Patient wants to inform public about organ donation

Patient wants to inform public about organ donation

By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter

October 17, 2009 01:00 am

— TIFTON — A local woman who needs a kidney said her condition has made her aware of the need for organ donation and urges everyone to educate themselves on the work being done by organizations such as the United Network for Organ Sharing and the Georgia Transplant Foundation.
Mary McAllister, 68, said kidney disease is common in her family. A younger sister had a kidney transplant five years ago from a live donor who was a co-worker and another sister, also younger than McAllister, has been on dialysis for two years.
McAllister began noticing some problems over the last two years and began having blood work every two to three months. It was determined that she has polycystic kidneys and without a transplant, she will soon have to begin dialysis.
“My doctor sent me to a nephrologist almost a year ago and he sent all of the results of testing to Emory so that I could possibly get on the transplant list,” McAllister said.
It took McAllister 10 months at Emory to go through rigorous testing to determine that she was healthy enough to get on the list. She’s on the list now, along with 1,700 others.
“The average waiting time is 28 months to five years,” McAllister said.
McAllister has learned that the greatest chance for success for a patient needing a kidney is when a live person donates.
“There is very little risk to the donor,” McAllister said.
Because her family’s kidney problems are genetic, McAllister can’t use a family member’s kidney. She said the Georgia Transplant Foundation will match every dollar she raises up to $10,000 and she has one year to raise the money.
“The money I raise goes in my name to the foundation and I can’t get a dime of it until after the transplant,” McAllister said.
Most of the money she raises will be used to pay for the expensive drugs she must take after the transplant. Those drug bills will probably average $1,700 per month for at least two years.
“The transplant surgery for myself and a live donor is pretty much covered by my insurance,” McAllister said.
McAllister said she is considering several fundraisers.
“Deep down, I believe there will be some doors opened for me and my family,” McAllister said. “I am at peace with this and I know I’ll be taken care of. It’s all in God’s hands.”
Anyone who wants to learn more about the Georgia Transplant Foundation or to donate toward McAllister’s fund can go to the Web site at www.gatransplant.org. McAllister said that anyone with fundraising ideas or anyone wishing to discuss organ transplants can call her at 425-2936.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson at 382-4321

http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_290005923.html