About Me
I am a wife and mother of two. My life before dialysis was busy running from one place to the other, the typical mom, working a full-time job to assist in supporting the family. I enjoyed camping and traveling with my family which now is restricted. I was active in the community as a hockey association board member, hockey team manager, Girl Scout leader, Girl Scout cookie mom, church board member, Sunday School teacher, member of the church counting team, etc. I fully enjoyed being active and part of the community. Unfortunately, I am restricted from doing most of the things I used to enjoy. I continue to work full-time; however, I had to make the decision to eliminate involvement in these other activities due to my health. Even by restricting my activities, I tire easily and for the most part just do not feel good most of the time. I need to monitor and manage my hemoglobin and blood pressure, and other blood chemistries that are affected by my failed kidneys through medications, injections and diet. Now I focus on my immediate family needs, my job and my health. My family needs me so I need to make sure I stay in the best health possible considering my condition.
For the most part, peritoneal dialysis has worked well for me as a full-time working individual, but there are downsides. With peritoneal dialysis I run on dialysis each night at home for a total of 12 hours. Therefore, I need to make sure I manage my time to be on dialysis for the 12 hours. Learn more about peritoneal dialysis on the next tab, Kidney Disease Info. In addition to restricting my activities, I must be very cautious of sanitary issues involved with this type of dialysis. I have been hospitalized twice in the past year for Peritonitis, which is a risk with this type of dialysis. It is an infection that affects the peritoneal lining; and took me about a month to fully recover from each episode. Should I contract Peritonitis again, I may risk the health of my peritoneal lining and may have to switch to hemodialysis. If that is the case, I will need to make visits three times a week to a hospital for dialysis treatment. This would further lessen my quality of life and restrict my schedule even more.
I have been on the diseased donor list for over three years. Thank you to the many family, friends and co-workers that have tested to be a kidney donor for me. They did not match due to my high level of antibodies, which appears to be the result of my two difficult pregnancies. The high level of antibodies results in difficulty in matching.
I am B blood type. Therefore, the first consideration for someone wishing to become a donor for me is that you have a blood type of B, B+, B-, or O, O+, O-. From there, further testing is required to determine compatibility, starting with a blood test that can be drawn at your local clinic. If you do not have one of these blood types you can still help by being part of the Paired Exchange Program. The Paired Exchange Program is where someone is willing to donate a kidney to someone specific, but they do not match to donate their kidney. That donor goes into a pool. The organization searches for someone else in need of a kidney with a donor that does not match and coordinates swapping donors that do match. This program can benefit multiple individuals waiting for a transplant. See the following links for successful examples: http://www.uofmchildrenshospital.org/S_075368and one from 2010 http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/81052152.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue
If you or someone you know would like to confidentially seek additional information, proceed to be considered for kidney donation or participate in the Paired Exchange Program, please contact University of Minnesota Fairview Transplant Center Intake Specialist at 612-672-7270. Please reference Susan Sutton from Rockford, MN and Diane Rachey from Aitkin, MN. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
For the most part, peritoneal dialysis has worked well for me as a full-time working individual, but there are downsides. With peritoneal dialysis I run on dialysis each night at home for a total of 12 hours. Therefore, I need to make sure I manage my time to be on dialysis for the 12 hours. Learn more about peritoneal dialysis on the next tab, Kidney Disease Info. In addition to restricting my activities, I must be very cautious of sanitary issues involved with this type of dialysis. I have been hospitalized twice in the past year for Peritonitis, which is a risk with this type of dialysis. It is an infection that affects the peritoneal lining; and took me about a month to fully recover from each episode. Should I contract Peritonitis again, I may risk the health of my peritoneal lining and may have to switch to hemodialysis. If that is the case, I will need to make visits three times a week to a hospital for dialysis treatment. This would further lessen my quality of life and restrict my schedule even more.
I have been on the diseased donor list for over three years. Thank you to the many family, friends and co-workers that have tested to be a kidney donor for me. They did not match due to my high level of antibodies, which appears to be the result of my two difficult pregnancies. The high level of antibodies results in difficulty in matching.
I am B blood type. Therefore, the first consideration for someone wishing to become a donor for me is that you have a blood type of B, B+, B-, or O, O+, O-. From there, further testing is required to determine compatibility, starting with a blood test that can be drawn at your local clinic. If you do not have one of these blood types you can still help by being part of the Paired Exchange Program. The Paired Exchange Program is where someone is willing to donate a kidney to someone specific, but they do not match to donate their kidney. That donor goes into a pool. The organization searches for someone else in need of a kidney with a donor that does not match and coordinates swapping donors that do match. This program can benefit multiple individuals waiting for a transplant. See the following links for successful examples: http://www.uofmchildrenshospital.org/S_075368and one from 2010 http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/81052152.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue
If you or someone you know would like to confidentially seek additional information, proceed to be considered for kidney donation or participate in the Paired Exchange Program, please contact University of Minnesota Fairview Transplant Center Intake Specialist at 612-672-7270. Please reference Susan Sutton from Rockford, MN and Diane Rachey from Aitkin, MN. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.