Mother of three donates kidney to a stranger

Through one woman’s generosity, a stranger received an opportunity to receive a kidney from a living donor.

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

Years ago, Catherine “Cathi” Steinacker saw a notice in her church bulletin that someone needed a kidney. She went through the testing, found out she was a match, but in the end, the intended recipient didn’t need a transplant.

That was the beginning of Steinacker’s journey to help a stranger.

Nine months later, she saw another notice on Facebook that a son of a high school friend needed a kidney transplant.

“I thought maybe since I just went through the testing I could donate,” said Steinacker, 60.

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 a “donor swap.” Healthy donors also have the option of giving their kidney as part of the “voucher system.” Their kidney goes to a stranger and their friend or family member receives a voucher to receive a kidney when they are ready,

According to Donate Life Indiana, more than 100,000 men, women and children nationally are waiting at any given moment for a lifesaving organ transplant. More than 1,000 of those waiting are Hoosiers. At IU Health many recipients receive kidney and liver transplants from living donors.

Living kidney donors help give renewed health to people experiencing kidney failure. Living donors reduce or eliminate the need for patients to start dialysis and a healthy kidney from a living donor can function better and last longer than a kidney from a deceased donor.

Steinacker again went through testing required for advanced donation. That testing included an initial screening, multiple tests, and evaluations. She worked with a team of IU Health transplant experts including surgeons, donor coordinators, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and financial coordinators.

“The whole process from testing through surgery was as easy as it could be,” said Steinacker, who is married to Steve Steinacker, and the mother to three adult children. She was hospitalized for one night after her July 31 surgery and is now back to doing the things she loves - refinishing furniture and decorating.

“If I knew someone was considering living donation I’d say, ‘in the grand scheme of how it affected my life in a positive way, they should go and get tested,’” said Steinacker. “I thought since God gave me two kidneys; I could give one away.”