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My
“Gift of Life”- Rita’s
Incompatible Kidney
For years, Rita
had indicated a willingness to donate her kidney. When tests
were first taken, Rita’s blood type was AB positive and mine was O
negative. In addition all six cross match categories were
incompatible. The less compatible two people are the greater
likelihood the transplanted kidney will be rejected.
We
were totally incompatible in both blood type and cross match (ABO-Incompatible).
She and I were devastated. We did not realize that over
one-third of willing donors are turned down because their blood
types are not compatible with the person to whom they wish to donate
their kidney.
The main reason
compatible kidneys are necessary for a successful transplant relates
to your antibodies. These antibodies adversely affect the
immune system and can rapidly destroy the transplanted kidney.
One day while
scrolling the internet I discovered that ABO-incompatible
transplants were being performed in Japan, primarily due to the
homogeneous nature of their society, but rarely anywhere else. I
then discovered Dr. Lloyd Ratner, a leading kidney transplant
surgeon, had recently transferred to Jefferson Hospital in nearby
Philadelphia, where he became the director of transplant kidney
surgery and a pioneer in the area of ABO-Incompatible transplant.
After researching the issue, my insurance company agreed to provide
coverage for both the donor and the recipient.
For the first
time, Rita and I felt our prayers were being answered.
A Race in Time-
Incompatible Kidney Transplant Program
Even though we
had located the surgeon and hospital, we still needed to be
accepted into the Jefferson Hospital ABO-Incompatible Transplant
Program before I needed dialysis. Risks may occur with
dialysis such as infection and clot formation, which can affect the
acceptance or timing of the transplant operation. My
nephrologist estimated dialysis treatment could start sometime
around March 2003.
In December 2002
Rita and I had our first opportunity to meet Dr.Ratner.
He had the confidence of an experienced surgeon, the patience of a
saint and the personality of Bob Hope. We found him to be a
wonderful person. After explaining the transplant procedure, we
agreed to take the next step with the hope that we would soon be
accepted for surgery.
All surgery
requires some evaluation before the decision is made to operate.
In the case
of organ transplant (particularly incompatible) there are a
significant number of tests for the donor and recipient that take a
great deal of time and effort. We were assigned Kim Phillips,
a wonderful kidney coordinator who was instrumental in helping
us through the process. Without Rita’s drive and perseverance,
however, the tests would never have been completed in sufficient
time.
On New Year’s Eve
Kim Phillips called to advise us that the tests were completed, the
results were in and we were accepted into the ABO-Incompatible
Transplant Program at Jefferson Hospital.
Rita’s Perspective
It really took no
time for me to decide to donate a kidney to my husband, Andrew.
When you love someone as much as I do, it becomes natural to do
whatever it takes to help your loved one feel better. One of the
reasons I fell in love with Andrew was his outgoing personality and
positive outlook. Andrew’s failing health started to
adversely affect his activities and overall outlook on life. I
wanted to do "something".
In order to
qualify for the ABO-Incompatible transplant, I had to undergo
numerous tests. They included x-rays, electrocardiogram, urine and
blood tests, CT scans as well as a psychological evaluation. It was
rigorous, but not invasive.
These tests can
take months to complete. Since time was critical, I completed the
battery of tests in two weeks. I was gratified and excited to
receive the call on New Year’s Eve that we were accepted into Jefferson Hospital’s
ABO-Incompatible program.
The laparoscopic
procedure to remove my kidney was minimally invasive, relatively
painless, and left only a small faded three inch bikini scar. I was
discharged from the hospital within four days and well enough to
drive and perform routine activities within two weeks.
Thousands of
people are waiting for a kidney transplant. ABO-Incompatible surgery
expands the chance of donating a kidney to a non-blood relative,
spouse or friend. The truth is- if everyone knew the ease and
satisfaction of donating a kidney, more transplants could occur and
more lives would be saved. |
