For many people, organ, eye and tissue donation is something that they do not speak about until tragedy has struck, and they are in the midst of immense loss of a loved one. For others, it happens during a routine doctor’s visit where blood work is off, then they are sent to a specialist for further diagnostic testing. After a few more doctors’ visits, their whole life changes with a diagnosis. This new reality includes only being able to survive with a second chance that comes from receiving a new organ from an unknown hero or someone they know intimately. For Christine and Dex, their life together changed the day Dex received his diagnosis. Here is their story from each of their perspectives!
Dex’s Perspective
“Christine and I have built our life one steady step at a time. When I learned I would eventually need a kidney transplant, it forced me to confront something every man wrestles with at some point… Vulnerability. What many people do not realize is that a kidney transplant can happen before dialysis begins. Because of Christine, I received a preemptive transplant. I never had to start dialysis. That matters more than I can put into words. The transplant surgery was daunting. Recovery meant three months away from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). We both wondered what it would mean to heal at the same time. Two strong people suddenly dependent on each other in new ways, but recovery did not weaken us. It reinforced what we already knew. Stripped of distractions, what remained was commitment, partnership and respect. Christine did not just give me a kidney. She gave me energy in the morning. She gave us the ability to plan trips without wondering how my health would interfere. Christine gave me freedom from dialysis chairs and clinic schedules. She gave me time and time is the one thing none of us can manufacture. I will share that transplant life requires discipline. The medications that protect my kidney suppress my immune system. A minor illness for someone else can be serious for me. We live carefully, not fearfully, but with respect for what we have been given. When I think about the day of my transplant, I do not dwell on my time in the operating room. I think about holding Christine’s hand before we were wheeled away. I think about waking up knowing her sacrifice was now part of me, literally. Christine and I have always said we are stronger together. Now that is not just symbolic, it is biological. If our story moves someone to learn more, to ask questions or to consider becoming a living donor or even registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, then Christine’s gift continues to multiply. Every ordinary morning, I wake up healthy is proof that her decision gave us exactly what we hoped for, more life together.”
Christine’s Perspective
“This April, Dex and I will celebrate 38 years together and 32 years of marriage. Since moving to Reno, Nevada in 1999, we have built a beautiful life. We have raised our children, built our careers, nurtured friendships and dreamed about the years ahead. Through every season, we have always believed the same simple truth; we are stronger together. When Dex was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, our world shifted, but our mindset did not. We faced it the way we faced everything; side by side. We were deeply blessed to have Dr. James Sullivan as Dex’s nephrologist. He assembled an exceptional kidney care team and walked us carefully through each stage of the disease. There is no cure, only the hope of slowing progression through diet, discipline and medication. We made lifestyle changes a family commitment. Our daughter, son and I adopted the same kidney-friendly diet so Dex would not feel alone. It was not always easy, but it bonded us in ways we did not expect. Illness did not isolate Dex away from us; it united our family closer together. When Dex’s kidney function declined into the mid-twenties, we attended a transplant seminar at Sutter Health. As I sat there listening to what transplant could mean for his future, something settled in my heart. I knew I wanted to be Dex’s living kidney donor. As his numbers dropped to around 16 percent, I was referred to University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health for testing to determine if I could be Dex’s heroic donor. I have always been a runner, and the doctors told me I was healthy and strong enough to donate. I felt grateful and, most importantly, ready. Then came the disappointment. My blood type is A- and Dex’s blood type is A+. At that time, there was not an anti-rejection medication that could safely overcome the Rh factor difference. I could not donate directly to him. We agreed to join the National Living Kidney Donor Registry, Dex as a potential recipient and me as a potential living donor, but I could not let go of the hope that somehow, I would still be Dex’s perfect match. I prayed daily for a miracle. Two months passed with no matches and dialysis was becoming a real possibility. Then one day, our transplant coordinator called. She had kept our file on her desk and a new medication, Envarsus, had become available, and the team believed it might work for us. After additional testing, Dex and I received the news we had been praying for… I could donate directly to Dex! We scheduled the surgery at Sutter Hospital. That morning was sacred and tender. There was fear, yes, but there was also peace. I truly believed that if God had brought us to that day, He would carry us through it. When the surgeons connected the vessels, my kidney began working in Dex’s body immediately. At his six-month appointment, his kidney function measured at 50 percent, meaning the kidney was functioning fully for him. That was eight years ago. I do not feel extraordinary, but I do feel immense gratitude. I feel blessed that I was able to do something so tangible for the man I love. To me, it was not heroic, but it was simply love in action. If our story encourages even one person to consider living donation, then sharing it is worth it. Donation is not reckless, it is carefully evaluated, prayerfully considered and life-giving in the most beautiful way.”
In honor of National Kidney Month, we want to remind you that currently in the United States, there are more than 108,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and almost 95,000 of them need a kidney transplant. Do you know how many American adults over the age of 20 have chronic kidney disease? Unfortunately, more than 37 million. Each March, we bring awareness to National Kidney Month to share the importance of kidney health. One in three Americans are at risk for kidney disease. Learn more about how you can give back through living donation here!