagan didn’t qualify because she hadn’t received a kidney transplant. However, she wanted to grant the wish. And Reagan asked for a peacock. We all had a good laugh and I never really thought Dr. Dwyer would be able to find one. However, a nurse in Danville raises poultry and her peacock was laying on a nest of eggs. Dr. Dwyer reserved two of them. Reagan was ecstatic!” 

Today, Reagan’s bloodwork and numbers are all normal. She and Dr. Dwyer developed a special bond and continue to stay in touch. They send each other gifts and cards, usually fun, feathered and peacock-related. #GeisingerStories