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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: News Articles => Topic started by: okarol on October 28, 2008, 03:02:00 PM
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Dad gives a kidney to save his son
By Kendra Carter
10-28-2008
SYLACAUGA — Jennifer Calfee, whose 17-year-old son Shane underwent a kidney transplant surgery Thursday, said both Shane and her husband, Reed, who donated a kidney to his son, are doing well after the surgery.
“They’re doing great,” Calfee said. “They’re both doing well, and his new kidney is working wonderfully.”
The surgery took place Thursday at University Hospital in Birmingham.
Shane was transferred to Children’s Hospital Friday after spending Thursday night in the Intensive Care Unit at University.
Reed Calfee was discharged from University Friday.
“Children’s allowed him a hospital bed over here in Shane’s room,” Jennifer Calfee said. “He actually went home today (Monday), but he’d been staying over here with Shane since he was discharged.”
Reed Calfee was notified in June that he was an eligible donor for his son.
Shane underwent a double-nephrectomy in September in preparation for the transplant surgery.
Born in December 1990, Shane was diagnosed in 1993 with Focal Segmental Glomerularsclerosis — a disease that affects the organs by attacking blood-cleaning units and hardening or scarring the vessels — and Nephrotic Syndrome, often the first indicator of damaged glomeruli units.
Though there is an approximately 20-percent chance the FSGS could return in the donor kidney, Jennifer Calfee has said the prognosis is good, and Shane could have the transplanted kidney for 10 to 20 years.
A dialysis catheter was inserted during Shane’s initial surgery, and he had to undergo dialysis three days each week since the first surgery up until the transplant surgery.
Calfee said Shane could be in the hospital for seven to 10 days, adding that the recovery time for both her husband and son will be six to eight weeks.
Fundraising efforts were established across the city to help the Calfee family with transplant-related expenses not covered by their insurance, such as medical bills, fuel costs and lodging expenses.
The local community has raised more than $11,000 since the family became involved with the Children’s Organ Transplant Association to organize fundraisers. Donation boxes were placed at local banks and businesses, and an account to receive donations was set up at Wachovia Bank.
A car show to raise money for Shane will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, in Central Park across from Blue Bell Creameries from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The COTA-sponsored event is free to the public, and all proceeds raised will go toward the family’s transplant expenses.
For more information on Shane, log on to www.cotaforshanec.com.
http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2008/dh-sylacauga-1028-0-8j27v5518.htm