Woman honored for kidney donation

For some, marriage is a match made in heaven, but for one couple, it was also a matter of life or death.

Ten years ago, Gordon Bates was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary disease that often leads to kidney failure, but thanks to a lifesaving donation from his wife, Pamela, he has gained a new lease on life.

Pamela Bates was recently bestowed the Chain of Life Award by the Arkansas Kidney Disease Commission. She was among nine recipients of the award this year. It is designed to honor living kidney donors for their contribution to preserving another person’s life.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, PKD causes the kidneys, and potentially other areas of the body, to develop fluid-filled cysts. The cysts can

overcrowd the body, leading to various complications. There is no cure for PKD, and 50 percent of people with the disease will go into renal failure by age 60.

PKD affects 600,000 people in the United States. It occurs in all races, and impacts the lives of men and women equally. It is the cause of 5 percent of all cases of kidney failure.

Both Pamela Bates and her husband were very familiar with the disease, since he inherited it from his father and she works as a dialysis nurse.

“I knew immediately that if I was a match, I would donate my kidney. There are so many people in the world that need organs. If you have the opportunity to donate, it is so worth it. The feeling you get, and the benefit the person receiving the organ gets, it’s great,” she said.

Doctors had to let time direct their course of treatment during the ensuing 1o years. It was all contingent upon on how well Bates’ kidneys could continue functioning. He was able to manage his symptoms until 2014, when doctors told him it was time to start looking for a new kidney.

It took him a little bit of time to warm up to the idea, but after some convincing from his wife, Bates accepted her offer and started dialysis treatments. Nearly two years later, Pamela Bates donated her right kidney to her husband.

Finding a donor is typically a very involved process that can take several years. Most people in need of organs go through several willing donors before a good match is found, but Pamela Bates was a perfect match, something they believe was divinely aligned.

“This was a match that was meant to be before we ever knew we existed. It was something God planned, and made happen,” she said.

After the surgery, the transplanted kidney began to shift inside Gordon Bates’ body, causing him to go into renal failure. His wife’s knowledge of kidney disease, and patient care proved to be a blessing for the couple. He remained on dialysis, and eventually began to heal. He was taken off dialysis the following October and is recovering.

To celebrate a successful recovery on both parts, the couple took a cruise to Hawaii. There they spent time enjoying the newfound sense of freedom that had once evaded them.

“It’s like we got our lives back,” she said.

“We look forward to this heartwarming ceremony each year. This is our grand opportunity to salute those who gave a lifesaving donation. This shows that there are still good people in our state, and across our nation,” said Cynthia Baker-Smith, program director for the Arkansas Kidney Disease Commission.

Today, Gordon Bates is enjoying his retirement, while his wife celebrates 20 years at her job. The couple is very thankful the entire process went as well as it did, despite any ups and downs.

“I’m blessed. It is a miracle she was a match,” he said. that