The Gift of Life From A Sister

The Gift of Life From A Sister

Angela Pezzotti for SooNews.ca
Thursday, September 17, 2009, 3:19PM

Every year, sisters Tracy and Kelly Patrick celebrate March 22nd. It’s not their birthday... it’s the anniversary of the day that Tracy gave her sister a second chance at life by donating her kidney. This year was a special milestone anniversary -- it’s been ten years since the transplant.

Just over ten years ago, Kelly felt fatigued and suffered from a loss of appetite. Sensing her iron was low, she visited her doctor. To her surprise, she was diagnosed with a kidney infection that would require immediate attention. Her kidneys were failing. The doctor suggested that Kelly put her "ducks in a row" to prepare for a kidney transplant.

“It’s a hard thing,” says Kelly, “to ask someone for a kidney.” But without a transplant, Kelly would have to face daily dialysis or even death.

Kelly feels blessed by the number of friends and relatives that stepped up to be tested to be the donor. But only one was a perfect match. Her younger "seester", as they refer to each other, Tracy. And for Tracy there was no second thought, no moment of hesitation.

Tracy says, "it was the perfect time in my life to do this.” She was unmarried and had no children. She does admit that having children may have resulted in a different choice. However, “doing it made me the happiest person in the world,” she said.

She may not have felt that way immediately following the operation. Kelly says she felt better right away. "I was like a monkey. I wanted to be jumping all over the place,” says Kelly. While for Tracy, the recovery was 6 to 8 week process.

Kelly says she had no fear of the operation. She knew she would be alright.

"I worried more about Tracy," said Kelly. "The operation for the donor is much more onerous." She explains that for the recipient, the new kidney is placed in front and attached directly to the kidney. While for the donor, other organs have to be moved aside to get to the kidneys, which are actually located on either side of the spine.

Kelly calls the transplant and her recovery a miracle. Kelly hasn’t been sick for one day since the transplant.

"I'm healthier now than I was before the transplant," says Kelly. "I don't get sick. I don’t get colds."

Kelly is doing so well, she has been able to reduce the quantity of anti-rejection drugs she is required to take every day. Following the operation, Kelly took 50 pills a day. She now takes 7 pills a day.

"I think of Tracy every day," says Kelly. When she travels, she is especially grateful. "I wouldn’t be able to travel without the transplant. I would be on dialysis," says Kelly.

"I get goosebumps when I think of her sacrifice and what she did," Kelly says of her sister's generous gift. "I’ve been very lucky."

That's why every year, no matter where they are, they are together on March 22nd.

Tracy remembers their 5th anniversary spent in Montreal while out for dinner. After explaining their story to the waitress, the waitress told the singer at the restaurant, and he dedicated the song "I’ve Got You Under My Skin" to them. "We laughed so hard," says Tracy. "We thought it was brilliant."

Both "seesters" live full and happy, normal lives. They can't play contact sports, which neither Kelly nor Tracy mind. But walk, they can do, and along with their family, the "seesters" will walk in the Kidney Foundation's annual Give the Gift of Life Walk to promote the Kidney Foundation and organ donation.

Kelly and Tracy are co-chairs of this year's walk. “It's going to be a blast,” says Kelly.

It was the Kidney Foundation that Kelly turned to when she learned of her kidney disease. She wanted information, and they had the answers. "They were so nice," she says.

She didn't want to discuss her illness with anyone, but she found at the Kidney Foundation that she wasn't alone. Not only did they have answers about her illness but they could also answer her questions about what her sister would experience.

For two years, Tracy has earned the title of top pledge earner, which Kelly says is thanks to her husband. Kelly's husband works on Bay Street in Toronto and he sends an e-mail to his friends to pledge Tracy. She has collected over ten thousand dollars both years.

This year the "Give the Gift of Life Walk" takes place Saturday, September 19th at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion. Registration is at 9am, and the walk begins at 10am. A simultaneous walk in Blind River begins at Blind River Town Park.

For more information, visit the Kidney Foundation web site.

http://www.soonews.ca/viewarticle.php?id=22404