‘Barbie’ needed a kidney; librarian responded to the call

When a Vigo County woman needed a kidney transplant, her husband posted a fun Facebook photo with a “Barbie” frame: “This Barbie needs a kidney.”

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

She had been on dialysis since May of 2022. “Barbie,” legally known as Bonnie McNair needed a kidney. When her kidneys began to fail, her husband posted an eye-catching appeal on Facebook that caught the attention of several friends and co-workers.

One of those co-workers was Lauren Hackert.

For 20 years, McNair has worked at the Vigo County Library. She knows most of her co-workers, including Hackert, who has worked at the library for seven years. What she didn’t know was that Hackert was undergoing testing to see if she was a donor match.

At IU Health prospective living donors undergo a thorough evaluation and work with a team of specialists including a psychiatrist or psychologist, transplant coordinator, living donor advocate, social worker, dietitian, pharmacist, nephrologist, and surgeon. Hackert was one of several co-workers who underwent testing to become McNair’s donor.

According to Donate Life America, about 90,000 people in the United States are awaiting kidney donation.

Living kidney donors help give renewed health to people experiencing kidney failure.

A living kidney donor isn’t necessarily related to the recipient. Compatibility is based on blood type and tissue typing. Age and size are also taken into consideration.

McNair, 61, was diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2008. Overtime, the disease took its toll on her kidneys. Hackert, 38, emerged as a match and on March 21, the transplant took place at IU Health University Hospital. McNair was in the care of IU Health’s Dr. William Goggins; Hackert was in the care of IU Health’s Dr. John Powelson.

The day after surgery, Hackert, was walking the hospital hallways and stopped to check in on McNair. Before donating her left kidney, Hackert said she was not aware of living donation, although she is listed as an organ donor on her license.

“My dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 and I signed up to be a bone marrow donor. He didn’t need it but I was still on the registry,” said Hackert. “When I learned about Bonnie’s need, I thought I’d get excluded for some reason. I wasn't’ t nervous at all because they make it clear from the beginning that they wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my health,” she said. “I was surprised at how non-invasive and non-obstructive the process was. I was able to do a lot of the testing near my home and they offered so much support - financially, emotionally. The recovery was easy breezy.”

Three weeks after surgery Hackert flew to California for a Jimmy Buffet tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Through the transplant, the two co-workers learned that they are both “Parrot Heads,” they both enjoy Disney (especially McNair’s husband who wore a lucky Mickey Mouse jacket during surgery); and they both share a love for books.

Hackert, 38, has been married to David for 15 years and is the mother to a son and a daughter; McNair is also the mother to a son and daughter. She also has one grandson. She and her husband will celebrate 40 years of marriage in October - the same month that her new kidney turns 38.

“You can’t really express your gratitude enough,” said McNair. “There are no words for it because it’s such a life altering gift. I’m forever in Lauren’s debt. She doesn’t expect anything, but it changes your attitude towards life. There’s nothing I can say to thank her but I believe actions speak louder than words. The best way I can honor her donation is to live my life to the fullest.”