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Kidney exchange


Donor & recipient now ‘more like family than friends’ By Gayle Aldrich


R


ebecca Krogstad’s good humor was evident two days before surgery when she posted on Facebook: “I have parked illegally at the Transplant House in Rochester under the direction of Glenna Glimpse, who will be pay- ing the charges if I get towed.”


There was no parking ticket, but Glimpse would have gladly paid it. After all, the two friends were in Rochester, Minn., so Krogstad could donate a kidney and Glimpse could receive one. Krogstad, pastor of St. Matthew (Evan, Minn.) and Bethany (Morgan, Minn.) Lutheran churches, and Glimpse were part of a “paired kidney exchange” on May 9. Krogstad’s gift allowed two other living donors to exchange kidneys on behalf of recipients who needed them. In such an exchange, the donors aren’t a blood or tissue match for their loved one in need of a kidney. The solu- tion: the patients turn to total strang- ers who are matching donors. Explained Krogstad before sur- gery: “Glenna is receiving a kidney from Barb, who is donating on behalf of her sister, Sue, who will receive a kidney from Deron, who is giving on behalf of his wife, Shan- non, who will receive my kidney, which I give on behalf of Glenna.” A severe shortage of organs in the U.S. means the average wait for a kidney can be more than five years, said Raymond Heilman, chair, Divi- sion of Nephrology at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz.


“As a result, nearly half of kidney transplants are from living donors,” he said. But a problem arises when a potential living donor, while healthy and motivated to donate, is not medically compatible with the intended recipient. With an altruistic donor (known as a “non-directed” donor because the medical center has permission to direct the kidney to any patient who is a match), that kidney goes to the needy recipient and, in turn, that recipient’s donor donates to the next recipient—and the chain continues. “This approach will allow for many more people with chronic kidney failure to get life-saving transplantation,” Heilman said. Glimpse’s husband, Ed, teaches confirmation with Krogstad. In recent years he shared details of the advanc- ing kidney illness taking its toll on his wife’s body. At the same time, his wife and Krogstad have chaperoned youth trips and retreats together.


“Even before we had gotten very well-acquainted,” Krogstad said, “I had the funniest feeling that God was calling me to volunteer to be Glenna’s donor.” Several friends were tested as possible donors but were turned away for various reasons.


Glimpse was diagnosed 27 years ago with polycystic kidney disease and knew she would eventually need a transplant. Her mother died from the disease in 1960 and six of her 14 siblings have been diagnosed. Two have died, one from the disease and one from cancer after a transplant.


“Knowing I will get a normal life back after transplant has been by far the greatest reward,” Glimpse said. “Also, the relationship that has been built with my donor, Pastor Becca. We are more like fam- ily than friends. It must be a great feeling to give someone [and their family] their life back.”


STEVE MUSCATELLO


At presstime, all six patients— donors and recipients—were report- edly doing well and recuperating at home.


Nearly 85,000 Americans are wait- ing on a list for a kidney transplant, but now there are three fewer. 


Aldrich is a freelance writer in Minneapolis.


Glenna Glimpse (left) and Rebecca Krogstad were part of a “paired kidney exchange” in which Krogstad, an ELCA pastor, gave a kidney and Glimpse received one.


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