Texas Woman Seeks Kidney Donor Through Billboard Campaign
THE COLONY, Texas – Kidney failure affects approximately 815,000 individuals in the United States, and one local woman’s story emphasizes the urgency of finding live donors.
A Personal Challenge
At 49 years old, Kelly McRae has faced significant health challenges since childhood. Having had her right kidney removed at the age of three due to cancer, she has dedicated her life to maintaining her remaining kidney’s health.
“I was very, very careful with this kidney. I never gave birth to a child. I adopted, again, to preserve this kidney,” McRae explained. “I did everything I thought possible to save this kidney.”
The Decline of Health
In August 2021, McRae felt severe back pain that led her to the hospital, where doctors discovered her kidney function had dropped to just 16%. Shortly thereafter, she was placed on the national transplant list. Unfortunately, by January of this year, her condition worsened; her kidney was functioning at only 3%. She is now undergoing dialysis three times weekly.
“It really is hard when you know you’re dying. And at this point, I am,” McRae stated.
The Search for a Live Donor
As part of her efforts to find a donor, McRae has initiated a social media campaign and invested in billboard advertisements in her community. The billboards direct individuals to her website, kidney4kelly.com.
“I’ve been trying to get the word out as much as I can. Not just to save myself, but there’s a bunch of me’s out there in the world,” she said. “I really believe that somebody out there will be my hero and save my life.”
Insights from Medical Experts
Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, who directs the live donor program at Baylor Scott & White, emphasizes the importance of live donation. He indicates that the national transplant waiting list prioritizes individuals who have been on dialysis longer or have difficult-to-match blood types, which can delay their chances for receiving a transplant. Live donors, he says, significantly improve survival outcomes.
The Benefits of Live Donation
Statistics reveal that kidney donors generally have an excellent prognosis. Research indicates that less than 1% of donors will experience kidney failure during their lifetime, and 99% of kidney donors express a willingness to donate again if given the chance.
Conclusion
Kelly McRae’s journey illustrates both the challenges of kidney disease and the urgent need for awareness around live kidney donation. Through her campaign, she hopes not only to find a donor for herself but also to raise awareness for many others in similar situations.
Source: Information in this article is derived from interviews conducted by Alex Boyer.
