Gift of Life
One person’s organ donation can save eight lives and improve the lives of 75 others
Taneisha Campbell loves working for Gift of Life Michigan because it allows her to share her story, so that others might see the good that comes from organ donation. If anyone knows this to be true, it’s Campbell, who has experienced organ donation from both sides. As the recipient of a kidney transplant, and as the sister of a young mother who lost her child but saved another, through organ donation.
“People are often shocked to learn that I am a recipient and member of a donor family,” said Campbell, 33, of Macomb Township, and among those sharing stories throughout April in observance of National Donate Life Month, and to raise awareness.
There are currently more than 100,000 people in need of a life-saving organ transplant including about 3,000 Michiganders. Each day about 22 of them will die waiting.
“These are mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents,” Campbell said. “We all most likely know someone who needs or will need an organ transplant.”
Campbell herself was only 8 years old when she was diagnosed with nephritic syndrome, an inflammation of the kidneys that causes them to work less
effectively. It was the summer of 1990, and while most families were focused on fun and relaxation Campbell’s family including her parents, siblings and her grandmother began making lifestyle for the sake of Campbell such as eating better and exercising.
“My family treated me like any other child in the family. They spoiled me rotten,” Campbell said, adding that her family includes many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Her cheeks grew chubby from the medications but she got better and was able to enjoy all of the things a normal childhood brings, like learning how to swim and play the violin.
Sixteen-years later, while a student at Alabama’s Tuskegee University and traveling with a cousin she was suddenly struck by a wave of headaches and fatigue.
“After driving myself to the hospital I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD),” Campbell said. This meant that her kidneys had completely shut down and that her only chance of survival was dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Many people on dialysis are also on the national organ transplant list operated by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), but it is a waiting list. UNOS is a private, nonprofit organization contracted by the federal government to manage the nation’s organ transplant system and waiting list.
UNOS works with donation and transplant professionals to make life-saving organ transplants possible using a complex process that involves all organ procurement organizations (including Gift of Life Michigan) and hospital transplant centers (nine programs in Michigan).
When prioritizing patients for transplantation, medical factors, size of the organ and distance from the donor hospital are considered in the matching process for all organs. Geography is especially important for organs such as hearts and lungs, which have less time to be transplanted.
She was too sick to wait so her best chance was dialysis and a living organ donation.
Living donors
Most organ and tissue donations are given after a person has died. But there are some organs and tissues that can be donated while the donor is alive such as kidney.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSB) nearly 6,000 living donations take place each year. That’s about 4 out of every 10 donations.”
In most cases it is a family member such as a parent or child that makes a living donation, sometimes even a close friend. Some people become altruistic living donors by choosing to donate to someone they don’t know.
Although an option for Campbell, until a transplant was possible, she would have to undergo dialysis, three times a week for four hours.
“My life was on pause,” she said. “It was at this point I learned the true meaning of strength and became the fighter that I never knew existed.”
Inspired by her determination but also her loving and cheerful personality those around Campbell, rallied together in prayer and in their doctor’s offices hoping one of them would be a match for a living donor donation.
“The whole experience was amazing. I ended up having the longest list of donors they’ve ever seen,” Campbell said, proudly.
In the end, it was her cousin Krystal McLear who proved to be a perfect match.
“My wonderful cousin flew in from Maryland to donate one of her well-functioning kidneys,” Campbell said. “In the days leading up to the transplant we had kidney parties, fish fries and a family prayer service.”
On Feb. 15, 2008, the cousins were wheeled into surgery while members of their family gathered in the waiting room filled with hope, love, faith and trust.
Campbell woke up without knowledge of ever being asleep, and a sudden urge to use the bathroom. Several times she mentioned to her nurse that she needed to use the restroom until finally the woman told her to go ahead, you have a catheter in from your transplant. It was at that moment that she suddenly realized what the nurse had said.
“I was so confused for a moment. Then the tears started flowing. I couldn’t believe that I had a transplant and didn’t know,” Campbell said. “All I wanted to do was see my cousin. Finally, after all the crying we were reunited and guess what, she was crying too.”
Saving lives
National Donate Life Month is the perfect time to honor the stories of donors and recipients, but it’s also meant to educate people about the process of organ donation.
In Campbell’s case, everyone around her became enlightened and it’s this experience and knowledge that helped her sister make the decision to donate her infant son’s organs after he died of SIDDS, several years later.
“One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding organ donation is that there’s an age limit,” Campbell said. “I work at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and right now they have children waiting for liver, heart and kidney transplants.”
One little boy, who is 2-yearsold, is finally going home because of an organ donation.
“His name is Jaxson and he’s doing great,” Campbell said.
Waiting lists
Men, women, people of all ages, and walks of life are currently waiting for transplants.
According to the Gift of Life, which is the federally designated organ procurement organization that has served the state for 50 years, on average someone is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes in the United States and as many as 22 people die each day because an organ was not unavailable for them.
Last year, 1,047 organs were transplanted in Michigan.
So far this year, the generosity of Michiganders has led to 268 transplants and saved numerous lives.
As of April the number of people waiting for transplants include: 2,059 for a kidney, 217 for a liver, 129 for a heart, 46, a lung, 33 a kidney/pancreas, 23, for kidney/liver; 15 for a pancreas, 4 for kidney/heart and 3 are in need of a pancreas/liver/ intestine transplant.
Dorrie Dils, CEO of Gift of Life said the organization has seen a steady increase in donations during the past several years, but more needs to be done.
“I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done and the number of lives we’ve saved,” she