2016 Rae Ann Gossett

RAE ANN GOSSETT

Kidney Donor

Age 53 ~ Shawnee, Ok

Honored by integrisok.com/nazih-zuhdi-transplant-institute-oklahoma-city-ok

Rae Ann was 53 years old when she donated a kidney on September 2, 2015.  Rae Ann learned about becoming a living donor from a transplant information event she was attending with her husband. Her husband was in chronic kidney failure and needed a transplant. Rae Ann was a match for her husband, but they were willing to participate in a paired exchange with another couple who didn’t match. Rae Ann’s generosity enabled two transplants to occur! Having run in five full marathons and over 15 half marathons, Rae Ann knew she could be a perfect candidate for someone in need.  She and her husband decided to do a paired exchange. On Monday August 31, Rae Ann’s husband received a kidney from a woman named Stephanie. Two days later, on Wednesday September 2, Rae Ann gave her kidney to Stephanie’s husband. Both kidneys began working immediately and everyone recovered quickly.

Rae Ann’s Story

I am 53 years old and donated my kidney this year on Sept. 2. We found out that my husband had chronic kidney failure in Oct. 2014. His kidneys were in a fast decline and he ended up on dialysis in May 2015. About that time we were encouraged to start thinking about a transplant.  We attended a transplant information event at the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., a 45 minute drive from our home town. During that event they talked about being a living donor and I knew immediately that I wanted to do that. I have exercised my entire adult life and have been very proactive about my health in general. I am a runner and have completed 5 full marathons and over 15 half marathons along with triathlons and biking events. Because I’m in good shape I felt like I would be a perfect candidate to be a donor. The testing process was intense and I was checked literally from head to toe. Luckily, my blood type was O so I’m the universal blood type. That was the first hurdle and our cross match came back negative (what you want) and we knew we were on our way. The unexpected gift of this whole process was my husband and I deciding to do a paired exchange and help another couple who didn’t match. We put his transplant off a few weeks so the other donor could complete her testing. By a miracle, and I don’t say that lightly, we matched perfectly with another couple that only lives a few miles from us. My husband received his kidney from Stephanie (we didn’t know her name yet) on Monday and I gave her husband, Eric, my kidney on Wednesday. Both kidneys began working immediately and Stephanie and I both recovered quickly. Meeting this other couple a week after our surgeries was the highlight of the whole experience. To meet another couple who had gone through almost the exact same problems, but had the faith that things would work out was amazing. We have met lifelong friends whom we have not only a physically connection with but a spiritual one as well.