How long have you been waiting for a transplant?

More than six months.

Please briefly describe your current medical state/transplant urgency.

Exhausted all the time due to dialysis 12 hours a day. You don’t have an appetite, you’re not as effective as you would like to be at work. I have to get iron infusions for dialysis. These are long and painful. I have bruises all over my body due to low iron, and I have lost half my hair due to all these medical treatments.

What is your life like now?

I am a single mother. I am trying to work full time, keep up with my animals, do my own dialysis at home and keep up with dialysis and transplant doctors’ appointments.

What is the most difficult thing for you about waiting for a transplant?

The exhaustion from Dialysis, iron infusions, constant body pain. Not to mention be a mom, work full time, and make it to many, many required doctor appointments.

Why are you looking for a living donor?

My last transplant was a living donor and gave me 15½ beautiful years of enjoying life with my daughter.

Do you currently have anyone being tested to become your donor? Please explain why or why not your friends/family members can donate to you.

I have had eight people try but have been disqualified for one reason or another. I do have one last person being tested.

What efforts have you made so far to find a living donor?

I have asked everyone I know!

What step should a living donor take if they want to get tested for you?

First, please call my transplant center at 314-362-5365 to complete a pre-screen survey on the phone if you are interested in becoming my donor. You will need my birth date: 12/29/1982

Second, please take a few minutes to join the American Transplant Foundation’s confidential database so we can send you updates, resources, and provide the chance to connect 1:1 with our Living Donor Ambassadors to have any questions answered.

What insurance do you have?

United Health

Please share a little but about yourself.

I have a hobby farm with goats, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, guineas and dogs. I enjoy reading, movies and traveling when I can.

What are your hopes and dreams including what you look forward to after transplant?

I want to be able to work my full week shifts without being fully exhausted. I want to get back to enjoying weekends at the zoo or enjoying late night concerts with my daughter.

What would you like to share with somebody who might consider donating an organ to you?

I enjoy healthy/natural living. I love living in the country and cooking my own food with ingredients from our family garden. I do my best to take care of myself.