Transplant
If facing end-stage organ failure, a kidney, pancreas, liver, lung, intestine or heart transplant will help you embrace life again.
When a friend was in need; this nurse stepped up and answered the call.
By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org
In high school, Kim Pattison took a health occupation course and followed her interest in science into the field of nursing. Her career began 40 years ago and for the past 20, she has served as a school nurse.
When she learned that a former co-worker needed a kidney transplant, Pattison began doing some research.
“I think initially I thought, ‘here I am so incredibly healthy and I’m 62- years-old. How can I use my blessing to bless someone else?” said Pattison, of Wayne County. Pattison was tested and was a match.
At IU Health kidney and liver recipients can receive transplants from living donors.
Living kidney donors help give renewed health to people experiencing kidney failure and can reduce or eliminate the need for patients to start dialysis.
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. If a healthy donor is incompatible with the intended recipient, the donor may opt to be part of paired donation. Also known as “donor swap” recipient /donor pairs are matched according to compatibility. Over the years, IU Health’s kidney transplant team has performed several paired donations. Some chains have included multiple people.
On Oct. 15, 2024, Pattison was in one OR at IU Health University Hospital in the care of Dr. John Powelson. Her recipient was in a nearby OR in the care of Dr. William Goggins.
“When I was thinking about becoming a donor, it was a very lonely journey. I didn’t know anyone who had done it before,” said Pattison. “My recovery was more difficult than I thought but no complications whatsoever. I’ve never been ill before and I think I had unrealistic expectations. I was determined to regain my energy, and I feel like I’m back at 100 percent,” said Pattison, who is married and the mother of two children and grandmother to two grandchildren.
She and her husband walk three to five miles daily and she last walked the Indianapolis Mini Marathon about three years ago. This year, she wanted to complete the walk again, and a friend, Jenny Cornett joined her. As they crossed the finish line on May 3, Pattison wore a big smile, and a black jacket to fight the chill. She was warm inside.
“IU Health sponsored this year’s event, so I thought of my transplant coordinator, Anya Lauscher, who was so encouraging throughout the process,” said Pattison. “I’m hoping I can be an encourager to someone else considering organ donation. I’d say, ‘if you have any interest at all then start the process.’ If I had it to do all over again I would do it in a second. I’m so glad my recipient is doing well. I called her before the event and after I finished.”
If facing end-stage organ failure, a kidney, pancreas, liver, lung, intestine or heart transplant will help you embrace life again.
Nephrology and kidney disease care includes dialysis treatments, clinic follow-ups with specialists and transplantation.
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