For patients living with kidney failure, a transplant call can represent years of waiting, uncertainty, preparation, and hope.
For Jeanmarie Ferguson, that call came at 4 a.m.
One year ago, Jeanmarie’s health had declined dramatically. She was in kidney failure and preparing for end-of-life care when she learned that a kidney was available from an anonymous organ donor.
The news was so unexpected that she initially wondered whether the call was real. It was—and it marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter.
Now celebrating the first anniversary of her kidney transplant, Jeanmarie has shared her experience in a moving video produced by LifeSharing.
[WATCH A CLIP OF JEANMARIE’S LIFESHARING VIDEO]
The Impact of Organ Donation
Jeanmarie’s experience is a powerful reminder of what organ donation can make possible. Behind every donated organ is a person, a family, and a decision that can profoundly affect someone else’s future.
Her story also reflects the difficult reality faced by many people with advanced kidney disease. Patients may spend years managing medications, dietary restrictions, dialysis treatments, medical appointments, and the emotional uncertainty of waiting for a transplant.
No two transplant experiences are exactly alike. However, hearing directly from someone who has lived through kidney failure, received a transplant, and adjusted to life afterward can help other patients and families feel more informed and less isolated.
Learning About Living Kidney Donation
Deceased organ donation made Jeanmarie’s transplant possible. Living kidney donation is another potential pathway to transplantation.
A healthy person can be evaluated to donate one kidney to someone in need. A donor may give directly to someone they know, participate in a paired-donation program when the intended donor and recipient are not compatible, or choose to donate to someone they have never met.
Considering living donation is a personal decision. Anyone interested should receive complete information about the evaluation, surgery, potential risks, recovery, and long-term follow-up directly from a transplant center. Learning more does not obligate someone to donate.
If you have considered becoming a living kidney donor, the first step is to contact a transplant center and ask to speak with its living-donor team.
Support Beyond the Medical Appointment
Kidney disease affects more than laboratory results. It can influence work, relationships, family responsibilities, emotional health, and a patient’s sense of independence.
Patients and caregivers who would like to speak with someone who understands can also connect with the nonprofit organization, ReMend. ReMend’s trained peer mentors draw upon their own experiences with kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, living donation, and caregiving to provide encouragement and practical support.
Peer mentorship complements the care provided by your medical team; it does not replace medical advice.
If you are navigating kidney disease, waiting for a transplant, recovering after transplantation, or supporting someone you love, you do not have to face the experience alone. Contact ReMend to learn more or request a mentor.
