Stephanie Grooms – Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA)

Alex- Kidney Recipient

I moved to Kentucky in 2005. I thought I had food poisoning but found out after a visit to an immediate care center that I had high blood pressure and the nurses asked if I was feeling okay. They ran tests and found out that something was wrong. They sent me to a hospital and I was admitted for three days and a lot of tests were run and an ultrasound was completed. I found out I was born with one kidney. It was a life changing moment. I moved here not knowing anyone but my fiancee at the time. It was a quite a scary time, with lots of uncertainty. I started dialysis. I did in center hemo-dialysis for 18 months. I asked people who I went to church with here in Louisville if they would be willing to be tested to be a donor. Honestly, it was challenging to take "yes" as an answer as I was nearly a stranger to them. We decided first to "handle" the situation by doing the dialysis treatments. After 18 months went by, and many medical issues and complications, we went back and talked with one particular person Kathy B, she was interested in starting this process. In the winter of 2007 she started this process of work-up. In June of 2007 I was given the opportunity of a second chance at life. This amazing gift has given me the opportunity to be a father and to also give me the opportunity to give back to this community. My kidney disease has given me an opportunity to give back to the local community in educating and advocating for individuals who have Chronic Kidney Disease

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-06-11T13:29:23+00:00June 11th, 2019|Jefferson|0 Comments

Karen-Donated a kidney to her Mother

Hi- My name is Karen Thomas. I work as a Deputy Clerk at the Laurel Co. Circuit Clerks Office in London, KY. I am a living organ donor. On January 17, 2019 I donated my left kidney to my wonderful mother. My Mom had fought kidney failure for several years and put up an excellent fight until last year. Off the cuff, I had always said 'I guess I'll just have to give you a kidney some day'. Her kidney function had dropped to 13%. She was preparing for dialysis. I told her "I guess it's time I give you a kidney". Mom always put me first before herself. She wasn't real sure if she wanted her 'baby' (52 year old baby) to give up one of her kidneys. To me it was just a matter of fact. It was time. By the way, my Mom is 70 years old. She visited the University of Kentucky Transplant Center to be put on the list for a donor. Mom had to research other living donors and found it just might be OK. In mid August UK started our compatibility testing and by late November we found out we were an excellent match. Such a good match, in-fact, Mom could be on the lower dose of anti rejections meds. Everything went so easy and UK Transplant Center has some really awesome caregivers working for them. From our nurse-coordinators, lab persons, the surgeons and hospital staff were all super! Our surgeries were January 17th at UK and everything went so well. I was back at work by February 6th. My co-worker Deputy Clerks were all so awesome to help me with any lifting or bending for a few weeks after my return. God was in control of all this from the start and still is. My Mom is doing awesome. Her kidney function is just a tad better than mine but both are well within the healthy normal. She says she got the best kidney. I know her quality of life has already improved. We are so thankful and blessed. I have always supported organ donation, I donated my dollar and always said 'yes' to be placed on the registry when renewing my license, but now I have a whole new appreciation for the Circuit Clerk's Trust for Life.

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-05-15T13:43:28+00:00May 15th, 2019|Laurel|0 Comments

Emma- Heart Recipient

UK Transplant Patient Grateful For a very Special Gift By Allison Perry LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2018) – The evening of June 21, while Emma Sue Mast was anxiously waiting to receive a new heart, she got a sign that immediately put her at ease: a rainbow, visible from her hospital room, that stayed alight for hours. “Donate Life’s theme this year was ‘Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud,’” Mast said. “I took that as a sign that everything was going to be all right.” Prior to noticing her rainbow, Mast – who also turned 37 years old that day – had just received the best present she could have asked for — a phone call letting her know that she was about to get a second chance at life via a heart transplant. The mother of two from Hawesville, Kentucky, had spent more than a decade battling serious heart problems. After her second son was born in 2006, she started noticing some significant changes in her health, including shortness of breath, heart palpitations and tachycardia (abnormally rapid heart rate), and swelling in her legs and feet. By the following April, the issues became too severe to ignore. “I couldn’t wait to go to bed at night; I was just so tired,” she said. “I was a busy mom, but I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t keep up.” A visit to her local family doctor in Stanford showed an abnormal rhythm and an enlarged heart. Her physician referred her to cardiac specialists in Louisville, who first tried medications to control her arrhythmia. When that failed, Mast had an internal defibrillator (ICD) implanted in 2007. ICDs continuously monitor heart rhythm and provide a shock if needed – an event Mast said she experienced three separate times. “It just knocked me to the ground,” she said. Over the next decade, Mast would undergo an ICD replacement, an ICD repair, and more medication in an effort to save her failing heart. But as her heart continued to enlarge, she began experiencing longer episodes of tachycardia and frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) – an extra heartbeat that begins in one of the lower chambers of the heart and causes the “fluttering” feeling of a skipped heartbeat in the chest. Earlier this year, her cardiologist then referred her to UK HealthCare for a heart transplant. For Mast, simple everyday tasks – like housework and going out to shop – had become very difficult as her heart weakened. “I had mixed feelings about getting a transplant,” Mast said. “My thoughts were that somebody has to die in order for me to get a new heart. But I was also looking forward to having the chance to have a better quality of life.” Mast was evaluated by UK Gill Heart Institute cardiologist Dr. Andrew Kolodziej, who noted that while they first tried to optimize her medical therapy, her body was unable to tolerate the medication. Due to her worsening ventricular arrythmias and extreme weakness, she was listed for transplant shortly after her [...]

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-05-10T16:07:51+00:00May 10th, 2019|Hancock|0 Comments

Teri-Living kidney donor and recipient family member

When I married my husband, my oldest step daughter had already received one kidney transplant. A few years later, her kidney failed and she was placed back on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney. Her blood type was the type that she could only receive a kidney from someone with the same type, so I was unable to help her. A few days later, I decided to treat myself to a manicure. I had never had my nails done, and a new salon went in just down the street. I called and made an appointment. Much to my surprise, the two owners were friends of mine from grade school. I hadn’t seen them in about 20 years or so. After a few visits, I realized Amy (one of the owners) was in kidney failure and was in search of a kidney. She had previously had a kidney transplant donated by her mother, but that one began to fail. I spoke up and said I would be tested if she was looking for a donor. My next appointment Amy asked if I was serious about testing and of course I was. I was set up with University of Cincinnati transplant center and was tested. Long story short, I was a match and donated my kidney. God performed so many miracles for me during this time. UC nurses/doctors had told my husband and I to have our daughter to make an appointment with them. She made the appointment and within 11 months, our daughter received her new kidney. The recipient of my kidney is still doing great and in June it will be 16 years. Our daughter is again in need of another kidney, but her new kidney lasted over 14 years. We are now waiting on final testing for our niece to donate a kidney to our daughter. God has been so good our families.

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-05-09T10:38:58+00:00May 9th, 2019|Greenup|0 Comments

Duanne- Kidney Pancreas recipient

Life has diverse meaning for everyone, but when you experience life from a different perspective, it takes on an exceptional meaning. You see, I developed Type 1 diabetes at the age of five. I was totally dependent on insulin, taking two shots a day as well as trying to control it with my diet. I was no different than any other kid, I just had to take medicine an accepted part of my life. However, it was different when I was at a birthday party and could not have cake or had to pass up sweets while at school or any other place for that matter. It was just my way of life that I was accustomed to. I had a very productive childhood participating in sports throughout school, even college. In 1993, at the age of 28, I developed kidney disease. After two years and the long-time effects, my diabetic specialist asked if I would consider a kidney and pancreas transplant? The University of Kentucky had just gotten a new renowned transplant specialist. I agreed with apprehension and had a consultation. I was evaluated for an entire year, checking various systems repeatedly. In February 1996, I went on the transplant list. This was a time before cell phones so I was given a pager in case of that faithful page and had to be within two hours range of the hospital. That meant not going on vacations or attending events more than two-hours away. On April 7, 1996, on my birthday, I had to be dialysis for the first time. This took place three times a week for four hours each time at Pikeville Medical Center by Dr. Bhagrath. This went on for six months. I only missed two days of work while enduring the process. I refused to let it get me down and continued on with my life playing golf and refereeing football. I was determined to live a normal life. I was paged three different times with the third being the charm. On September 21, 1996 I had a double transplant; kidney and pancreas. The surgery took 10 hours by Dr. Ranjan and Dr. Wade of University of Kentucky Hospital. I was in ICU for one week and remained in the hospital for another three weeks for a total of a month. My pancreas started working immediately, but it took two weeks for my body to accept the kidney. After leaving the hospital, I had to stay in close proximity. I rented an apartment for a month while going to the hospital daily to check for rejection and adjust my immune and rejection medications. I will never forget my fight for life. I can particularly remember this one revisit to the doctor when I asked what my diet will be. He looked at me and smiles and says “no diet of any kind because you are no longer a diabetic”. Wow! After being a diabetic for 30+ years, I finally got to eat sweets J I [...]

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-04-04T14:55:00+00:00April 4th, 2019|Pike|0 Comments

Betty-Living Donor

This was almost a forty year long wish. It started back in the early 70’s, when I was a Patient Aide at a hospital on the Urology and General Surgery floor. I took care of men having prostate surgery, gallbladder and hernia patients, ‘open and close’ surgeries, which meant they were full of cancer. Back then, before CAT and PET scans, and MRI’s were not around, things were harder on people. Gallbladder surgery involved a minimum two-week hospital stay. Poor prostate guys were there about the same time. The cancer people? We had to check charts VERY carefully, because more often than not, the patient was not told the diagnosis. That’s a whole ‘nother story. But the patients who got to me were the kidney patients. I discovered that kidney disease affected a wide range of people; and had nothing to do with lifestyle choices. They became friends, because of frequent hospitalizations. The goal was always to get their function up to 13%, because then, no dialysis. They were mostly limited to drinking less than 12 ounces of liquid daily. Salt? Potassium? HA! So, they ate bland food, were always thirsty, had to protect the arm that the dialysis port was in, and spend a lot of time in the hospital. I remember one of my favorite patients, a fourteen-year-old girl tell me that since she only had to pee once every two or three days, that she never worried about lines for the bathroom. I ached at the unfairness of it all. That was when I decided to give up a kidney. Now, my life went on, I married, had kids, gained weight, got divorced, gained more weight…and still thought about people imprisoned by their feckless disease. In March of 2009, I was utterly ashamed that I gave up my own health by my poor eating habits, so underwent weight loss surgery. And one year and over 100 pounds later, I celebrated my ‘new’ self. I was healthy again! Normal blood levels, no sleep apnea, so much more energy! A miracle of modern science. And yet… I was healthy thanks to admittedly a severe and radical surgical procedure. I started to research donating a kidney. The process was a lot easier, and more successful than back in the 70’s. I would only be in the hospital overnight. It wouldn’t cost me a penny. I would save someone. Oh, there were hurdles, and processes, and tests, and more tests, and visiting more types of professionals that I ever had. They wanted to make sure that I: 1) Wasn’t coerced 2) Wasn’t crazy. I remember the day at the NYC hospital going from test to test, pretty much the same time as a tall Hasidic Jewish man accompanied by his Rabbi. I wanted so badly to talk to him, compare notes- who was he wanting to donate to? Why did he decide? But here I was with my painted toenails and flip flops, tan from the Arizona sun, baggy shorts and [...]

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-02-06T15:58:54+00:00February 6th, 2019|Jefferson|0 Comments

Natalie- 3 time liver recipient

I have been fortunate enough to receive the gift of life three times, once from my father as a living donor, and twice from deceased organ donors. I have been blessed with 22 wonderful additional years of life and would very much enjoy sharing my story with others to assist in getting others to be willing participants in sharing life with others that are in great need of a gift to survive. My transplant anniversary is November 12, also my older sister's birthday. I feel like I have been called to share my experience to positively affect others. Please donate to assist others to live on and continue to do good works to help others.

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-02-04T11:22:40+00:00February 4th, 2019|Graves|0 Comments

Leslie-Respiratory Therapist and Organ and Tissue Donation Advocate

I have been in healthcare for over 16 years. 14 of those I have worked bedside at a level II trauma center as a registered respiratory therapist. I have always been a huge supporter of the organ donation process. I have seen it bring a feeling of purpose and fulfillment in the most dire of situations. I have also always been very active in the cystic fibrosis community. I have watched my patients/friends die from lack of organ donors but I have seem them thrive as well after a donation. Education about donation is the key to this whole process.

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-02-04T08:53:05+00:00February 4th, 2019|Lawrence County, Ohio State|0 Comments

Steve- Lung Recipient

In the summer of 2010, I contracted a case of pneumonia. The main symptom that I was experiencing was a persistent cough that just would not go away and breathlessness on what seemed like very little exertion. I made an appointment with my primary care physician, Dr. Ajit Nanda and, after examining me, he prescribed an antibiotic which seemed to cure the pneumonia, but I noticed that I still became breathless with very little exertion. I mentioned my shortness of breath to Dr. Nanda a few weeks later and he ordered a chest x-ray. In the image, he noticed cloudiness in both lungs, indicating generalized inflammation. He then ordered a computerized tomography (CT) scan which was performed at Hardin Memorial Hospital on August 3, 2010. The resulting report indicated “ground glass opacity in both lung bases” which may be indicative of chronic lung disease. Dr. Nanda referred me to Dr. Jose Mendieta, a pulmonologist in Louisville. A second, high resolution CT scan was ordered and performed on August 26, 2010. The technician reported “moderate interstitial lung disease noted throughout both lung fields.” After reviewing both CT scans, Dr. Mendieta indicated that I had a non-specific interstitial lung condition, but he did not give me any specific instructions regarding the condition. He did not make my condition sound very serious, so again I brushed it off as age and being overweight. Since I was not in any real distress, I did not give the information much thought and went on with my business pretty much as usual. No mention of the possibility of IPF resulted from either the tests or office visits. At this time I was having very little difficulties getting around and doing pretty much whatever I wanted to. While I was having some difficulties with dyspepsia, it still seemed as if my difficulties were merely the result of age and weight. Perhaps, that was just wishful thinking on my part. Sometime in early 2011, I had another bout with pneumonia, but again Dr. Nanda prescribed antibiotics that seemed to correct the problem. The CT scan image taken on March 29, 2011 shows the damage in the lower lobes of both of my lungs as compared with the scan taken seven months earlier. The report from the CT scan indicated that no progress of the interstitial lung disease was noted and there was no new enlargement of lymph nodes (adenopathy). As with the previous reports, neither I nor Dr. Nanda had any real concern about the report, since I was not having any specific difficulties. In April 2013, I mentioned my increased difficulties with what seemed like ordinary activities to Dr. Nanada. He ordered another CT scan, performed on April 17, 2013. After reviewing that scan, he suggested that my condition might be IPF. He referred me to Dr. Tim Killeen, a pulmonologist in Louisville, KY. During that appointment, I completed my first six minute walk test, which “… measures the distance that a patient can quickly walk on [...]

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-02-04T08:39:22+00:00February 4th, 2019|Hardin|0 Comments

Donna-Liver Recipient

Donna J. Bias Liver Recipient – 09/11/1994 My transplant story began when I had severe itching all over my body. I had spent hundreds of dollars on creams, gels and Benadryl but nothing helped. One weekend the itching was so bad that I decided to go to a walk-in clinic. They didn't have a diagnosis and told me to see a dermatologist. Instead, I went to see my regular medical doctor. I explained my problem, and he took one look at me, and said you are going to the hospital. At the exam, he noticed my eyes were yellow and suggested a gallbladder problem or a blocked bile duct. Right away, lab results showed elevated liver numbers. That same week, a liver biopsy confirmed Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. There is no known cause or cure for this disease except for a transplant. I had never heard of a liver transplant and knew very little about organ donation. A specialist was called in, and on my 25th wedding anniversary in 1991, he told me I had approximately two years to live. What a shock since I didn't even know I was sick and never drank alcohol or used non-prescription drugs. During the three years I waited for a liver transplant, I had bloodwork every week and transfusions due to the platelets being eaten up in the spleen. My spleen became the size of a football. The severe itching continued due to the liver being unable to filter out the bile. Just wearing clothes made the itching unbearable. There was fatigue like you can't imagine and I wanted to stay in bed 24 hours a day. At that time, there was little awareness about organ donation. So for three years, we made the five-hour, one-way trips nearly every other month to the transplant center in Pittsburgh. During the Labor Day weekend in 1994, I was admitted to the hospital in Pittsburgh for testing on another problem. While there, they did triple the number of liver transplants due to the holiday travel accidents, but there was no liver for me. Either it was not my size, blood type or the fact that others needed the transplant more than me. A few days later, I was told I was a back-up for a liver. If the person was too ill to have the transplant, I would be next in line. Fortunately for that person, he or she became well enough for the transplant. Then I was told another liver was on its way, but again someone else needed it more than I did. Finally, the third time is a charm (or was it?)! The liver had been lacerated during the removal process, but since it was a large liver and just the one I needed, my surgeon decided to repair it the best he could. The transplant went well except for some bleeding problems due to the lacerations. There has been no further treatment to the liver since that time 24 years ago! Words cannot [...]

By Stephanie Grooms|2019-01-03T08:35:24+00:00January 3rd, 2019|Cabell County, West Virginia|0 Comments

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