Celebrate 20 years of the donor registry at the Gift of Life Gala April 18!

3 People + 3 Choices = 1 Life Saved (and Forever Blessed)

 

At age 10, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes (type 1). As a typical child, I believed that I was invincible and did little to care for myself and my health growing up. As many of you might guess, the outcomes of those early decisions were undesirable, at best. My kidneys began to fail when I turned 29. I started peritoneal dialysis at home only to discover three months later that I had an unknown birth defect: a hole in my diaphragm. All of the peritoneal fluids filled my lungs and I needed surgery to remove the fluids. I reluctantly began hemodialysis just three months before my marriage.

Shortly after returning from our honeymoon, a young US Army Major from our church told me that he believed God was asking him to offer one of his kidneys to me. My husband and I advised him that although it was a wonderful gift to offer, he might want to consider his children since there is always a possibility they may need one in the future. His response was that God would provide for them just as He was trying to provide for me. I agreed, and the young officer was tested to see if he was a match.

The test results came back and we learned that the only way we could have been more compatible was if we had been twins!  This was such an incredible blessing. On November 12, 2001, I received a kidney from my living donor. After over eight hours of surgery, my husband met with the doctor and was told: “I have been transplanting organs for many years, and this is the first time that a kidney began creating urine before it was stitched into place.” I was up and walking the following day. Five days later, I was able to return home. Nearly 13 years later, this blessing continues to work beautifully!

In order to protect my new gift, I was placed on the transplant list for a pancreas to eliminate the diabetes from my body. On February 7, 2003, I received my new pancreas. I learned that my donor was a 15-year-old young man who was killed in an automobile accident. We flew in from Chicago to Duke University Medical Center for the transplant, which went extremely well. I was off of insulin within a matter of days and back home in three weeks, completely diabetes-free.

My transplanted pancreas lasted until 2010. I was then added, once again, to the national transplant waiting list.  I also returned to my diabetic pump and insulin. Just one year later I received THE call to return to Duke for my second pancreas transplant. My family was forced to remain behind on this trip due to an inbound hurricane, so I weathered this one by myself with the help of my faith in God. The transplant was another success, and I still enjoy my gifts today without insulin, without diabetes, and without dialysis!

If it were not for my three donors, my faith, and my family, I would not be here today. As for what my future holds, I am graciously raising my two young daughters and not worrying about my transplants. God has been so good and trustworthy with regards to my health, how can I do anything but trust Him for tomorrow.

 

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