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From Kathy Allen’s point of view, paired organ donation just may be the ultimate in generosity. Deciding to donate a kidney to someone you don’t know in a paired exchange can trigger a chain of matches that gives several people the opportunity for a renewed life.
“I can’t thank the donors enough for their selflessness,” says Kathy. “It takes a truly altruistic person to step up.”
Kathy, who lives in St. Peter, Minnesota, benefitted from the generosity of a family friend who volunteered to donate a kidney to her in March 2015. That individual was not a match for Kathy, but he was a match for someone else. Meanwhile, a woman from Illinois whose husband needed a kidney was a match for Kathy. And thus began a paired exchange at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus that, in the end, helped 10 people receive new, healthy kidneys.
“I just marvel at how they can do this and match these people up,” Kathy says. “Then they can make everyone healthy and happy, and give so many more people a chance.”
Finding a different way forward
Kathy’s kidney problems stemmed from polycystic kidney disease. The condition causes clusters of cysts to develop in the kidneys and often can lead to kidney failure that requires treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant. Before the paired donation, Kathy also had a previous kidney transplant after the disease had damaged her kidneys.
“Before my second transplant, I was very much in limbo. I’d had surgery to prepare for dialysis, although I hadn’t started dialysis yet,” she says. “It was a very tough time. You can’t plan, and you don’t know if you’re going to live or die.”
“I just marvel at how they can do this and match these people up ... and give so many more people a chance.” – Kathy Allen
“When [my donor] qualified, I didn’t quite know what that meant, because I didn’t fully understand this paired donation procedure,” Kathy says. “There was a period of time when I didn’t know if I was getting a transplant or if I would be on dialysis. I didn’t think I’d last very long on dialysis.”
Fortunately for Kathy, Mayo Clinic’s paired donation process worked well for her. She was able to receive a new, healthy kidney, and her transplant was a success. Kathy’s thankful for that, and for the backing she received before, during and after the transplant.
“I’m fortunate to have had a good support system from my family and friends who stayed with me at the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester,” Kathy says. “I’m so grateful to them, because I couldn’t have done it without them. They all took turns being a caregiver for me. It was great team work.”
Grateful for a life renewed
Along with the donors, Kathy credits the team of experts at Mayo Clinic for giving her a new lease on life and the chance to be more active.
“My doctors at Mayo really went to bat for me,” she says. “I can’t explain what a wonderful program they have, educating us before and after the transplant, and giving us the information we needed.”
Since the transplant, Kathy’s life has slowly been returning to normal. She can now manage all of her medications by herself. Although Kathy lives with other medical concerns, including lymphedema and diabetes, her goal is to continue to do more for herself and to be able to improve her walking.
“My doctors at Mayo really went to bat for me. I can’t explain what a wonderful program they have, educating us before and after the transplant.” – Kathy Allen
Prior to the transplant, Kathy had little energy and spent many days in her recliner. Now, although she currently lives in an assisted-living facility, Kathy continues to gain independence and mobility. She now can do more of the upkeep of her apartment, including laundry, shopping, picking up her own dinners, and even driving to visit her family.
“I have two children and four grandchildren. My mother still lives nearby,” she says. “I kept telling my doctors that I wanted to be in my grandchildren’s lives for much longer, and now I can do that.”
HELPFUL LINKS
- Learn more about paired organ donation.
- Read about the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center.
- Consider organ donation.
- Explore Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus.
- Request an appointment.
