Posted: 11/7/06
Contact with donorís family a
result of local sailorís voyage
Ardell Lien returned home to Caledonia two weeks ago following a successful circumnavigation of the earth in his 27-ft. sailboat, the Catalyst.
The 71-year-old made the trip solo to raise awareness of the need for organ donation. Lien himself is a transplant recipient, having received a heart and kidney on January 2, 2003.
Although Ardell and his wife, Maureen, wrote a letter to the family of his donor, he never learned any more about them. That is, until his journey put him in the media spotlight. Not only did the attention he attracted promote his cause, it also prompted the mother of his donor to contact him. He discovered to his surprise that the family has a local connection.
The mother of the donor is Rosemary Cavin Goltz of Coon Rapids, whose family once lived in the Freeburg area. Mrs. Goltz saw coverage of Lienís journey, and thought she recognized the name. To be sure, she took out out the letter she received after her sonís death at 22, and the subsequent harvest of his organs.
Lien said that the two had an emotional conversation over the telephone. Lien told The Argus that he hopes to have a meeting with her in person.
A heroís welcome
Lien was welcomed with a celebration in Hawaii, and in San Diego, his starting point, on October 19. On hand to greet him in San Diego were members of his Mayo Clinic transplant team. The entire journey took 17-1/2 months, and Lien traveled 31,310 nautical miles with stops in 19 ports. Never, he said, did he ever think about stopping, although at times the journey was dangerous, and it was often lonely.
ìIím glad itís over,î he said.
The last couple legs of the trip were especially hard, he noted. It took 43 days to reach Hawaii from the Galapagos Islands.
ìThe best part was the people I met along the way,î said Lien, adding that the beautiful places he visited were another positive. When pressed to pick the most beautiful place, Lien chose Christmas Island.
Lien and his wife Maureen are currently back in San Diego getting the Catalyst ready for storage. They plan to stop in New Mexico to visit friends, who also happened to be the boatís builder. They will return to Caledonia later this month.
The Mayo Clinic will be holding a reception in Lienís honor sometime after the first of the year. Watch The Argus for information.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com