Ann Goldstein, 56, and Cheryl Cooper, 54,of Omaha, share more than their friendship. They have the same birthday and now share kidneys. A year ago, Cooper donated one of her kidneys to Goldstein.
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Ann Goldstein (left) and Cheryl Cooper hold a kidney-shaped cake during the first anniversary of Goldstein’s transplant which was made possible by Cooper donating a kidney. |
As the one-year anniversary of Goldstein’s kidney transplant approached, Ann and her family looked for a special way to celebrate. They wanted not only to commemorate the occasion, but also to nurture the wellness and fitness of both Ann’s and Cheryl’s families.
They decided to spend three days at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass. Twelve members of the Goldstein family along with Cheryl and her husband, Ron, spent the long weekend learning how to make themselves more physically and mentally fit.
They hiked, kayaked, and did water aerobics, weight training and yoga. There were classes promoting healthy meal preparation and eating habits.
“We had lots of fun and lots of laughs and mapped out a future of well-being,” Goldstein said. The group nicknamed itself “Transplant Triumph,” in honor of the successful operation and the one-year anniversary.
Goldstein’s plight began in June 2001, when an inherited polycystic kidney disease reduced her kidney function, requiring her to start dialysis. Knowing that the disease had ultimately taken the life of her mother and her brother, she decided to get tested for a possible kidney transplant and was placed on the national list.
Many family members were tested as possible donors but none was a match. As Goldstein’s health began to fail, Cooper and many others, offered to donate one of their kidneys. Cooper was tested and was found to be a match.
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The “Transplant Triumph” group at Canyon Ranch. |
Surgery was originally scheduled for March 2002, but was postponed at the last minute. On May 3, 2002, the UNMC/NHS husband/wife transplant surgeons, Lucille Wrenshall, M.D., and Brian Stevens, M.D., performed the successful operation. Although Goldstein’s recovery had one rejection episode and an infection, she is now doing well.
“I am so pleased she is doing so well. She was in a state of decline before the transplant,” Cooper said. “What I look at is the difference now. It’s amazing. She was skin and bones then and had no energy. To see her now with all this energy, color and vitality is incredible. I don’t think of it as relating to me. There’s physically nothing to remind me I was a donor except a few tiny little scars. It was never about me.”
According to Kolleen Thompson, manager of the Nebraska Health System donate life services (formerly organ recovery), most of the more than 80,000 people currently waiting for an organ transplant are waiting for kidneys. The average waiting time at UNMC/NHS for a cadaveric kidney (from a deceased person) is almost two years. Because of the kindness of a friend, Goldstein waited less than a year. Currently, 200 people are on the waiting list for a kidney at UNMC/NHS.
In 2002, for the first time in history at UNMC/NHS, which has one of the largest solid organ transplantation programs in the country, living-related kidney donors exceeded cadaveric kidney donations, Thompson said.
“For someone to meet that need through an altruistic donation is so honorable. I’m always amazed by the selfless act. It think it’s wonderful,” Thompson said.
Words can hardly describe how Goldstein feels about her good friend giving her the gift of life. “It takes your breath away. It was a very emotional time,” Goldstein said. “She was willing to give me the gift of a healthy life again. She’s such an amazing friend.”
Cooper’s kidney was removed laparoscopically, which also cut recovery time significantly. Cooper said, “The thing that people need to know is you can get along fine with one kidney. A whole lot of people can be living donors.”