Having experienced kidney failure at 19, Andrea Spraggins underwent daily dialysis for more than two years before receiving a kidney from her mother. Andrea's experiences inspired her to become a transplant social worker and found a support group for transplant recipients.

Andrea's Story

Andrea Spraggins was only nine when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Her kidneys failed when she was 19, and she was on peritoneal dialysis for two-and-a-half years before she decided to consider kidney transplant as a treatment option.

“I was blessed to have supportive family members who offered to be living donors for me when I began dialysis. However, I decided to remain strong and do daily peritoneal exchanges because I feared for their safety,” said Andrea. In 1994, at age 22, Andrea finally decided to allow her parents and sister to be tested. Her mother, Jerry Kay Clark, was the most compatible kidney donor match, and the surgery was a success. Andrea is now free from taking insulin injections.

Andrea’s speedy recovery after her kidney transplant allowed her to return to college at Wayne State University in Detroit. After receiving her BA in Social Work, she obtained her Masters in Social Work in 10 months and received a Dean’s scholarship.

“My personal experience with transplant made me an excellent candidate for the position of transplant social worker at Harper University in Detroit, Michigan,” said Andrea.

In addition to her job, Andrea volunteers as a community liaison for Gift of Life Michigan promoting transplantation and organ donation at health fairs. For the past six years, she has served as a team captain for the annual Kidney Walk sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and founded a support group at her transplant center (Harper Organ Transplant Center) for patients to share their commonalities and express their thoughts and feelings as transplant recipients.

Andrea asserts, “My transplant experience has allowed me the opportunity to learn how transplant has changed the lives of millions across the nation and to share that with others.”