Amory man celebrates life through kidney donation3/27/2008 9:27:58 PM
The Amory Advertiser
World Kidney Day was celebrated March 13.
For Tom Young of Amory, every day is World Kidney Day. His problems began back in April 2005 when he went to his doctor, Bill Rogers, where he had blood tests. He had experienced persistent blood pressure problems and was on medication for quite awhile. When the blood tests came back he was told there was something very wrong and he needed to see a kidney specialist. He was sent to Dr. Kellum, a nephrologist in Tupelo.
"I thought they would give us a prescription and we'd go home," Diane, Tom's wife, said.
Instead Tom was told an ultrasound and kidney biopsy was the only way to find out what was wrong. In two weeks, the results were back. The diagnosis was IgA nephropathy. IgA is an inherited blood disorder, which clogs the kidneys and causes scar tissue.
"I was told I needed a kidney transplant, and without it I would be on kidney dialysis within a year," said Young.
His condition worsened quicker than expected. He was tired all the time, but he still kept working and doing as many normal activities as he could. He had to sleep about 1 1/2 hours at lunch. When he was home he just about lived on his porch.
In early July, he went to Birmingham for an evaluation, where he was told he would be on kidney dialysis by the end of August. The kidney dialysis was three days a week.
There was a possibility of a kidney transplant before dialysis if the right blood type was found. Young’s sister was tested and she was not a match. His brother-in-law was tested and retested and he was found to be a match, but several things kept occurring to keep the transplant from happening.
Meanwhile, in the Youngs’ Sunday School class at First Baptist Church, the class had been kept up to date on what was happening to Tom and the hindrances that kept occurring. They had been praying for Tom for several months. The ladies had broken up into small groups where they had formed a prayer group. In one of the groups, along with Diane Young, was Renea Randle.
"I was on my knees one morning at home and the Lord impressed upon me that sometimes we had to do something other than pray," Randle said. "Sometimes we had to act."
Soon Young, too, received a heavenly message that left him feeling peaceful and assured. "Most nights I would get up and since I could not sleep, I would go out to our porch and lie down. This one particular night, for some reason, I lay down in the other direction," Young said. "As soon as I looked out there on one of the trees the light had formed a cross. I knew then it would be okay."
The next day, Randle called the Youngs.
"I had been thinking about this since June. I thought God had blessed me with good health, and donating a kidney to Tom was something I could do," said Randle. "But, I also knew I could not do this without the support of my family.
"Finally, I said I am going to talk to my family. My husband, David, was reluctant and wanted to know all about it. He said he'd pray about it. He sensed the urgency of the situation and took it seriously.”
Randle called her daughter, Rebecca Hall, and told her she wanted to look into donating a kidney to Tom. Hall told her, "But, you are my mom." Hall called her back the next day and said, "If this was my dad and Miss Diane wanted to give him her kidney, I’d think it was great."
One of Randle’s sons, Matthew, told her he thought it was great. He later told her he said that because he was confident his dad wouldn’t let her do it.
It took a month for Randle’s family to come to terms with the kidney donation. After the decision was made, she went to Dr. Pinkley, who told her in his professional opinion she was healthy. He also told her it would be harder on her husband than on her.
"I called Tom and Diane and asked if he would be offended if a woman offered a kidney," Randle said. "I also asked what number to call in Birmingham about the donation."
Randle, a very humble and private person, asked the Youngs not to tell anyone. Randle really thought nobody would have to know, but that was a request that was impossible to keep.
She had answered all the health questions from University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) transplant coordinator she could. They had sent a kit and she went to Physicians and Surgeons Clinic in Amory where they drew blood, which was sent to UAB. While this was going on, Tom’s brother-in-law was continuing to have problems getting his blood test paperwork, etc., worked out. Having the blood work screened was not enough. Randle had to go to UAB for two days of tests. She did not tell anyone, but her family about that.
"I knew the blood was right," Randle said.
Randle, who is very health conscious, exercises daily. After she returned from Birmingham, she was out walking and said, "I can't do it." But, God said, 'You are right You can’t do it, but I can.'"
She said this was not about a kidney transplant, but a relationship with God. When she turned the corner after her walk she said she had a smile on her face. "I was never nervous from then on."
Young said he had been okay since he saw the cross and had not been worried.
"This has been an unbelievable miracle every step of the way," Randle said. "I had peace, but God didn't say I would be fine, just that I would be okay however it turned out."
In a kidney transplant, the size of the kidney is not important. Randle is a small, athletic woman, while Young is a medium-sized man. The kidney adjusts to whatever size body it is transplanted into.
After the transplant on Monday, Nov. 14, Randle was home on Wednesday and out walking by Friday. If not for four tiny scars on Randle’s tummy, she would not know she had donated a kidney.
Diane Young said that Tom’s color came back immediately. He felt good, but had to stay in the hospital.
The Randles' youngest son and the Youngs' son were both playing football at Amory High School in the fall of 2005. The team was in the playoffs in November, and since Tom would be in the hospital and unable to attend the game, Ron and David Mooneyham and Ed Stanford worked out a system so he would be able to listen to the game while he was there. The entire community, as well as the two couples' church, did everything they could to support them.
"We appreciate the prayers our church family, extended family, and the dialysis group in Aberdeen gave on our behalf," Young said.
"When we discovered it was IgA nephropathy," Diane Young said. "We also discovered the only specialist for that disease was at UAB. What are the chances of that just happening?"
Confident in God’s plan
The Youngs and Randle said there were too many stories and incidents that happened for it to have just been a coincidence. They are confident that God had His hand on this from the beginning.
"I want to thank you for letting me be a part of this," Randle told Young. "I got so much out of it. Knowing what I know now, I would encourage others to donate. You will never miss your kidney."
Randle has been signed up to be an organ donor since she first began driving.
Randle’s husband, David, told her after surgery that God did not speak to him like he had her, but now he would tell her to do it again.
Sometimes unusual things happen to transplantees, and Tom Young is not an exception.
"Before the transplant, Tom did not like watermelon, dill pickles, jalapeno peppers and hot and spicy foods," Diane said. "He didn’t like Mexican food. Now he can eat a jar of dill pickles in no time."
When asked, Randle said, "Yes, I love all those items."
"It's weird," Diane said. "Tom has your kidney and eats those things."
"He doesn't," said Randle. "It's his kidney."
It's not as difficult to get a kidney match as most people think. It was explained that if a person could get a match in the family, it was good. If a person could get a live donor instead of a cadaver there was less chance of rejection and more kidney longevity. Research has shown that the quality of cadaver donor kidneys has declined with the enforcement of the seat belt law. A person is usually on a donor list for three years before a living donor is found.
In honor and appreciation of his new kidney, Tom researched and planted an October Glory red maple tree at First Baptist Church, his home, and the Randles’. The tree is a reminder to the Youngs and Randles of the blessing and glory of God, and how he took care of them before, during and after the transplant.
Tom is currently part of a study in which the transplantees do not take steroids. That is now part of the norm for transplants. Young is on a daily maintenance of immuno-suppressant drugs.
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=270592&pub=3&div=Lifestyles
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