Dawne's Dialysis/Kidney Transplant

My mother who also doubles as my best friend, Dawne Woods, has End Stage Renal (Kidney) Disease – One of her kidneys no longer functions at all, while the other kidney only functions at 14% as of now. Dialysis is the path she is now taking, in hopes of a transplant soon if we can find a match.

Dawne has had one surgery in her arm already for an arteriovenous (AV) fistula to prepare for dialysis. This is a connection of an artery to a vein to allow good blood flow for dialysis. The fistula is working, but it is not ready to receive dialysis just yet. The same surgeon will need to go back in to bring the vein closer to the skin surface before it is ready for dialysis. However, Dawne must begin dialysis straight away as her body is showing signs of becoming sicker and needing to start dialysis sooner than expected. So in the meantime, she will be having a port put in on Monday 8/7/17 so she may start dialysis Wednesday 8/9/17. A “port” is a dialysis catheter used for exchanging blood to and from a dialysis machine and the patient. The port is placed in her neck using the jugular vein.

Dawne has started all of the testing to begin looking for a match to receive a kidney transplant. The final test she needs in order to be accepted by the board at Vanderbilt, is a test that involves a dye that is toxic to her kidney. This test can now be done after starting dialysis. So let’s all pray that we have all the positive test results needed to be approved and are able to find a healthy match for a transplant so she doesn’t have to be on dialysis very long.

Now that I have explained her condition, let me tell you a little about my mom, Dawne…

She is the most selfless person I know. She is always trying to take care of everyone else, putting everyone else’s needs before her own while putting on a brave face. This includes raising a 4 year son later in life, Keegan, who is not biologically hers but whom she’s accepted as her own as well as 3 daughters, Chelsea, Jessica, and Hannah. Her husband, Bryan, who would be lost without her. A handful of grandchildren, siblings, and countless friends who enjoy her hilarious personality (side note: she should have been a professional comedian). She has always been a hard worker with a strong work ethic, but she’s taking her Doctor's recommendation to take a leave of absence from work to focus on herself, and unsure if/when she’ll be able to return to work. She has taught me to be the strong and independent woman I am, by always pulling herself through hard times while still managing to maintain humor throughout these said hard times -- Cue our favorite Steel Magnolias quote from Truvy -- “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” I have no doubt that she’ll get through this as well. This is all happening a lot faster than expected, but it’s time now that we gather all the resources we can and band together to allow us to take care of her… This dialysis and transplant ride will be an emotional and costly roller coaster, but her only focus should be on getting better without having to worry over the financial burden that comes with all of this or the day-to-day stresses.

Can everyone please take a minute to read, share, donate towards, and pray for Dawne? We greatly appreciate everyone’s support throughout all of this. Also, if you or someone you know would like to be tested for a possible match for a kidney transplant, please contact me directly (there is no cost to the donor only a lifetime of good karma). Thank you for your time, prayers, donations, and encouraging words. Much love from our whole family to yours.