PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Greg Hall and Jason Henley Celebrate "Home Run for Life" Friday

Published on April 12, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Dodgers and INTEGRIS Health will kick off the 2016 "Home Run For Life" series Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark by recognizing kidney transplant recipient Greg Hall and donor Jason Henley. The lives of Hall and Henley are forever intertwined after the work acquaintances underwent a successful kidney transplant at INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute in the fall of 2015.

"Home Run For Life" recognizes individuals in the Oklahoma City community who have overcome a significant medical event with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals. To symbolize the end of their battle against adversity, honorees take a home run "lap" around the bases during an in-game ceremony.

"The Home Run For Life series allows us to highlight some amazing people in the local area who have prevailed against extraordinary health challenges," OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. "Their determination and courage inspire us all and we are pleased to honor these individuals throughout the season with our partner INTEGRIS Health."

Henley works as a UPS driver and would regularly chat with Hall whenever his route brought him by the UPS Store where Hall worked. After going several days without seeing Hall at the store, Henley inquired about his whereabouts and learned Hall had been diagnosed with kidney failure, needed dialysis and required an organ transplant.

Henley, 35, wanted to help, and ultimately donated his kidney to a man he barely knew.

Their story illustrates the power and importance of organ donation, and highlights the specialized transplant services available at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center.

"It means so much to the recipient," said Hall, who lives in Oklahoma City. "I told (Jason) I'm like a brand new man. I have a second chance on life and that helps teach and change a lot of minds...Now I just want to have as much fun as I can and love as much as I can. My heart is more open."

About one year after Hall's diagnosis, the men underwent a kidney transplant on Sept. 21, 2015 at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. The father and son team of Dr. Scott Samara and Dr. Shea Samara performed the six-hour procedure. The surgeries involved three hours of removing a kidney from Henley and another three hours to transplant the kidney into Hall.

"Whenever somebody has a need, I mean, if you can fill it, why not?" said Henley, of Edmond. "This happened to be a little not normal, a little more extreme need-filling than the normal handing somebody a couple of bucks or trying to volunteer or something. It was something I knew I could do."

Hall immediately felt an improvement to his health.

"I was sick for so long," Hall said. "As soon as they put the new kidney in, the rest of my body just had a jump start."

Hall and Henley both praised the care they received at INTEGRIS and the supportive staff they encountered throughout their journey there.

"I felt like we had the best team in Oklahoma," Hall said.

Both men have resumed their normal lives after the successful transplant. Henley continues to work as a driver for UPS. Hall currently works as a certified occupational therapist assistant.

The two men are still amazed at how their unique circumstances led to their lives being forever intertwined.

"I feel like I was prompted," Henley said. "An opportunity was put in front of me. With my personality, I've always wanted to be helpful, but this was another level of testing. (I learned) just to listen to what's being presented to you and know that this is a purpose - to take the risk. This was put in front of you for a reason."

To read Hall and Henley's full story, visit okcdodgers.com.

Watch Greg Hall and Jason Henley complete their "Home Run For Life" following the third inning of the OKC Dodgers' season-opening game Friday, April 15 against the Nashville Sounds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Interview requests for Hall, Henley, INTEGRIS or Dodgers personnel can be made through the Dodgers media department. For ticket information, please call (405) 218-1000 or visit okcdodgers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 12, 2016


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