2017 JoAnn Eiring

JOANN EIRING

Kidney Donor

JoAnn Eiring began researching as much as she could when her friend Derek shared his diagnosis of end stage renal disease. Nine months later, Derek started dialysis and was placed on a list to receive a kidney. JoAnn immediately filled out paperwork needed to be a kidney donor. In addition, JoAnn started donating blood to find out her blood type to see if Derek and her was a match. Although there would be a wait for Derek to get to the point where he was physically ready for a transplant surgery, she was anxious to start testing to find out. JoAnn will never forget that call.  They were a direct match.  There was no greater feeling than being able to help save her best friend’s life.  Physically, JoAnn feels the same prior to the transplant surgery and Derek was able to resume his life’s journey.

JoAnn’s Story

When my friend Derek told me his doctor just informed him he has end stage renal disease and eventually would need a kidney transplant, I knew very little about what that exactly meant but I knew it wasn’t good. So I researched all I could find on the topic. Nine months later, Derek started dialysis (10 hours a day, 7 days a week) and was placed on a list to receive a kidney. I immediately filled out the paperwork needed to be a kidney donor. In addition, I started donating blood to find out my blood type to see if we matched and we did! Although there would be a wait for Derek to get to the point where he was physically ready for a transplant surgery, I was anxious to start testing to find out if I would be a match. Due to our obvious difference in size (me being 5’6” and 130lbs; he being 6’2” and 285lbs), both medical teams were anticipating this would be a paired match transplant. I was willing to do whatever was necessary to help my friend; however, I did tell my transplant team at the onset of my tests, not to be fooled by my size. I told them “I have big feet. I have big bones. So I’m pretty sure I have big organs as well!” After all of the tests were completed, I will never forget that call…I was told that I was a match…a DIRECT match! For me, there is no better feeling than to be able to help save a life, in this case my best friend’s life! Physically, I feel no different today than I did prior to the transplant surgery. Derek still has a journey ahead of him, but he feels great and loves his quality time with his family. What a wonderful journey!