Karen – Donated a kidney to her Mother

Hi- My name is Karen Thomas. I work as a Deputy Clerk at the Laurel Co. Circuit Clerks Office in London, KY. I am a living organ donor. On January 17, 2019 I donated my left kidney to my wonderful mother.

My Mom had fought kidney failure for several years and put up an excellent fight until last year. Off the cuff, I had always said ‘I guess I’ll just have to give you a kidney some day’. Her kidney function had dropped to 13%. She was preparing for dialysis. I told her “I guess it’s time I give you a kidney”. Mom always put me first before herself. She wasn’t real sure if she wanted her ‘baby’ (52 year old baby) to give up one of her kidneys. To me it was just a matter of fact. It was time. By the way, my Mom is 70 years old. She visited the University of Kentucky Transplant Center to be put on the list for a donor. Mom had to research other living donors and found it just might be OK.

In mid August UK started our compatibility testing and by late November we found out we were an excellent match. Such a good match, in-fact, Mom could be on the lower dose of anti rejections meds. Everything went so easy and UK Transplant Center has some really awesome caregivers working for them. From our nurse-coordinators, lab persons, the surgeons and hospital staff were all super!

Our surgeries were January 17th at UK and everything went so well. I was back at work by February 6th. My co-worker Deputy Clerks were all so awesome to help me with any lifting or bending for a few weeks after my return. God was in control of all this from the start and still is. My Mom is doing awesome. Her kidney function is just a tad better than mine but both are well within the healthy normal. She says she got the best kidney. I know her quality of life has already improved. We are so thankful and blessed.

I have always supported organ donation, I donated my dollar and always said ‘yes’ to be placed on the registry when renewing my license, but now I have a whole new appreciation for the Circuit Clerk’s Trust for Life.