A Donor's Story

A Donor's Story

A DONOR'S STORY

by Debbie Dupree

After three years on dialysis, my brother
Ed needed a kidney; everybody in the family volunteered to donate. Our entire
family sent the required blood samples to the University of Minnesota for testing,
where the operation would take place if one of us proved to be a compatible
donor. Our parents were ruled out because of age, so it was narrowed down to
Jim (my second brother), or myself.
Ed's doctor called me at my office to
tell me I had been chosen. My blood tissue was a good match with Ed's and if
I were willing to be the donor, he would not have to undergo the removal of
his spleen prior to the transplantation. (Editor's Note: Splenectomies are no
longer needed for transplantation.) I told Ed's doctor that he could count on
me.
A battery of tests was needed to determine
my good health and the compatibility of our kidneys. Our kidneys turned out
to be a perfect "four antigen" match! The University of Missouri Hospital
did the pretesting. They were very cooperative, working with and around my own
work schedule. Since my sick leave was limited, I had the testing done as an
outpatient.
I was fortunate that my work was within
walking distance of the clinic, and that my supervisor was extremely understanding
and cooperative. I'd like to say here how much I appreciate the thoughtfulness
and consideration my employers showed me at that time. I worked with the Missouri
Department of Mental Health, and everyone was concerned about me, and worked
with me to make the organ transplant possible. They helped me obtain the necessary
leave time, and were very supportive.
The tests, neither complicated nor painful,
consisted mostly of bloodwork, urine tests, and a few x-rays. I spent about
12 to 16 hours as an outpatient. My husband's employers, considerate and understanding,
allowed him to take as much time off as was necessary.
In May 1983, the time finally came for
us to make the 500-mile trip to Minnesota. We were impressed when we got there.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are beautiful cities and the University Hospital (now
Fairview University Medical Center) is huge, but the staff was warm and friendly.
They did everything they could to make us comfortable.
All of my test results had been sent
to Minneapolis, but there was one more test needed--the angiogram to determine
which of my kidneys they would use. I must say this was the most painful test
of them all. But, praise the Lord, it didn't last long.
Then it was discovered that Ed's white
blood count was too low for surgery, and I was released from the hospital. We
all returned home to wait. It seemed like a long wait because I had been ready
and anxious to get the transplant over. It must have seemed even longer for
my brother.
Three months later, in August, we were
ready to go again. This time my son, who was ten years old at the time, was
out of school and went with us. My daughter, seven, stayed with her granddad
while we were gone.
We were admitted into the University
of Minnesota Transplant Center and the routine preparation was done. I felt
very relieved that everything was ready and that the next morning would be the
big day. It's difficult to express how I felt the night before surgery. I don't
like being in hospitals, and the idea of being cut on didn't thrill me. I thought
of my brother-- it would be harder for him because he was not healthy. I had
concerns about the success of the transplant, and I worried about how my brother
would feel if the kidney didn't "take." But, success or failure, Ed
deserved the chance. I had faith that God was with us in this, and that He was
in control. My family, friends, and many church congregations had been praying,
and continued to pray, for the complete success of the transplant and for God's
peace to be with us. That night I felt the peace of God and was ready for the
next day.
We were in surgery for four to five
hours. I don't remember much of that first day, except waking now and then and
seeing that my family was there. As I gained consciousness, I felt the pain
from the incision and the muscles around it. I discovered muscles I had never
been aware of before. It was agony to move and especially to cough or sneeze.
The doctor told me I'd be in the hospital
seven to ten days after the surgery, but I recovered quickly and was released
after only four days.
The drive home from Minnesota stands
out in my memory as one of the roughest parts of the entire ordeal. I had four
pillows surrounding me in the car to help cushion me from the bumps and jolts,
but it was an exhausting trip to say the least.
I felt like an invalid for the first
week at home. I couldn't lift over ten pounds, I could barely get out of a chair
by myself, and I couldn't get out of bed by myself. Our waterbed created quite
a problem. Since there is nothing solid on a waterbed to push or pull on, I
found myself marooned in bed more than once. One time I was stuck in bed half
a day until someone came home to rescue me!
Gradually, faster than I had expected,
I was able to get around and do for myself. I could have gone back to work four
weeks after the transplant but didn't until after six weeks, at which time the
only physical evidence of the transplant was a numbness around the incision
site.
There have been no problems since. Now,
after almost 15 years, I'm feeling just fine. I just never think about it. My
one remaining kidney does perfectly well.
If you are in need of a kidney and there
is a possibility to receive one from a living related donor, don't be afraid
to ask. If you are related to someone in need of a kidney and you have two healthy
ones of your own, don't be afraid to offer this gift of life. It is not traumatic.
The time and discomfort involved are minimal compared to the physical and spiritual
lift experienced by donor and recipient.
I honestly do not miss the kidney I
gave away. Neither my life nor my health has been changed, but my brother's
has. Because of a kidney that I didn't need and don't miss, he is a productive
person again.
Postscript from Ed Bryant:
I have felt great ever since having
a kidney transplant. I would be remiss if I did not use this opportunity to
say I will be eternally grateful to my sister. I simply want to convey the feeling
of love I have for her. I strongly recommend that all people with renal failure
consider a kidney transplant. The National Kidney Foundation is correct when
they say the kidney is the "Gift of Life."
As Debbie has already stated, neither
her life nor her health has changed since her generous gift to me, except that
on March 3, 1986, she gave birth to Daniela Ann Dupree, a beautiful, healthy
baby, 20 inches long and weighing in at 6 lbs., 14 oz.; and on October 10, 1989,
to Jesse Aaron Dupree, 19-1/2 inches long, 7 lbs., 5 oz.