“I was referred to a great nephrologist and wonderful man, Marcelo Ruvinsky in Jackson, Mississippi. For 14 years he monitored my kidney function and managed medicines to slow my kidney failure. He also advised a diet to manage my potassium levels and ease the stress on my over-worked kidneys.
“In spring 2013 he informed me that it was time to learn about dialysis and transplant options. Even though I had known for 14 years my kidneys would fail, this again was a shock. It’s like the Hemingway quote about how one goes bankrupt: ‘Gradually, then suddenly.’ I realized I wasn’t prepared for the next challenge.
“It was a scary time of taking tours through dialysis centers, reading about options and imagining what my life was going to be like. Through my nephrologist we set up an appointment for me to be evaluated for a transplant at UAB in August 2013. My family and I were nervous, but surprised at how efficiently all the tests were handled.
“This is when we met the transplant team at UAB that would handle my surgery. Everyone was very knowledgeable and courteous. I felt I was in good hands, but I was still anxious. Soon, we met Dr. Jayme Locke, who would be the chief surgeon on the team. Sometimes you meet a person and you know they’re special; and this was one of those times. Like most surgeons, she was extremely confident and knowledgeable. She even impressed my dad. He’s a retired surgeon and for many years was chief of staff of a large hospital. He’s hard to impress! But what really impressed us most about her was she seemed so, well, real. My family and I felt a little better on the way back home.
“My brother was evaluated a month later. We soon learned he was a match. We were all relieved. We still didn’t know what lay in store, but we all felt good about UAB.
“It was spring 2014 before my GFR [glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney function] hit 20. We were trying to get a transplant preemptively before I had to go on dialysis. My brother’s blood pressure had been a little high, so he was re-evaluated. Ultimately, he had to be refused. This was a real setback, because I didn’t have a donor. I’m pretty sure my brother was more upset than I was, because we all heard a clock ticking. I was still fairly active, but I could tell my body wasn’t firing on all cylinders. With my kidney failure my own blood pressure had become high, as well.
“My wonderful wife, Vikki, signed up to donate. Numerous cousins and friends signed up. It was amazing and humbling to have such an outpouring of love and sacrifice. A good friend of ours, Laura Lee, was evaluated, along with some others. The best way to sum up Laura is in something my wife said to Laura’s mom: ‘I hope Laura is a match. Maybe her kidney will sweeten Price up some!’ Thankfully, Laura was a match.
“UAB contacted Laura, asking if she would be willing to enter the kidney chain program to see if they could find better matches for both of us. Vikki and I talked to Laura and her husband, Barry, about what to do. There were so many thoughts and emotions swirling around, it was hard to be sure. We decided to ask UAB if we could talk to Dr. Locke.
“Dr. Locke called us while she was at a conference. It was awesome that she would take the time to talk to us, because these decisions are a little scary. Dr. Locke did a great job explaining the science of the swap program in real terms. The information she gave convinced us that it was the right thing to do. The surgery was set for August 27, three weeks later. Again, I was shocked.
“Dr. Locke mentioned she didn’t want to wait too long. She wanted to perform the transplant before I was on dialysis. Also, I know how hard it is for my family to plan a time to get together. I’m sure scheduling four major surgeries at the same time requires some serious juggling! Still, I appreciate that the transplant could be accomplished before I developed other serious health problems. My recovery has gone well, and each day is a blessing.
“Now, everybody’s story should have a hero. This story has several:
“Speaking of grateful, I can’t express what it means to me that Laura Lee would decide to donate a kidney for me. Vikki and I have only known her for about two years, but we instantly became close friends. It was like we had known each other all our lives. When she heard about my kidney failure she told Vikki she felt she had a calling to help me. Amazing.
“Obviously, our families have become really close. Laura’s husband, Barry, works with me and took care of everything back home while we were in Birmingham. We have cattle, horses, dogs and land. It’s a lot of work, but we never worried while we were away from home. To know Barry was there was a comfort. Laura’s mom and their kids have become really close to us, as well. Vikki and I have a lot of respect and love for them all. They’re just good people.
“When I look at this kidney chain, I really think the focus should be on the donors. Laura Lee is the hero of my story. For all of us recipients in the chain, now living fuller lives because of it, our heroes are our donors. To me, the sacrifice the donors make is so concrete. You can sacrifice time, money — whatever. But to sacrifice an organ and take the risk of surgery to save somebody’s life, it doesn’t get more concrete than that.
“What is it that makes these donors willing to donate a kidney and to fulfill that obligation to UAB when they don’t have to? This kidney chain is really a continuing story of one sacrifice after another, all in the name of love. It’s a good story.”
“It was a scary time of taking tours through dialysis centers, reading about options and imagining what my life was going to be like. Through my nephrologist we set up an appointment for me to be evaluated for a transplant at UAB in August 2013. My family and I were nervous, but surprised at how efficiently all the tests were handled.
“This is when we met the transplant team at UAB that would handle my surgery. Everyone was very knowledgeable and courteous. I felt I was in good hands, but I was still anxious. Soon, we met Dr. Jayme Locke, who would be the chief surgeon on the team. Sometimes you meet a person and you know they’re special; and this was one of those times. Like most surgeons, she was extremely confident and knowledgeable. She even impressed my dad. He’s a retired surgeon and for many years was chief of staff of a large hospital. He’s hard to impress! But what really impressed us most about her was she seemed so, well, real. My family and I felt a little better on the way back home.
“My brother was evaluated a month later. We soon learned he was a match. We were all relieved. We still didn’t know what lay in store, but we all felt good about UAB.
“It was spring 2014 before my GFR [glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney function] hit 20. We were trying to get a transplant preemptively before I had to go on dialysis. My brother’s blood pressure had been a little high, so he was re-evaluated. Ultimately, he had to be refused. This was a real setback, because I didn’t have a donor. I’m pretty sure my brother was more upset than I was, because we all heard a clock ticking. I was still fairly active, but I could tell my body wasn’t firing on all cylinders. With my kidney failure my own blood pressure had become high, as well.
“My wonderful wife, Vikki, signed up to donate. Numerous cousins and friends signed up. It was amazing and humbling to have such an outpouring of love and sacrifice. A good friend of ours, Laura Lee, was evaluated, along with some others. The best way to sum up Laura is in something my wife said to Laura’s mom: ‘I hope Laura is a match. Maybe her kidney will sweeten Price up some!’ Thankfully, Laura was a match.
“UAB contacted Laura, asking if she would be willing to enter the kidney chain program to see if they could find better matches for both of us. Vikki and I talked to Laura and her husband, Barry, about what to do. There were so many thoughts and emotions swirling around, it was hard to be sure. We decided to ask UAB if we could talk to Dr. Locke.
“Dr. Locke called us while she was at a conference. It was awesome that she would take the time to talk to us, because these decisions are a little scary. Dr. Locke did a great job explaining the science of the swap program in real terms. The information she gave convinced us that it was the right thing to do. The surgery was set for August 27, three weeks later. Again, I was shocked.
“Dr. Locke mentioned she didn’t want to wait too long. She wanted to perform the transplant before I was on dialysis. Also, I know how hard it is for my family to plan a time to get together. I’m sure scheduling four major surgeries at the same time requires some serious juggling! Still, I appreciate that the transplant could be accomplished before I developed other serious health problems. My recovery has gone well, and each day is a blessing.
“Now, everybody’s story should have a hero. This story has several:
- My wife, Vikki, has been with me throughout this whole challenge. During my recuperation she helped me out of bed a hundred times; she picked up things I dropped on the floor; she ran errands; delivered me to lab and clinic appointments; she walked with me, sat with me, encouraged me and comforted me. She is just wonderful.
- My ultimate donor from the swap program honored their agreement with UAB and gave me a kidney, so that their loved one could receive a kidney transplant.
- My brother, my cousin, and another friend were all willing to make an amazing sacrifice for me. They also took the time out of busy schedules to go to Birmingham and be evaluated.
- Dr. Locke and the transplant staff at UAB — also, the nurses on the transplant floor, especially Josh and Linda who took extra time with me. Dr. Locke, in particular, is a special surgeon and a special person, because she doesn’t have to filter out the human element to do her job well. I imagine it’s hard for surgeon’s to see patients as real people with real lives, because of the variety of possible outcomes for each. I believe it takes more courage and more character for Dr. Locke to add that element to her practice. I am grateful she can.
“Speaking of grateful, I can’t express what it means to me that Laura Lee would decide to donate a kidney for me. Vikki and I have only known her for about two years, but we instantly became close friends. It was like we had known each other all our lives. When she heard about my kidney failure she told Vikki she felt she had a calling to help me. Amazing.
“Obviously, our families have become really close. Laura’s husband, Barry, works with me and took care of everything back home while we were in Birmingham. We have cattle, horses, dogs and land. It’s a lot of work, but we never worried while we were away from home. To know Barry was there was a comfort. Laura’s mom and their kids have become really close to us, as well. Vikki and I have a lot of respect and love for them all. They’re just good people.
“When I look at this kidney chain, I really think the focus should be on the donors. Laura Lee is the hero of my story. For all of us recipients in the chain, now living fuller lives because of it, our heroes are our donors. To me, the sacrifice the donors make is so concrete. You can sacrifice time, money — whatever. But to sacrifice an organ and take the risk of surgery to save somebody’s life, it doesn’t get more concrete than that.
“What is it that makes these donors willing to donate a kidney and to fulfill that obligation to UAB when they don’t have to? This kidney chain is really a continuing story of one sacrifice after another, all in the name of love. It’s a good story.”