S2 E5. Giving thanks for kindness, science and cooperation during Thanksgiving week. Liz, Grace & Shelley Part 1.

S2 E5. Giving thanks for kindness, science and cooperation during Thanksgiving week. A kidney paired donation story. Liz, Grace & Shelley - Part 1   

What if you saw a billboard asking for a volunteer to donate a kidney and “share your spare” to save someone’s life? What if it just made immediate sense to you, and you found yourself saying yes? Meanwhile, Liz was in urgent need of a kidney transplant. She had been unwell as a child and her kidneys had failed, just as the first kidney transplants were being pioneered.

Now, 40 years later, Liz needed a new transplant. Her cousin, Grace, had volunteered to donate, and was figuring out how to make this happen from her remote location 5,000 miles away – on the Pacific Island of Kauai. Grace wasn’t a good match for Liz, but a great match for someone else. And Shelley was a near-perfect match for Liz. Somehow, they needed to plan an exchange and give Liz her best possible future health. 

Today’s episode is a reunion for three people whose lives intersected in a beautiful and remarkable way. Grace, Liz, and Shelley share their stories and perspectives, and pull back the curtain on the incredible benefits of living kidney paired donation (KPD) and the important role of vouchers.

Shelley, a special education teacher from Portland, takes us through her decision-making process to become a kidney donor after seeing a billboard advertisement, including the role played by the National Kidney Registry in her journey. Liz, a four-time transplant recipient and a patient healthcare entrepreneur from Chicago, discusses her life-changing moments associated with her transplants, starting from the age of 11. Grace, a hospice nurse from the Hawaiian Islands, reveals the emotional moments leading up to her decision to donate a kidney and the challenges faced due to her geographic location.

The episode further explores the scientific advancements in kidney transplants, the impact of living donations, and the importance of organizations like the National Kidney Registry in facilitating these life-saving processes. The National Kidney Registry is one of the world’s leading kidney exchange organizations. Please visit  https://www.kidneyregistry.com/  for more information. 

And tune in to Part 2 next time, where the trio reflect on their experiences, and comment on what could be improved in the world of kidney transplants, and why more people should step forward to donate.

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