SAN ANTONIO – April is National Donate Life Month and sadly there is always an urgent need for organ donors.
According to Donate Life Texas, organ donation can save up to eight lives.
Madison Rodgers saw her little sister Brynn struggling with an auto immune disease known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura or IgA vasculitis. The 22 year old Madison saw her little sister Brynn in pain every day in high school.
Brynn was a star athlete in softball, and was consistently having swelling legs, pain in her joints and throwing up. Brynn’s kidneys were also inflamed and compromised.
By 19, Brynn was on daily dialysis and needed a transplant and Madison was a match. Last June, the two had the successful surgery at Methodist Specialty and Transplant hospital in San Antonio and describe what a difference it made in their lives.
Brynn says, “When it came to surgery day i woke up and I’m not kidding you, I felt like a new person. Like literally just from the moment, I woke up and opened my eyes I was like wow, like this is crazy I do feel better, they were right. You know like.”
Her big sister Madison said, “Your life will go completely back to normal, and it was a miracle because whenever I went into surgery, I had over 129-percent kidney function. So, even with one kidney, i have over 100-percent function still, so, i have more function with one kidney than some people have with two.”
The pair is already planning their one year “transplant-a-versary” this June.
Right now, more than 10,000 Texans are waiting on the on the transplant waiting list.
If you are thinking about becoming a donor, or have questions, you can always call the Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital at (210) 575-8400.