April is National Donate Life Month, and right here in Hampton Roads, a mother is asking for your help. Meet Katherine Landers, a local mom in need of a kidney transplant, and read her story, spoken in her own words.
I have lived in Hampton Roads since I was 14 years old (I’m 39 now). My dad was in the Navy. I went to Great Bridge High School. I had my son at 20 years old and just stuck around ever since.
My Life With Chronic Kidney Disease
I went to the hospital in April 2018 due to a kidney infection. They found my left kidney inflamed/swollen and was officially diagnosed a few months later with a form of kidney disease called interstitial nephritis. I went to 2 experts and they could not find out how I had developed kidney disease in the first place. My health went into a steady decline until March 2020, when I finally had to go on dialysis. I was on peritoneal dialysis for exactly one year. I did so well on it that my health went back up, at least according to the numbers. I was officially off dialysis in March 2021 – I even went “inactive” on the national transplant list. I knew it wouldn’t stay this way forever, but I was overjoyed at this news. All of the hard work paid off!
However, this past June 2023, I was told by my nephrologist that my health is back down on the decline. I was immediately put back on the transplant list. While I do not need dialysis right now, it’s looking like I might need to in the near future. It has impacted my life tremendously. Diet, exercise, you name it. It has completely changed my lifestyle.
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What Should People Know About Being a Living Organ Donor?
Living transplant donation saves lives, period. While dialysis can help maintain someone’s life, an actual kidney will always be more effective. A living donation can help anyone needing a kidney live longer than they have before – If the transplant recipient is your loved one or friend, these statistics will be personally meaningful to you. Living donation takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice, but it carries a sense of meaning and purpose as well.
There are 3 types of living donations:
- Direct kidney donation: If you know your recipient, you can donate your kidney “directly” to that person. The best direct donors are related family members. Relatives have the best chance of being genetically compatible with each other, which means the kidney has a better chance of succeeding after transplantation.
- Paired-exchange kidney donation: If you are not a compatible donor for your intended recipient, you can do what is called a “paired exchange.” With the help of organizations like the National Kidney Registry, you donate a kidney in “exchange” for another individual donating a compatible kidney for your loved one or friend.
- Altruistic, or non-directed, kidney donation: You may choose to donate a kidney, even though you do not have a friend or loved one who is currently in need.
Perhaps someone in your life had kidney disease and was helped by a transplant. Or maybe you wanted to be a donor for someone else in the past and were not compatible. Whatever your reason, you can donate a kidney anonymously. Or you may choose to meet your recipient (if they agree) after a one-year waiting period.
How People Can Help
They can share my living kidney donation request website! Just knowing it is shared helps so much. If someone does decide to donate and they are a match to me, then that is wonderful. But if they are not a match but someone else in the country is a match, then they can save their life as well! I also have a GoFundMe page for any unforeseen and unexpected medical bills. You can share that and if you would like to make a donation, that would be wonderful as well.
What I've Learned Through This
Knowing I have the support of my family and friends, as well as a great medical team behind Sentara is good enough for me. Always get checked out by your doctor. Ignoring any sort of symptom may cause significant damage down the road.
You can help Katherine by checking out her website, sharing it, and sharing this article. Prayerfully consider becoming a living donor!
