A Kidney for Karen

10/17/2023

I meant to post these pics a while ago but got sidetracked with work and family events! I went to two sessions at Dog Scout Camp in Michigan, this past August. I'm not sure what happened to my dogs but they were incredibly well behaved! My reactive dog, MO, even shared a cushy blanket with a similarly sized dog! He has never been willing to do this!

MO also conquered the balance beam on the No-contact Agility Course! It was extremely difficult for him because he only has the use of one of his front legs. The other leg is contractured and fairly useless.

Dane was actually enthusiastic about Movement Puzzles, which was delightful! He is generally a very calm dog....great as a Therapy Dog (which he no longer does)...but not what you'd call excitable or enthusiastic about anything!

And finally, I got the perfect family photo! I hope you enjoy the pics!

08/15/2023

I got great news last week! My nephrologist thinks I'll most likely make it through 2023 without dialysis! This can, of course, change but it seems that I have a bit more time before I need to worry too much. Getting the transplant before I need dialysis, with a kidney from a live donor, provides the best outcomes and this news buys me a little time. Yay!

07/26/2023

My employer promotes collaboration. It recently occurred to me that finding a kidney donor is the most important collaboration I've ever embarked on, so I'm sharing this amusing take in workplace collaboration. It reminds me of a many dinners I've attended during go-LIVEs.

07/21/2023

A HUGE thank you to all of the MEDITECHers who have sent messages of support! You are the reason I love my job and get up every morning to go to work! You are all amazing! Please share my Kidney for Karen page so that I can reach as many people as possible.

07/03/2023

Our hail storm adventure!

07/03/2023

I went camping with the family recently. We are just beginning our goal of visiting as many National Parks as possible. I've already been to many of the parks and am looking forward to the possibility of sharing my favorites with my grandkids.

This trip was to the Badlands. My memory of this park, in 1979 (I think), was unremarkable. This time I was awed by the colors and thoroughly enjoyed the visitor center exhibits and the opportunity to try capturing the view in watercolor. I'm a raw beginner at watercolor but it was nice to just sit and notice the details and nuances of the surroundings, even if I couldn't really capture the beauty on paper.

Mina was excited to earn her Junior Ranger badge and enjoyed learning about the area. Casper also earned his Junior Ranger badge and enjoyed the opportunity to run around a unique environment!

We also had the experience of hunkering down in our tent during a really severe hail storm followed by some pretty hefty wind gusts. There was a tornado watch in the area but it never escalated to a warning and the campground people said they had never seen a storm like that. I spent three hours worrying about whether or not we should abandon our tent and run for better shelter. I sincerely hope that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

I'm hoping that, with a transplant, I'll be able to join in many more camping trips!

06/28/2023

06/17/2023

Two years ago, I moved to Minnesota to be near my daughter, Suki, and my two little grandchildren Wilhelmina and Caspian. It's be so wonderful being able to swing by their house whenever the whim strikes, arrange fun outings to places like the MN Zoo, or even just babysit the littles so Suki and her husband Sam can attend a soccer game or go to the theater. Recently, they've obtained a kayak and I'm so excited to join them on the water with one of my dogs!

When I moved here, I didn't expect to need a kidney transplant so soon, but I'm so glad to be near my family now that I do. I'll be using this Page to educate people about kidney donation and provide a window into my life. I'd love to have the opportunity to enjoy the latest chapter of my life in good health.

06/17/2023

Dear Friends,

Some of you may know that I was born with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Over time, my PKD has gotten worse causing my kidneys not to work well enough to keep me alive. This is what I am facing now, and my treatment options are limited to dialysis treatments or a kidney transplant.

Getting regular dialysis, in my case peritoneal dialysis (nightly 6-hour treatments), will help my kidneys do their job and keep me alive, but a transplant would offer me more freedom and the ability to live a longer, healthier, more normal life. A transplant would also give me more time to do the fun things I enjoy most, like spending time with my family and friends.

However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.

Asking a family member, or friend, or stranger to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function than one from a deceased donor.

You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:

*You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.

*Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.

*The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.

*The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.

*You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.

You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or nkfcares@kidney.org. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If donating a kidney to me is something you would like to consider, I would be happy to tell you more about my story and explore the process of determining if you are a match for me. You can also contact my transplant center directly at 612-625-5115.

However, I know living donation may not be right for everyone — but you can still help! Consider being an organ donor after death and also, help me by sharing my story with everyone you know. At the very least I want to bring awareness to kidney disease and living donation. I am hopeful my efforts will help me receive a kidney sooner and encourage others to consider helping the many people on the wait list.

Thank you,

Karen