Annamaries Ausnes,55, has been going to her town's Starbucks for three years enjoying coffee and chatting it up with the manager Sandie. When her health began to decline, due to polycystic kidney disease of 20 years, she was forced to face the reality of a kidney transplant. She shared her story with Sandie.
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that affects 12.5 million people worldwide. It consists of fluid-filled sacs that grow on the kidneys. In fifty percent of the cases these sacs will cause the kidneys to go into kidney failure. There is no cure for PKD. Dialysis and transplantation are the only options when your kidneys fail. The common symptoms of PKD can begin as high blood pressure, back pain, blood in the urine, side or stomach pain, kidney stones, and frequent urinary tract infections. Also, if you have a family history of heart problems, strokes or heart disease you may be prone to PKD. Having one or all of these does not mean you have PKD but it would be in your best interest to see your doctor.
Annamaries's husband and son got tested. The test results came back; neither were a match. Many people are awaiting organ donation. As of this writing I checked and found that 71,813 people, in the United States, are on the waiting list just for kidneys. When Annamaries told her story to Sandie her kidneys were only functioning at fifteen percent.
Sandie Anderson,51, had a blood test and was a match. Without hesitation she gladly not only gave coffee to Annamaries but also the gift of life.
Are you an Organ Donor? Do you want to be? Have you ever thought of being one even? For more information on Organ Donation please visit the sites below:
www.donatelife
organdonor
www.americanheart
www.mayoclinic
resources:
www.efluxmedia.com
www.pkdcure.org
www.donatelifeny.org
1 comment:
Heartwarming story. Makes everyone wish there was always a happy ending for those on organ donor waiting lists. I have a sister on one now, I hope hers is a happy story, she waits for a heart.
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