Hollie Whitaker – Organ Donor

My name is Hollie and I am an organ donor. My big brother is my best friend and went into renal failure at the age of 39 due to unmanaged high blood pressure. According to the E.R doctor it was a miracle that he was able to walk into the E.R … based on his “numbers” after all the test were run, he should have been dead. I truly thought it was the end of the world and I was going to loose him at the tender age of 39.

He was put on dialysis and our journey began… We learned everything we could about renal failure and how to manage it so that he could have the best quality of life. He changed his diet and his lifestyle in order to mange this diagnosis. He went dialysis 3 days a week for two years, getting up at 3:30 am to be at the dialysis clinic by 4:00 am. I must admit, it was hard to watch.

It took me two years before deciding to donate a kidney to him. I am a mother of 3 and had to consider what would happen to the lives of my children if i did not survive the surgery? However, one day I received a word from God… and the decision was made.

I went through the entire screening process without my brother knowing (that was very difficult to do)! I did not want him to get his hopes up if I was not a match. After 2 to 3 months of blood draws, scans, mental health appointments, I was told I was a match and in excellent health to donate.

Our surgery took place May 13, 2011 and it was a success! I am 5’2 135 lbs and my brother is 6’0 270 lbs… and my little kidney (as the doctors refer to it) is doing him well!

~Hollie Whitaker