Arbeny Davis was 13 years old when she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis – a disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering system, causing severe scarring. The disease and drugs prescribed to control it caused her weight to balloon and she became quite self-conscious. “Some kids would tease me, but not Kenesha Reed,” Arbeny’s best friend since third grade. When Arbeny’s kidneys failed, Kenesha had her back. She called Arbeny and said “Arby, on my birthday I’m going to get tested.” On December 16, 2008, Kenesha donated a kidney to Arbeny, who has since returned to the University of Memphis in pursuit of her dream of opening a dance studio.

Arbeny's Story

Arbeny Davis was 13 years old when she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis – a disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering system, causing severe scarring. As a result of the disease and the drugs prescribed to control it, her weight ballooned and she became quite self-conscious, feeling that everyone looked at her differently.

“Some kids would tease me, but not Kenesha Reed. She has been my best friend since third grade, and has always had my back,” said Arbeny, now 21. “When we discussed what was going on with me, she gave me a hug and said ‘Arby, it’s going to be alright.’ I believed and trusted her because we were so close. I went through high school without a care in the world.”

Arbeny kept up her grades as she danced and cheered her way through graduation in June 2007. She decided to pursue her passion for dance and to obtain her BA in Dance Education at the University of Memphis. However, during her freshman year, her formerly enthusiastic routine suddenly changed when she woke up very fatigued with no strength to make it out of bed. Arbeny knew something was wrong. The diagnosis was end-stage renal failure; it was now time to discuss dialysis and transplant. In January 2008, she began peritoneal dialysis and dialyzed every night for eight hours. At this point, she was placed on the transplant list. Family members were tested, but no one was a match. In the midst of all this, her parents were in the process of adopting five children. Then her father was diagnosed with the same disease: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

“I became very depressed, stressed, and continued to ask God, ‘Why me?’” said Arbeny. “I had a very supportive family to keep me uplifted. While continuing to dialyze every night, I started to gain a great relationship with God. I no longer thought negatively.

“On one special day my phone rang and on the other end was Kenesha, who said, ‘Arby, on my birthday I’m going to get tested.’ A river of tears flowed down my face and all I could say was ‘Thank you, God.’ It was like I already knew that she would be a match.”

On December 16, 2008, Kenesha and Arbeny “went under the knife without a care in the world, just God and each other. And for her to risk her life for me, and let God use her to give me a second chance at life, she is truly my Guardian Angel.”

Since the transplant, Arbeny has become involved in the transplant community. She and Kenesha were selected to be living donor spokespersons for Methodist Transplant Institute, and have participated in numerous activities in Memphis. She returned to the University of Memphis as a Dance Education major and still plans to pursue her dream of opening a dance studio.

“Having a transplant has inspired me so much and has given me that extra push to achieve my goals in life. I have learned that everything happens for a reason, and my reason is to continue uplifting others and show what God is capable of doing if you trust and believe.”