[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE KIDNEY OF BARBI VAVRA GOES TO DON NEYLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2010

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise 
before you today to recognize Barbi Vavra and Don Neyland, two brave 
Liberty County Sheriff's Office employees from the great State of 
Texas. Their lives of service to the community are extraordinary 
examples of self sacrifice. It gives me great pleasure to recognize 
these two outstanding Texans before Congress and this Nation.
  Sergeant Don Neyland with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office has 
bravely served the people of Liberty County as a police officer and 
investigator for 19 years. Yet, his life of service is all the more 
impressive because he suffers from serious kidney problems. One fateful 
day in 2009, Sergeant Neyland learned from doctors that he would need a 
kidney transplant. Soon his family members all began getting tested to 
see if they would be able to donate a kidney; but no match was found. 
Still continuing to hope, Sergeant Neyland decided to hand out 
brochures to coworkers about becoming a living kidney donor.
  Twenty one year old coworker and friend, Barbi Vavra who is a clerk 
at the Liberty County Sheriff's Department read one of those pamphlets 
and decided to get tested. She turned out to be a perfect match and 
agreed to donate one of her kidneys to Sergeant Neyland. The surgery 
took place yesterday, March 2nd, and the two are doing very well in 
recovery.
  Texas might have lost a hero and friend to Liberty County. Instead 
because Barbi decided to share the ``gift of life'' Sergeant Neyland 
and now our great State has one more hero to look to. This gift is 
truly inspiring.
  The State of Texas and our Nation is a better place because of people 
like Barbi Vavra and Don Neyland. I am honored to recognize Barbi and 
Don, true Texans, for their example of heroism and selflessness to each 
other and to their community.

                          ____________________