Amyloidosis?!

[frebusmaxwell]

I'd never heard of that disease either. If it hadn't been for swollen ankles, I would not have even known I had it. In November, 2019 I left my beloved ocean in southern California and headed to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Either the chemo or the blood disorder caused damage to my kidneys, thus I am in Stage 5 kidney disease. I am approved for a living donor transplant,

Did you know: Sometimes a loved one may want to donate a kidney but his/her blood type is incompatible. What to do next? A paired exchange, which involves two living donors and two recipients.

If the recipient from one pair is compatible with the donor from the other pair, and vice versa – the transplant center may arrange for a "swap" – for two simultaneous transplants to take place. This allows two transplant candidates to receive organs and two donors to give organs though the original recipient/donor pairs were unable to do so with each other. Pretty cool!

[JackieJ_NKF Partner]

Amyloidosis seems to be a rare disease that causes a buildup of amyloid deposits in the body. I would strongly encourage you to speak with your doctor about your diagnosis and treatment options. For more information about amyloidosis, please visit: hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...

For additional information about the paired exchange process, visit: kidney.org/atoz/content/inc...

[frebusmaxwell in reply to JackieJ_NKF]

Thank you, Jackie. I've been under treatment for amyloidosis for several years at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. It affected my heart and kidneys; I'm currently approved for a living donor transplant only. Kidneys are hanging in there with no need for dialysis at the moment.