Page 10 - Graypvine November 2021
P. 10
Dee Morgan donates a
kidney and saves a life
When Deanna “Dee” Morgan’s daughter "I have to say that without a
recognized her former athletic trainer, Walker
Terhune, on TV, she immediately told her mom. doubt I was never scared;
Following a surgery to repair her ACL, MCL and I never second guessed if I was
meniscus as a senior at Woodford County High doing the right thing. I wanted
School, Dee’s daughter visited Walker for several
physical therapy sessions during her recovery. But to make a difference in this
10 when she saw him on the news, Walker was talking world. I want everyone reading
about his debilitating kidney disease called IGA
Nephropathy, and his need for a transplant. this to know that Living Donors
are saving lives and making a
real difference. "
“About 4 years ago I was in the process of
donating a kidney to a stranger in another town,”
said Dee, Gray Solutions’ Executive Assistant. “I was
a match to that person, but it fell through. I’m not
sure why. It could’ve been because he wasn’t able
to receive it any longer or perhaps, he received a
kidney from another donor. I decided not to try and
find out because I was afraid it would be bad news.
So, I put the idea of donating on the back burner
and thought maybe one day I can do it. Then my
daughter sent me the interview and I immediately
called to see how to begin the process of testing
for Walker.”
Dee went online to fill out a simple form, and
within about thirty minutes of submitting it, she
received a call from the University of Kentucky’s
Living Kidney Donor Program asking if she could
come in for some tests. Dee was shocked to get a
call so quickly, but was told it was because she has
type O+ blood (over 80% of people can receive O+
blood) and was local; two very good things for any
kidney recipient. In October of 2020, Dee underwent
a thorough testing process to see if she was a good
Top photo: Dee in the hospital before her kidney donation
surgery. Bottom: Dee's "Happy Kidney" plush.
