My two sisters and I grew up knowing we were likely to have inherited the Polycystic kidney disease gene.  Our mom, her dad, and three brothers all died of this disease.  They did not have access to dialysis or transplant.

After learning that neither my older or younger sister inherited PKD after being tested, I knew that the odds were not good for me to have avoided having the disease.  Fast forward, I was treated for high blood pressure and fatigue for years before finding out I did indeed have PKD.  By age 60, the time had come to consider dialysis or get my name on the transplant list.

My younger sister, Dene made it clear that she wanted to be my donor if she was a match.  She agreed to being tested, and learned she was considered a perfect match.  Of course, it was the best news I could have hoped for, but there was a certain amount of guilt as she would have to have surgery and go through some pain in recovery to give me a new life.  By now I was doing hemo dialysis three days a week.

On November 2, 2005 she gave me one of her healthy kidneys.  It changed my life immediately.   I was free from dialysis, from having to watch what I could eat, and above all I felt good again.  It will be 19 years in November that Dene’s “Gift of Life” has blessed me with life.  It has been a gift I have cherished and will as long as I live.

On Dene’s 70th birthday week she was diagnosed with advanced Ovarian cancer.  She fought valiantly along with her entire family to beat this disease.  After all she was so healthy as she competed and won gold medals in two Transplant Games in running events for her age group.  She went to her heavenly home on December 31, 2020 to receive the ultimate gift of eternal life.  I know the Lord was there to meet her with these words, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

I miss her every day, so wishing I could say “thank you” one more time for her “Gift of Life.”  She loved life and would do anything for anyone.  She has left a wonderful legacy to us all, especially her husband, Leon, daughters, Laura and Amy, their spouses, John and Mike, and four great grandchildren who adored her:  Lane, Kate, Connor and Will.