Friend gives ultimate gift

Friend gives ultimate gift

by JENNIFER DECKER
STAFF REPORTER
The County Press
December 28, 2007

Nikki (Knickerbocker) Inches doesn't consider it a big deal that she recently donated a kidney to her co-worker Nick Barry.

The duo made the journey to Ann Arbor to have the surgery done at the University of Michigan Hospital.

Barry's mother, Penny, has said her son and Inches are doing well and getting stronger. "They're doing great," Penny Barry said, noting that shortly after the transplant in early December Nick was looking good and his kidney function was improving.

Inches and Nick are co-workers at Highland Pines in Caro and work as job coaches. They have known each other for five years. For Inches, her decision to donate one of her kidneys to Nick was an easy decision.

"Nick didn't ask me specifically (to be a donor)," Inches said before the operation. "His mom and sister weren't a match. I'm comfortable with it because of my faith and I think this is what God is directing me to do. I don't think I could do this if I didn't have faith."

The offer by Inches came as a surprise to Nick given the circumstances that donors are usually family members.

"We tried four other family members. Nikki was the only non-family member that was tested," he said. "It definitely gives us a friendship that's more of a bond. It's very cool. I just cross my fingers."

Nick said he was born with cystic renal failure. Before being a recipient of a new kidney, he had to go to dialysis three times a week—a process that would drain him. He had to schedule his life around dialysis. "Dialysis was my only way of feeling good. You don't feel the greatest afterward."

This was his second operation to receive a kidney. His first one was when he was 15-years-old and received a kidney from his father. "I'm more nervous about it now. I have a lot more to think of like life in general, but it's outweighed by the quality of life," he said.

"I'm not a church goer, but this makes me realize people are reaching out," he said. "A neighbor lady from where I grew up said to close my eyes and ask the Lord to take over. I'll do that again."

Nick said a benefit in October raised close to $6,000 for him. The funding was used to finance his medical expenses.

Inches had to go through a lot of testing, starting back in June for doctors to ensure one of her kidneys would be a match with Nick's. Doctors also had to make sure Inches' kidneys were healthy.

"Nick's Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance picks up the cost for both of us," she said.

The surgery was done laparoscopically. Doctors were optimistic that the surgery would be a match and the kidney wouldn't get rejected. "My portion of the surgery (was) two to three hours long," Inches said. "His surgery (was) three to five hours long."

Inches said donating a kidney is the right thing to do.

"(I) will be out of work six weeks because it's pretty major surgery. He'll be out of work three months," she said.

Inches said once she donates one of her kidneys there won't be any lifestyle changes for her.

"My family has been very supportive of me," she said. "My husband, Tom, said he doesn't think he could do it. My two kids, Jennifer, 13, and Brandon, 11—they think it's kind of neat."

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.
Click here to return to story:
http://www.countypress.com/stories/122807/loc_20071228012.shtml