Canton
Observer News Article
October
12, 2000
Canton Observer
Staff Writer Heather Needham
NOT
FORGOTTEN
Canton resident touched many during five-year
battle
Greg Unger, 20, of Canton,
Michigan, endured more before he was 16 than most people endure during
their entire lives. He had two lung transplants, suffered cystic fibrosis,
took 20 pills daily and fought a nearly constant battle
to just live as a normal kid, according to family and friends.
Greg died Wednesday, October
4, 2000 at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. His visitation
and funeral drew roughly 360 mourners and 76 vehicles in the funeral
procession to Glen Eden Cemetery in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
His Mother, Barb Unger,
said Greg went into a St. Louis hospital in late August for a routine
checkup. The checkup showed he not only had signs of organ rejection
but an infection as well. "He hadn't had any rejection for four years,"
she said.
Doctors prescribed steroid
pills to fight the infection. Unfortunately, those pills also suppressed
his already compromised immune system. "The infection just took hold
of him" she said. Greg seemed to be recovering from the infection
when he caught an adenovirus, which causes nothing more severe than
a cold in a healthy person. He was put back on a respirator because
he was unable to breathe on his own. "The virus proved to be fatal,"
she said. "The sad thing is he most likely caught it while at the
hospital." Barb Unger said she wants people to remember Greg's positive
traits. "He never made a big deal about his illness," she said. "He
just wanted to be one of the guys. He was real goodhearted and kind
and friendly. He could socialize with adults as well as with his own
peers," Greg also had a soft spot for animals, even ones many people
would just as soon shoo from their yards. "He loved animals and even
fed raccoons," his mother said.
Greg had bonded pretty
strongly with a stray cat they found shortly before he died. A veterinarian
diagnosed the cat, named Bobo, with feline AIDS, a potentially fatal
disease which is contagious to other cats. She said Greg might have
identified with the cat's 
health
problems. "It was a common bond they both had," she said. "I didn't
have the heart to turn (Bobo) out."
Greg's brother Kris, 31, said two of Greg's cousins are setting up a web
site, www.gregunger.com to memorialize him. The site will include stories
about him and allow visitors to share their own stories, he said.
Greg's sister, Jamie, 27, said she still can't believe he's gone. "It feels
like he's still up at the hospital," she said.
Greg was born August 9,
1980, in Livonia, Michigan. He received his first double lung transplant
in 1995 then another in 1996, which included two transplanted lobes
from his older sister, Jamie and his father, Bill. He graduated from
John Glenn High School in 1999. After high school, Greg attended Schoolcraft
College, where he took computer-aided design courses, worked as a
host at Damon's The Rib Place in Canton and indulged his favorite
hobbies, hockey and video games.
Damon's manager, Mahua
Mandi said Greg was very outgoing and personable. "He was always striving
to be the best at what he did," Mandi said. "He was a great big part
of Damon's. His presence will be greatly missed."
Greg was the focus of major
fundraising efforts for his operations and treatment. His family and
friends managed to raise nearly $200,000 and spent about half. The
remaining funds will be redistributed to other people needing transplants
through the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). The Bloomington,
Ind.-based charity that helps people raise funds for transplant operations.
Capt. Jim Davidson of the
Canton Fire Department got to know Greg well while organizing fundraisers
for his double lung transplants. Firefighters raised $22,000 through
the two Detroit Red Wing alumni benefit hockey games. "Saturday was
a sad day," Davidson said, recalling the funeral. "We were pretty
good buddies." One of his fondest memories of Greg was of his being
photographed with the "Budweiser Girls."
In 1996, when Greg was
15, Damon's hosted a video hockey tournament which pitted Detroit
Red Wings Darren McCarty, Kris Draper and Chris Osgood against hockey
and video game fans including, Unger, who won the tournament. When
the contest's sponsors asked Greg if there was anything he'd like
to say, he said exactly what was on his mind, according to Davidson.
"Yeah, could I get a hug from the Budweiser Girls?" Unger asked. His
request was granted. The photograph capturing the moment was among
several posted to a board at his funeral Saturday, October 7 at Mccabe
Funeral Home. The photo, featuring a very youthful looking Unger with
an older woman created an interesting contrast, Davidson said. "Greg
was special. He was like one of us. He made you feel good that you
were able to do something good and help out."
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