When Jennifer was 14, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Her journey eventually led her to dialysis and to the transplant waiting list.
On September 9, 2016, she received a phone call around midnight. Her doctor asked her about dialysis and when she had last eaten. Then, she found out that a kidney was available.
Jennifer was filled with emotions. She was finally getting her life-saving kidney transplant, but her heart ached for her donor’s family.
“How was I supposed to be happy when someone else just died? It was a very emotional time and I cried a lot for my donor and their family,” she said.
Jennifer came out of the transplant surgery with some damage to her bladder, but fortunately, has not experienced any organ rejection.
Jennifer admits that she can be a bit shy when it comes to her transplant journey. Her husband, however, loves to tell the story.
“People are usually shocked when they find out,” Jennifer explained. “They do not realize that organs can be donated and that you can live with just one kidney.”
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