PATIENT STORY :
KIDNEY CHAIN AUTHOR HOPES BOOK ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DONATE
It took four long years for Kelly Berwager to build up enough confidence to share her story of kidney donation , but now she hopes her personal experiences will encourage others to consider giving the gift of life through her new book , “ Bridge Donor : The Journey of a Living Organ Donor .”
In 2014 , Berwager volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to a friend who was suffering from lupus and kidney failure . “ I was praying that someone ’ s kidney would come available for my friend ,” she says . “ I struggled with the decision , but I felt compelled to donate .”
However , Berwager found out later that summer that she was not a match . “ It was awful ,” she recalls . “ But my transplant coordinator asked if I wanted to go forward in the process of donation anyway for someone else . We went back and forth for about a month , and then I finally said ‘ Yes .’”
Berwager underwent kidney donation surgery in December 2014 with Michael Hanaway , MD , professor of surgery and surgical director of Kidney Transplantation as part of what is now the longest kidney transplant chain in the world – the UAB Kidney Chain – and became friends with her recipient almost immediately .
SHARING HER STORY “ People began asking me to share my story of donation , and I was telling my story so much that I thought I should write everything down ,” she says . “ It took me four years to do it . I journaled more than I ever had before . Every time I would write , I ’ d come across something very emotional and had to pause .”
Berwager says she wants to be a light for her Christian faith , UAB , and donor programs in general .
“ We check that box on our driver ’ s license , but we don ’ t really think about what happens after that ,” she says . “ There is such a need everywhere for donors .”
In November 2018 , Berwager was at a book-signing event in Albertville , Ala ., when she received an unexpected surprise from UAB Medicine Comprehensive Transplant Institute Director and surgeon Jayme Locke , MD .
“ Dr . Locke showed up , and I was not expecting that ,” she says . “ She came up to me and gave me a hug and said , ‘ I need about 40 books .’ She ’ s just the humblest person , and I think the world of her .”
Kelly Berwager
KIDNEY CHAIN KINDNESS Altruistic donors like Berwager are a key factor in the success of the UAB Kidney Chain . More than 114 kidneys have been transplanted since 2014 , and it all started with Paula King of Florida .
King approached UAB with the possibility of donating a kidney to someone in need , despite not having an intended recipient . She knew firsthand the unsettling feeling of relying on a stranger to save a loved one ’ s life . Years earlier , her husband had needed a bone marrow transplant , and none of their family or friends was a match .
“ I felt as if the Holy Spirit was telling me that I should donate a kidney so that someone else would not feel that helplessness ,” King says . “ I could be someone else ’ s stranger .” Her kidney saved the life of Lornette Stewart of Shalimar , Fla .
Since King ’ s donation , recipients and donors from over a dozen states – from as far west as Oregon and as far north as New York – have become a part of the UAB Kidney Chain .
“ I don ’ t think she had a clue this was going to happen ,” Berwager says . “ What a wonderful thing she did .”
PATIENT STORIES – KIDNEY uabmedicine . org / refertransplant 23