Christy Allen

 My story began as I was scrolling on Facebook back in the beginning of 2021, I saw a family friend posting that her daughter Kelly was in need of a kidney. I reached out to see the process of being tested to see if I was a match.   

Dolores, Kelly's mom, put me in contact with Leanne at Piedmont Atlanta. I had recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure and due to this I was immediately told I was not a candidate to be tested. I let Dolores know and told her I would be praying for them and would share the post for her. Luckily in March of 2021, Kerry was a perfect match for her sister Kelly and she received her kidney!  

In January of 2023, I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw that Dolores herself needed a kidney, I reached out and let her know I would be praying for her and would be sharing her post but I knew I wouldn't be able to be tested due to my blood pressure. She let me know to please reach out to Leanne because the need for kidney donors had increased so much they had loosened up on the guidelines and it would be worth a shot to contact Piedmont.   

I remember feeling so excited but also trying  not to  get my hopes up as this was a long shot! The first two test were done at home, the 24 hour urine and the BP monitoring, I made it through those and the day of testing at the hospital was scheduled. Mid February my daughter, Lauren, and I spent the day at Piedmont Atlanta for testing all day long. I left that day feeling even more hopeful that I would be a match, the people were just wonderful, and I wanted so badly to help Dolores.   

As the weeks went by, and my case went before the board it was determined I needed to get my A1C down as well as lose some weight in order for it to not put me at risk to donate.    

In April I found out I wasn't a direct match for Dolores, which devastated me because I knew she was about to have to go on dialysis. I was so very upset and felt I had let her down. If you know me you know I am not a quitter and I do not give up easily, I was on a mission to help Dolores whatever way I could.   

I called back to Piedmont and spoke with Leanne and let her know I wanted to do this  whatever way it had to happen for her to get a kidney, that I was all in. I chose to do a paired donation, which I had never heard of until this! The things that are possible simply amaze me.    

I got on the ball losing weight and getting my A1C under control, once I had that done my case could go before the board again to see if I was approved for donation.   

I had blood work done on my birthday August 4th and felt very good about it, I checked my My Chart on Monday the 7th and my A1C was lower!! I very impatiently waited on the call from Piedmont, it finally came the next day, my labs were great, and my case would be presented to the board again that Wednesday.   

I had a good feeling when the phone rang and it said Piedmont on it, I had been approved to donate!!!! Tears of joy rolled down my face!  

The next step was adding myself and Dolores to the Kidney registry to find us both a match.  Within a week we both had a match and surgery dates were set.   

Our surgeries were originally set for October 4th, myself in the morning and Dolores in the afternoon. Unfortunately my surgery had to be postponed to October 11th,  due to my recipient. I wont lie I was very bummed by this but  as long as Dolores got her kidney like the goal was all along I could wait to donate mine. With this change I was able to be there with Dolores for her surgery which made us both happy.   

My surgery on the 11th went great and as expected, I was sent home the next day.  I honestly expected the recovery to be much worse than it was, I was out of work for 3-weeks then returned to work. The hardest part of the recovery was the fatigue, naps are still my very best friend!   

I am two days away from my one-year mark and feel the best I have felt if my life. I may have given the gift of life, but I feel like my life was given back to me in a sense.  I love telling this story and hope that it helps other to understand the living donation process and how rewarding it is to be able to donate.