KIDNEY
ORGANS – KIDNEY
“ There were multiple times I told Daniel that if he wanted to wait for things to improve for their new baby , then it certainly wouldn ’ t hurt my feelings ,” Josh says . “ When you have a living donor , that option is there , because you don ’ t have an organ in a case with the clock ticking . I figured we would wait and see how Lucy was coming along , because this was a tremendous stress on the family . But Daniel wanted to proceed .”
The transplant on Sept . 3 , 2020 , was a success . Today , Josh reports that he has a healthy , fully functioning kidney and that his creatinine levels ( a measure of how well the kidneys filter blood ) are the lowest they have ever been .
An Inspiration to All Kacy and Daniel could visit and hold Lucy , read to her , and talk to her each day during the hospital stay at the RNICU and the Continuing Care Nursery . They juggled those precious moments with their own clinical work , caring for their other daughter , and a kidney transplant surgery — all during the peak months of a pandemic .
Members of the Tucker family ’ s care teams at both the NICU and the CTI express astonishment at the family ’ s courage and strength in facing these challenges during Lucy ’ s 119-day hospital stay . Jayme Locke , MD , director of the CTI , sees the Tucker family experience as an example of hope for others in need of organs .
“ The extraordinary acts of generosity our living kidney donors display quite literally provide the gift of life to the patient with end-stage kidney disease ,” Dr . Locke says . “ Importantly , it also gives patients and families hope for a future that , prior to transplantation , was uncertain . Seeing this gift realized between two brothers , the love , the dedication — it was and remains an inspiring experience for our staff and community .”
Amy Freeman , MD , is completing a three-year neonatology fellowship at UAB . She and the attending physician , Vivek Lal , MD , helped care for Lucy while she was in the RNICU . Dr . Freeman says she recalls Kacy and Daniel persevering through good and bad days .
“ I remember seeing them at bedside daily , both before and after their work shifts at UAB , talking to and reading to Lucy ,” Dr . Freeman says . “ While Lucy showed a remarkable tenacity during her course , I believe the unconditional support provided by the family played a large role in her progressive improvement . During Lucy ’ s admission , Daniel and Kacy became integral members of our care team each day during rounds . Their perseverance , selflessness , and strength continue to provide inspiration for the entire RNICU team and me .”
Bad Year , Good Outcomes When Lucy went home on Nov . 1 , 2020 , Kacy noted that this happy occasion took place one day before her original due date . By that time , the family had settled back into a mostly normal life , and Daniel says he fully understands what it means to have excellent care available when needed .
“ You can ’ t really appreciate it as much maybe until you ’ re on the receiving end ,” Daniel says . “ We are now at the lowest level of stress we ’ ve had in a while . We could accurately say that 2020 was the worst year of our lives together , but we don ’ t think of it that way . We see the happy ending . It was a bad year with incredible outcomes .”
Kacy says their experiences are a reminder to be grateful .
“ One of the attending physicians encouraged us , back then , that all of this would one day be a distant nightmare ,” Kacy says . “ But now , what we think about is how incredibly fortunate we have been . Josh has a good kidney . Lucy is healthy . We owe it to the providers who guided us through so many decisions and questions . To the RNICU ’ s sweet , amazing nursing staff who gave Lucy loving care in our absence . To all the specialists and therapists and support staff . Lucy was in big trouble on the day she was born , but now she is meeting all of her milestones and showing no signs of delayed development . She ’ s feisty , too . Lucy is at the stage where she ’ s supposed to be walking . Well , she ’ s running now .”
24 UAB CTI Report