KIDNEY GROUP TRANSPLANT PATIENT WINS OLYMPIC GOLD

THIS SUMMER THE KIDNEY GROUP'S PATIENT, CHERYL KEENEY WON A GOLD MEDAL AT THE TRANSPLANT OLYMPICS IN THE SWIMMING INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY CATEGORY. IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 CHERYL RECEIVED A KIDNEY-PANCREAS TRANSPLANT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI PERFORMED BY DR. GEORGE BURKE. PRIOR TO THAT CHERYL HAD BEEN ON PERITONEAL(HOME)DIALYSIS UNDER THE CARE OF DR.GABRIEL VALLE OF THE KIDNEY GROUP. FOLLOWING THE TRANSPLANT AND INSPIRED BY HER DAUGHTER ALI, A SWIMMER FOR CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL, CHERYL BEGAN TRAINING WITH FT LAUDERDALE AQUATICS MASTER COACH, MARTY HENDRICKS AND COMPETING IN MASTERS CHALLENGES.AS KEENEY SAYS ABOUT LIFE AFTER TRANSPLANT, "I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SICK I WAS UNTIL I FOUND OUT HOW GREAT I FEEL TODAY. I AM NO LONGER A DIABETIC. MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED. I GOT A MIRACLE. HOPEFULLY, I CAN BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS. NOW, EVERY DAY I DIVE INTO THE POOL I TELL MYSELF 'TODAY MATTERS'.CHERYL KEENEY YOU ARE OUR HERO!! THE KIDNEY GROUP SALUTES YOU(APPRECIATION TO SHARON ROBB OF THE SUN SENTINEL FOR PARTS OF THIS STORY)
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LOCAL SHOPKEEPER HAS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT(*click title to read review of Fernanda's)

THIS WEEK MARKS 6 MONTH'S SINCE THE SUCCESSFUL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT OF ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PATIENTS, BETHANY JOHASKY. BETHANY HAS FOLLOWED WITH OUR GROUP SINCE SHE WAS A STUDENT AT FSU(GO NOLES)AND IS NOW THE OWNER/MANAGER OF FERNANDAS INTERNATIONAL FOOD MARKET.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER VISITED THIS FORT LAUDERDALE TREASURE, YOU ARE MISSING A TREAT. IT IS NESTLED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF OAKLAND AND FEDERAL WHERE IT HAS BEEN A LANDMARK FOR 31 YEARS(LONG BEFORE BETHANY WAS BORN!). IT PROVIDES ESOTERIC GROCERIES, SPICES AND WINES. THEY ALSO HAVE A DELI AND PREPARED FOODS DEPARTMENT-AND IS THE FAVORITE PLACE FOR THE KIDNEY GROUP TO ORDER SANDWICHES. THEY HAVE A FRESH BAKERY AND EVERYTHING IS PREPARED "HOMEMADE' INCLUDING FRESH MOZZARELLA, SALADS AND BROCCOLI RABE STEAMED AND TOSSED WITH GARLIC AND OIL. YUM! PETER THE CHEF HAS BEEN THERE FOR 28 YEARS FOLLOWED BY KENNY THE DELI MANAGER WHO HAS BEEN THERE 17 YEARS. MARIA, PETER'S ASS'T, HAS BEEN THERE 5 YEARS. TOGETHER THEY HELP BETHANY TO MAKE FERNANDA'S BETTER THAN EVER.

BETHANY, WHO YOU MAY RECOGNIZE FROM A STORY THE SUN SENTINEL DID ON HER BEING MENTORED THROUGH HER TRANSPLANT BY ALONZO MOURNING, IS ANOTHER PATIENT REMARKABLE FOR HER SUNNY, UPBEAT OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HER ZEST FOR LIVING.

EVEN WHEN ON DIALYSIS, OR FOLLOWING A FIRST TRANSPLANT THAT FAILED, BETHANY CONTINUED FIRST AS A STUDENT, DURING WHICH SHE JUGGLED SEVERAL JOBS, AND LATER AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER TOILING LONG HARD HOURS. SHE ALSO LOVE SPORTS OF ALL KINDS-SWIMMING, YOGA AND RUNNING. WHEN SHE COMES TO THE OFFICE YOU CAN HELP BUT THINK SHE LOOKS MORE LIKE SHE SHOULD BE ON A MAGAZINE COVER THAN IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

BETHANY, AND OTHERS LIKE HER, GIVE MEANING TO THE WORD PERSEVERANCE. SHE IS AN INSPIRATION TO US AT THE KIDNEY GROUP AND TO COUNTLESS OTHERS WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT WHO WILL FIND ENCOURAGEMENT IN HOW SHE LIVES HER LIFE. WE GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HER DAD, TOM AND AUNT, NANCY -THE DONORS OF KIDNEYS 1 AND 2.

WE INVITE YOU TO STOP BY FERNANDA'S(WE SWEAR WE DON'T HAVE STOCK THERE!!)AND MEET BETHANY YOURSELF. I HEARTILY RECOMMEND THE CHICKEN SALAD, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE!

FRIEND DONATES KIDNEY TO MOM OF TWINS

AS WE HAVE STATED BEFORE ON THE BLOG, THE KIDNEY GROUP ARE STRONG PROPONENTS OF TRANSPLANT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS IN OUR WONDERFUL PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CLINIC AT THE FORT LAUDERDALE ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY CENTER ARE EVENTUALLY TRANSPLANTED. WE THEREFORE SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS WHO ARE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPLANTED AND ONCE THROUGH THE INITIAL ACUTE PHASE WE WILL NEED TO SEE THEM ONLY PERIODICALLY. BUT SOME OF THEM YOU JUST DON'T FORGET ABOUT. ONE SUCH PATIENT IS CHERYL DAVIS. CHERYL GREW UP IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND GRADUATED FROM ST. THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL. CHERYL HAD BEEN ON PERITONEAL DIALYSIS AND WAS A FAVORITE PATIENT-ALWAYS UPBEAT, OPTIMISTIC AND COMPLIANT.(SHE INVARIABLY BROUGHT HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS TO CLINIC SO THE DOCTORS WERE ALWAYS HOPING TO SEE HER AND HER BROWNIES). DURING THE TIME WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT WHILE ON PD SHE ADOPTED IDENTICAL TWIN NEWBORN INFANTS. WE DID NOT KNOW HOW SHE COULD MANAGE HOME DIALYSIS, WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT AND TWIN SONS-BUT SHE DID AND MADE IT LOOK EASY. THROUGH THE HELP OF A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY THAT INCLUDED HER HUSBAND STACEY AND HER MOM, CHERYL NEVER FAILED TO SHOW UP TO CLINIC- ORGANIZED,HAPPY, PERFECTLY GROOMED,.....TWINS AND THEIR MULTIPLE PARAPHERNALIA IN TOW ..NOT TO MENTION THE AFOREMENTIONED BROWNIES. I NEVER GOT INTO MY CAR ONCE AFTER SEEING HER AT CLINIC THAT I DID NOT THINK WHAT AN AMAZING SPIRIT SHE HAS. IT'S KIND OF HUMBLING.

WHEN THE TWINS WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD( HANDSOME AND VERY ACTIVE)CHERYL RECEIVED A KIDNEY FROM A LONG TIME FRIEND, MICHELE. WHAT FOLLOWS IN THE STORY IN CHERYL'S OWN WORDS AND I REALLY COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT AS POIGNANTLY.

Here is a little background. My husband (Stacy) and I adopted the boys when they were four weeks old. The boys were born on August 27, 2002. We did not originally expect twins. When we learned of the boys birth date, we realized it was our fate to have them in our lives. They were born at 29 weeks and have the same birthday as their father and grandfather. Our plans were to have 2 kids. It was to our great surprise to have it happen at the same time. We adopted the boys after waiting 2 years. I was currently on dialysis and was waiting for a transplant. I could not have done it without the wonderful support of my husband and family. I have a tremendous support system. When the boys were 2 years old, I received a transplant in Tampa from my girlfriend, Michele Bergan. She made the unselfish, brave decision to help me after being on dialysis for 2 years. My sons always ask why they could not be in my belly. I explain that I have kidney problems and it would not be healthy for me. I also explain to them that God always intended for me to be their mommy. I did not need to hold them in my belly to be their mommy. Logan told me that he wishes that he could be in my belly to fix my kidneys so I would be healthy and Wyatt wants to understand everything about my kidneys and the reason why they do not function.

THE KIDNEY GROUP ADMIRES CHERYL DAVIS.

DON'T OVERLOOK SOURCES OF POTENTIAL DONORS(*CLICK TITLE TO READ FULL STORY)

IN 2005 WRITER CLYDE BEAL RECEIVED THE GIFT OF A DONATED KIDNEY FROM FELLOW CHURCH GOER FAITH JOHNSON. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS ONLY AS FELLOW WORSHIPERS AND FAITH HAD NOTICED THE EVENTUAL DECLINE THAT OCCURS IN PATIENTS WITH END STAGE RENAL DISEASE AND WAS COMPELLED TO REACH OUT. THE TWO HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPED A DEEP FRIENDSHIP.


IT BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT TO BE CONSIDERED BY ALL PERSONS WAITING FOR A KIDNEY. THE FIRST QUESTION THE TRANSPLANT CENTER WILL ASK IS "DO YOU HAVE A DONOR?" MOST PATIENTS SAY NO. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER ALL SOURCES OF DONORS-SPOUSES, FRIENDS, SIBLINGS AND EXPANDED PERSONS SUCH AS CO-WORKERS AND FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS. I DON'T MEAN ASK PEOPLE OVER COFFEE BREAK BUT IT IS OKAY TO PUT OUT THE WORD YOU ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING A DONOR. MANY PERSONS WILL CONSIDER DONATION AS AN ACT OF ALTRUISM. BUT NOT IF YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR NEED KNOWN.


ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A POTENTIAL DONOR BUT THEY DO NOT MATCH YOU, DON'T GIVE UP. MANY PROGRAMS(MORE AND MORE)HAVE A SHARED DONOR PROGRAM (LIKE UF)IE SOMEONE ELSE USES YOUR DONOR'S KIDNEY AND YOU USE THEIR DONOR THAT DID NOT MATCH THEM. ONE OF OUR PATIENTS WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST 6 WAY TRANSPLANT DONE UP NORTH. HE DID GREAT AND SO DID HIS NIECE WHO DONATED HER KIDNEY AS ONE OF THE 3 DONORS.


THAT'S THE THING. IT'S YOUR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. AND LIKE IT OR NOT YOU HAVE TO DO THE LEGWORK LIKE THE PATIENTS IN THESE STORIES. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ELECTIVE TRANSPLANT AND WAITING FOR A DECEASED KIDNEY IS USUALLY AN OFTEN PROLONGED TIME ON DIALYSIS. AND WHO DOESN'T WANT TO AVOID THAT?