Power Player – Megan

Megan was a 24-year-old teacher when she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She was told she would need a kidney transplant.

When she found out she needed a kidney transplant, she was terrified. The internet was still new at the time, but she did as much research as she could.

Her transplant center connected her with someone who had been a living donor, who answered many of her questions. This was very helpful to hear someone’s journey first hand.

Her sister, Michelle, volunteered to be her living donor. Despite looming issues, Megan felt lucky to have a great team of doctors and a living donor.

The day of the transplant, Megan and Michelle went in, determined to complete the surgeries.

“It felt like a fresh breath of air,” Megan said when explaining what it was like to have a new kidney.

Her post-transplant journey had some bumps along the road, though. Megan experienced organ rejection right away. She ended up in the hospital for three months.

Her goal was to go back to teaching, and when she did, it improved her mental state immensely.

Earlier this year, Megan went into renal failure, 14 years after her kidney transplant. She did everything she good to get better; as her donated organ was very important to her.

She cherished her kidney transplant, which allowed her to fall in love, get married, and adopt two children.

Megan is currently on home dialysis, and unfortunately, had to stop teaching.

Her brother also had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and passed away after his transplant. Megan has a great relationship with his donor’s family and considers them family.

“Organ donation truly is the gift of life,” she said.

Megan has family members being tested to be her donor, and is optimistic she will find a donor.

“There have been so many medical advances since my first transplant,” Megan said. “Everyone was too scared to be a donor 14 years ago.”