Time Out for Transplant
Donation protected
In July 2014, Jenna's nursing school classmate Ruth posted on Facebook that her mom, Sharon, needed a kidney transplant and asked if anyone with A positive blood would be willing to be tested. At the time, Sharon was maintaining her kidney function levels, but her doctor wanted to start the process because a kidney transplant was inevitable. Jenna offered to be tested but just because the blood type was a match did not mean that she would automatically be able to be Sharon's donor. In fact, more than 8 of Sharon's family members were all A positive.
About two months later, Sharon's doctors decided it was time to do the next round of testing because Sharon's levels were dropping. Everyone went in to the donor center and some of their blood was mixed with some of Sharon's. After about a week the donor coordinator called all of the family members with the results: Jenna was the only eligible donor. The odds of finding a donor were slim because of various factors, but the fact that a non-family member was a match could only be explained as a miracle.
Because of Jenna's nursing school schedule, the donation could not be scheduled until after the semester ended in May. In February, Jenna began the medical testing to ensure that her body could function with one kidney after the donation. The testing included a CT scan (to check kidney size), chest x-ray, nuclear glomular filtration rate test (to check the percentage of function in each kidney), nutrition, psychological and financial consults and finally, a consult with the doctor who would perform the procedure. On April 16, Sharon and Jenna were given the good news that the surgery was a go!
The surgery has been scheduled for May 13 at Banner Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix. While everything related to the Jenna's surgery and recovery will be covered by Sharon's insurance, Jenna will be out of work and unpaid for 4 weeks. Any donations will go towards normal monthly bills and any excess will be put into savings for any complications that may come up in the future (such as the possibility of needing a high risk pregnancy doctor when the time comes because of the impact on her body from surgery).
Kidney donation is the most common type of living solid organ donation and, as a student nurse, has opened Jenna's eyes to the multitude of jobs available in the world of organ donation. In fact, this experience has been so impactful that as the Vice President of the Student Nurses Assocation at her school, Jenna held both an educational event regarding donation for her fellow student nurses as well as an organ donation drive at her school with Be the Match bone marrow donation and Donate Life solid organ donation.
Jenna thanks everyone for your support both financially and spiritually. If a monetary donation is not possible, Jenna considers it an honor if you are willing to say a prayer for both her and Sharon and the successful outcome of this procedure. If nothing else, consider becoming an organ donor. What a gift to be able to give life to another person.
About two months later, Sharon's doctors decided it was time to do the next round of testing because Sharon's levels were dropping. Everyone went in to the donor center and some of their blood was mixed with some of Sharon's. After about a week the donor coordinator called all of the family members with the results: Jenna was the only eligible donor. The odds of finding a donor were slim because of various factors, but the fact that a non-family member was a match could only be explained as a miracle.
Because of Jenna's nursing school schedule, the donation could not be scheduled until after the semester ended in May. In February, Jenna began the medical testing to ensure that her body could function with one kidney after the donation. The testing included a CT scan (to check kidney size), chest x-ray, nuclear glomular filtration rate test (to check the percentage of function in each kidney), nutrition, psychological and financial consults and finally, a consult with the doctor who would perform the procedure. On April 16, Sharon and Jenna were given the good news that the surgery was a go!
The surgery has been scheduled for May 13 at Banner Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix. While everything related to the Jenna's surgery and recovery will be covered by Sharon's insurance, Jenna will be out of work and unpaid for 4 weeks. Any donations will go towards normal monthly bills and any excess will be put into savings for any complications that may come up in the future (such as the possibility of needing a high risk pregnancy doctor when the time comes because of the impact on her body from surgery).
Kidney donation is the most common type of living solid organ donation and, as a student nurse, has opened Jenna's eyes to the multitude of jobs available in the world of organ donation. In fact, this experience has been so impactful that as the Vice President of the Student Nurses Assocation at her school, Jenna held both an educational event regarding donation for her fellow student nurses as well as an organ donation drive at her school with Be the Match bone marrow donation and Donate Life solid organ donation.
Jenna thanks everyone for your support both financially and spiritually. If a monetary donation is not possible, Jenna considers it an honor if you are willing to say a prayer for both her and Sharon and the successful outcome of this procedure. If nothing else, consider becoming an organ donor. What a gift to be able to give life to another person.
Organizer
Jenna Wagner
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ