La Crescenta mom seeks kidney to save her life

[okarol]

A cry for help
La Crescenta mom seeks kidney to save her life

By Pat Kramer 11/10/2011

Pamela Huddleston’s need for a kidney from a donor with Type O positive blood has become urgent.

The 42-year-old La Crescenta resident has undergone a year of continuous dialysis three days a week. Now her body is wearing down and her quality of life is becoming marginal.

In late October, Huddleston was admitted to the hospital three times to resolve infections related to dialysis and anemia. Being away from home is tough on her husband and their daughter, 9-year-old Crystal.

“It’s tough being sick all the time,” said Huddleston, who tries to maintain a normal life, despite constant upheavals caused by her illness. “I am in pain a lot and worry about the future, like whether I’ll have one. I’m mostly concerned about how my husband and daughter will cope without me should I lose this battle.”

Huddleston’s health began to deteriorate a year ago after her transplanted kidney failed after 14 years. When she was in her 20s, Huddleston underwent a kidney transplant, the organ harvested from a cadaver.

Prior to her health issues, Pam worked as an independent food manufacturing consultant, conducting safety audits for small to medium companies, helping them comply with FDA and USDA regulations. 

Anyone with any information that could help Huddleston is asked to contact Jennifer Makely, donor coordinator at UCLA Medical Center, at (310) 794-2857, or Huddleston by calling (818) 245-5015 or writing pammin@gmail.com.

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/a_cry_for_help/10709/