Joanne and Kevin celebrating before the transplant.

I got up really early this morning and drove to the University Hospital!  I wanted the opportunity to see two incredible people before they were wheeled into surgery.  Their names are Joanne and Kevin.

Joanne needed a kidney transplant and her health was slowly getting worse.  Her daughters were willing to donate a kidney to their mother, but they were each ruled out as a possible donor.  Joanne knew that without a transplant she would need to start dialysis soon and the wait for a kidney could take years.  Then Joanne got another offer for a kidney; her ex-son-in-law, Kevin.

The first time I spoke with Joanne, I learned that she tried to dissuade Kevin from donating a kidney.  She didn’t want him to have to take time off work or deal with any other interruptions in his life, but Kevin was insistent, even contacting her tranplant coordinator to learn more about the testing process, donation and the recovery.  Prepared with this information, he went back to Joanne and again offered to give her one of his kidneys.  When Joanne realized how serious he was about this decision, she gratefully agreed.

Shortly before surgery!

When I asked Kevin about his decision to donate, his response was very straight forward, “Mom needed a kidney.  I don’t want her to go on dialysis, so I’ll do what I can to help her.”  He then went on to say that he hopes to be able to educate others a little more about organ donation.  “So many people think you have to be a blood relative to donate,” he said.  “That’s not the case.” 

They both want to educate others about the importance of donation, so they gave an interview to the Salt Lake Tribune the day before surgery and allowed me to take a picture of them at the hospital shortly before surgery.  If you are interested in learning more about living kidney donation, visit the www.yesutah.org website.

High school seniors everywhere are looking forward to graduation and making plans for jobs, college, and dozens of other options that are open to them.  Hali, a high school senior, found out how quickly those plans can be sidetracked.

Last year, Hali was very involved in school and other activities.  She ran every day, played on her high school tennis team, and played the cello in a Youth Symphony.  When it came time to register for her senior year, she elected to take 5 Advanced Placement (AP) classes to give her a head start on her college education. 

Toward the end of her junior year, Hali became sick.  A trip to the doctor reassured her that it was most likely a bad case of the flu and she just needed some rest.  However, the flu-like symptoms worsened and then she had a seizure.  Tests to determine the cause of her seizure showed signs of kidney failure.  Ironically, on the July 4 weekend, when most of us are celebrating our freedom, Hali started her dialysis treatments.

For Hali, dialysis is every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and each dialysis session lasts about three hours.  On those days, she attends her first two classes and works with her teachers in her other two classes to get her assignments.  Often the treatments leave her too tired to complete assignments, making more work on the days she doesn’t go to dialysis.

She also discovered the unusual side effects of kidney disease.  She began her senior year with what she describes as ‘chipmunk cheeks’ because of the new medications she was taking.  She is no longer able to eat chocolate, peanut butter, or a whole list of other items.  She is also very limited on fluid intake, being allowed only about 40 ounces of anything liquid (including things that can melt, like Jell-O or ice cream) each day.

Hali’s family began considering living kidney donation as soon as they learned she would need a transplant.  No one in her immediate family was a match, but a cousin was tested and will be able to donate to her.  She hopes to have the transplant after her high school graduation and be able to recover in time to start college in January. 

On the national waiting there are over 80,000 people who are waiting for a kidney transplant.  For information about kidney donation, log on to www.yesutah.org or call 1.866.YES.UTAH.

April, National Donate Life Month, is almost over.  Throughout the month, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of incredible people and attend some very touching events. 

Two of the people I had the pleasure of meeting were Mike Parke, Funeral Director at the Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, and his wife Catherine.  Mike had a liver transplant in 2008 and says he feels better than he has in 20 years!  He expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from people in his community prior to and following his transplant.  He is now a strong advocate for donation and is looking for ways to make a difference in his community and throughout Idaho. 

I attended a community event at Ogden Regional Hospital where Dr. Wahlstrom and his son Andy spoke about the impact organ donation has played in their lives.  Andy received a kidney from his younger sister, Mallory, several months ago.  Dr. Wahlstrom shared what is was like as a father to watch as two of his children were wheeled in to surgery.  Both Andy and Mallory, who is the current Miss Kaysville-Fruit Heights, are doing well. 

The Wahlstroms were followed by Paul Cardall, concert pianist and heart recipient.  Paul told a little about his heart condition and the disappointments and tragedies his family has faced in the last year.  He has gained a new perspective that has increased his great gratitude toward his donor and their family.  He then played a song he wrote for a baby he met at Primary Children’s Hospital, “Gracie’s Song.”  This beautiful song set the mood for the raising of the Donate Life flag which took place immediately following the speakers.

I also continued to see the need.  I interviewed a teenager on dialysis, met a toddler who needs an intestinal transplant, and spent some time with a woman who needs a new heart.  I hope next April finds these people doing well and ready to celebrate with us.  If you haven’t registered as an organ, eye, and tissue donor, it’s as easy as logging onto http://www.yesutah.org/ and clicking on the big, yellow “Register Now” button.

When my phone rang last week, I recognized the number and answered, “Hey Marco.  How are you?” 

“I’m great,” he responded. 

Sounds like a pretty normal conversation, but there was a lot more in Marco’s answer than just a casual response.  Marco had received a kidney transplant just two weeks earlier and that answer meant the kidney was working, he was recovering from his surgery, and he didn’t have to go to dialysis that morning.  He spent over three years waiting for a kidney, so I can only begin to imagine what this means to him. 

Marco’s kidney came from a very incredible man named Scott.  I’ve heard Scott described as a generous man who is always quietly helping others.  Scott didn’t know Marco, but he did know the need for kidney donation was great, so he made a phone call to Intermountain Donor Services several months ago to inquire about Good Samaritan Kidney Donation.  His decision to donate gave Marco a whole new chance at life.

Marco was interviewed on Fox 13 news this morning about life after transplant.  Scott wanted to be there, but the travel distance and early morning hour made it infeasible.   His daughter has set a goal to double the number of Good Samaritan Kidney Donors this year, so he will be telling people about living kidney donation and the young man he freed from dialysis.

To learn more, log on to www.yesutah.org.

Right before Christmas, I had the opportunity to meet two great people.  Fapuiaki, a precocious four year old, and Marco, a motivated 20 year old.  I met them both at a local dialysis center.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for four hours, they are hooked up to a dialysis machine. For three years Marco has gone to dialysis at 5:30 am to begin his treatments. “It’s pretty tiring, especially working full time and going to college too,” says Marco. “I’m just hoping to get a transplant soon so I can get back to a more ‘normal life.’”

For Fapuiki’s parents, it has been a life changing event.  What is especially frustrating for Fapuiki’s father is he is not a match to donate a kidney to his daughter. “I thought it would be no problem, since, basically, she is a part of me. As a father, I want to do everything I can to help her get well. This really isn’t a way for anyone to spend their childhood.”

Eight years ago, the Good Samaritan Living Kidney Donor Program was started to help kids like Marco and Fapuiaki. Over 45 people have become living kidney donors thanks to that program.  Now with paired kidney exchanges, living kidney donors can have an even greater impact.

Go to yesutah.org to find out how you can help Fapuiaki and Marco celebrate next Christmas free from dialysis. Please think about becoming a living kidney donor.