By IU Health Senior Journalist, TJ Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org
They are called “Hero”, “Angel” and “Warrior”. They are living organ donors who have saved a life. This week, IU Health honored champions who have given the gift of life through liver and kidney donation.
In a special event, people who have donated organs to save lives over the past 4 years were treated to a game of Indian Baseball. The event is usually held every two years, honoring those who have donated organs during that time period. The 2020 event has been postponed due to the pandemic, so this year’s event is one of the biggest in its history.
Since the first gratitude event in 2010, hundreds of living donors have been organized by IU Health. But for their recipients, these givers are honored all day.
Karen Angellotti beamed as her husband, Mark, talked about donating his kidney to her in January 2021. She had been on dialysis for over a year before the transplant. The two married in 2001, and Mark says: “When you’re told by a top nephrologist the downsides of dialysis, you know what to do.”
Johanna Kikendall attended the event with her husband, Steve Kikendall, her brother-in-law, Jack Kikendall, and his wife, Sherrie Kikendall. Johanna is Jack Kikendall’s living kidney donor.
“He’s not only my brother-in-law, he’s my husband’s best friend and if anything happens to him, my husband never will,” she said.
Dr. Jonathan Fridell of IU Health, chief of abdominal transplantation and surgical director of the pancreas transplant program, told guests that this month, the United States marked a historic milestone in achieving a million transplants. “That was done by every single person in this room,” he said.
According to Donate Life Indiana, more than 100,000 men, women, and children nationwide are waiting for an organ transplant at any given time. More than 1,000 of those waiting are Hoosiers. Last year, 4.2 million Hoosiers registered as organ donors; 276 organ donors have saved the lives of others in need of transplantation, 949 living organs have been transplanted to recipients.
At IU Health, many people receive kidney and liver transplants from living donors. As of August 2022, surgeons at IU Health have performed 162 kidney transplants (158 for adults and 4 for children) this year.
Living kidney donors help bring new health to people with kidney failure. Living donors reduce or eliminate the patient’s need to start dialysis, and a living donor’s healthy kidney may function better and outlast a donor kidney gift passed away.
A living kidney donor is not necessarily related to the recipient. Compatibility is based on blood type and tissue type. Age and size are also considered. If a healthy donor is incompatible with the intended recipient, the donor may choose to participate in the pair donation activity. Also known as “donor swaps” recipient/donor pairs are matched by compatibility. Over the years, IU Health’s kidney transplant team has performed several pairs of donations. Some chains already include multiple people.
Chad Hoefle donated his kidney to a stranger in November 2021. He was attended by a reception by his wife Melanie Hoefle, mother, Mary Bartkowiak and niece Jordyn Kamp.
In July 2020 IU Health restarted the live liver transplant program. Since then, the transplant team has performed 22 living donor transplants.
Carrie Rhodes is eager to meet her surgeon, Dr. Chandrashekhar Kubal. As she greeted the doctor, who supported her through one of the biggest decisions of her life, Rhodes’ husband posed for a photo of the two. Rhodes was the first non-live liver donor in August 2020. She and her husband became acquainted with the recipient and his wife.
“It was a decision based on trust. I feel Jesus bless my life and I feel called to help others,” Rhodes said.
As of August 2022, IU Health has performed 100 liver transplants this year, (95 adults and five children). Some of those transplants are the result of a living donation. Donate Life America reports that there are 14,000 people in the United States on a waiting list for a liver transplant at any given time. The number of patients waiting far outstrips the number of deceased donors. Many patients spend years waiting for a liver donor. Living donors reduce that waiting time. Organs from a living donor may function better and last longer than an organ from a deceased donor because it is healthy. Like kidney donation, liver donation is done by working with a team of IU Health organ transplant specialists including surgeons, donation coordinators, social workers, nutritionists, pharmacists and financial coordinator.
Living donors must undergo an initial screening, multiple tests, and evaluations. The transplant involves removing part of a donor’s liver and then using it to replace the recipient’s diseased liver. The liver regenerates and returns to full function within a month. Both kidney and liver donors are usually discharged within a few days.
IU Health’s Dr Asif Sharfuddin, who serves as medical director of kidney and pancreas transplantation, said: “It’s been a highlight to see you all here and to know you’re doing a great job. good.
When he asked each living donor to stand up, the room erupted in applause.
“If you are standing next to a living donor, thank them,” says Dr. Sharfuddin.
Watch next week’s video on IU Health’s Facebook page to learn more about this special event.
