“Sometimes, you don’t realize the weight of what you are carrying until the weight has been lifted. The team at Penn is absolutely wonderful.”
Diagnosis
In August of 2019, I was grieving the loss of my mother, (it had been 4 months since her passing), and I was preparing to begin my 22nd year of teaching elementary school. August is always a busy time, and I was in a rush to get to school to set up my classroom. I brushed my teeth a little too aggressively and the next thing I knew I was waking up on the bathroom floor. While in the ER getting checked out, they did a routine CAT Scan. Thankfully there was nothing serious going on, but they did say I should see my Primary Care doctor because there were several cysts on both kidneys.
I scheduled the first appointment I could get in November, and my doctor sent me for an ultrasound. When he saw the results and looked at my bloodwork, he was fairly certain I had Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), and he referred me to a nephrologist. I took things into my own hands and began researching this genetic disease and doctors in the area who specialize in it. I quickly found Dr. Goral at Penn’s Nephrology Group. I scheduled my first appointment for March 15, 2020, unfortunately that appointment did not happen. The world shut down. Finally in August of 2020, I was able to see Dr. Goral.
She was wonderful, but also shocked that this was the first time I was seeing a nephrologist considering I was already Stage 3. My GFR was 20. Unfortunately, I had gained a significant amount of weight throughout my mother’s illness and caring for my dad through a major surgery. So, it was time for me to lose weight and do everything I could to qualify for transplant. My daughter was only 12. She needed her mom to stick around for as long as possible. I was living with the heartache of losing my mother at the age of 46, and I could not imagine my daughter living with that kind of pain at a young age.
Working for Transplant Review
I began the journey of losing weight. It was challenging! High protein diets aren’t great for ailing kidneys. Plant protein is best, but often high in carbohydrates. Eat this, don’t eat that. My meat and potatoes-eating husband was extremely supportive. He does most of the cooking for our family, and he worked to find healthy alternatives that were kidney and weight-loss friendly.
By May of 2022, I had lost about 50lbs. After a routine visit with Dr. Goral, my husband, daughter, and I left for Florida to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. While sitting on the beach, thinking of my mom, I received a message that changed my life. Dr. Goral had advocated for my life.
The end of July, I had undergone all testing and evaluation and was added to the transplant list. Thanks to Dr. G.’s faith in me.
The Waiting
Once on the list, I began to share my story. I created a profile on the National Kidney Registry, and every month or so, I would make a post on social media platforms to raise awareness about kidney disease and also Living Donation. I would ask for friends and anyone that might see the post to repost in order to elevate my story. My posts would always end with a similar sentiment, “Please consider learning more about donation, but if you can’t do that (for whatever reason), then please repost, send positive vibes/prayers, or share my story with anyone you meet. You never know, you may be connecting me to my Angel Donor.”
This time was challenging. My GFR was dropping and my Creatinine was rising. I was late Stage IV. I met with the doctor that would place my PD catheter when the time came, and I met with the dialysis center I would use. It was all so scary. I struggled with anxiety, and lost the ability to truly laugh…there was just so much stress. Each time I would post to social media I would pray that my angel donor might see it.
Prayers Answered and Signs from Heaven
In July of 2023, life was stressful. My father was temporarily living at our house. He was having health troubles and I was his primary caregiver, so he would stay with us (because his home was in Delaware), so I could take him to doctor’s appointments. On July 3rd, my husband and I went to my annual transplant review appointment. At that appointment, I was told that a donor had come forward and we were approved as a direct match. There was also an opportunity for us to enter the Paired Match Program, so that I could potentially receive an even more compatible kidney. I couldn’t wait to tell my Dad. He was in complete disbelief and very excited! “Tina, who is the donor?” he asked repeatedly. I explained, that I may never know. Every few days he would say, “I wonder who your donor is?” I think he was so grateful and really wanted the chance to say “Thank You” to whomever was giving his daughter this incredible gift.
Sadly, on the morning of July 29th, my father had a massive heart attack and died at our home. My husband, daughter and I were with him. He died in the home in which he had raised me. The ensuing week was a whirlwind, and the following Thursday, I found myself kissing his forehead for the last time and whispering, “Daddy, send me some signs that you are around.”
Reluctantly that night, I agreed to go with my sister and her family to get some pizza at a local pizza shop. I had no appetite, but being around family was soothing. After finishing a little dinner, we were getting ready to leave and a woman approached the table.
“Are you Mrs. Loveland-Smith?” she inquired.
“Yes,” I replied.
“You taught my daughter, Dana. She just graduated from college.”
We exchanged a few more pleasantries and then she asked how things were going with my health. I explained a donor had come forward and we were doing a paired exchange, so the wait to find a donor could be anywhere from weeks to several months. She had settled next to me in the booth, and she looked at me and said, “I know. I’m your donor.” My breath caught in my chest as I realized this was a beautiful sign from my dad. All he wanted was to know who my donor was. Now he knew, and he wanted me to know as well. Jill had seen one of my awareness posts on Facebook because a mutual friend had shared it. She felt that it was meant for her, and so she did what she felt called to do.
I was prepared for a match to be found in the next couple of months, however I received a call from Penn a week later. More unbelievable news. My match had been found and surgery was scheduled for August 29th. Exactly one month to the day that my Dad had left us. For the rest of my life, the 29th of the month will not solely be a day of sadness. It can’t be because it’s also the day I received the gift of life. Just another sign that my Dad is still trying to take care of me.
A New Beginning
On the night of August 29th, with a GFR of 7 and a Creatinine level of 6.7, I received my transplant, and I made it without ever needing dialysis. I woke up and honestly felt great. Even the doctors and nurses commented about how alert and energetic I was. I can only explain it as relief. Sometimes, you don’t realize the weight of what you are carrying until the weight has been lifted. The team at Penn is absolutely wonderful. Everyone from housekeeping to nurses to every single doctor I encountered treated me with kindness and care. I was so anxious and afraid of going into surgery, only to wake up and think, “Wow, I’m still here and feeling great!” There have been a few minor bumps in the journey so far, but I have been soothed and supported by my care team. I’m looking forward to all the adventures ahead, and as I reflect on this experience, I realize I’ve learned many lessons. I’ve learned that those that suffer from PKD and other Chronic Kidney Diseases are warriors. I’ve learned that social media platforms can, in fact, be used for good. I’ve learned angels do exist on Earth, and I found one in the form of a former student’s mother. Perhaps most of all I’ve learned that blessings are real, and love can sometimes transcend even death.