Page 11 - Graypvine November 2021

match for Walker, whom she did not contact while
awaiting results so she wouldn’t get his hopes up. In
early February of this year, Dee received a call that
she was a perfect match.
“My donor advocate nurse at UK told me I could
take some time to make my decision,” recalled
Dee. “In my mind the decision had already been
made. I was led to do this. I was meant to do this.
I didn’t need to think about it. Why would I have
gone through all the testing and then say no? ‘I’m
doing it!’, I told him. He encouraged me to call the
recipient and give him the good news. That was
the best call ever. I believe [Walker] was in shock 11
and perhaps a bit doubtful. After about a 10-minute
conversation he ended the call by saying, ‘I have to
tell my mom!’ That was so sweet – I knew then this
was a God thing. It was all meant to be.”
Dee’s surgery was scheduled just a few short
weeks away, on February 26th. It was perfect timing,
as Walker was fortunate enough to have not gone
on dialysis yet. If Dee had waited to think about
donating after she was told she was a match – just
one week – he would have started dialysis.
“I have to say that without a doubt I was never
scared,” said Dee. “I never second guessed if I was
doing the right thing. I wanted to make a difference Top photo: Dee with Dr. Gupta, two weeks post surgery. Bottom: Dee recooperating
after surgery with her dog, Cosmo.
in this world. I have two healthy kids (25 and 22 –
not quite kids any longer), and if they are ever in an undeniable ‘high.’ I just want people to know how
need in the future, I hope and pray that someone easy UK made this process, and that people can live
else has this same desire to get tested. I want with one kidney!”
everyone reading this to know that Living Donors are Dee says if anyone has questions about being a Living
saving lives and making a real difference.” Donor, she’s more than happy to talk about the process.
Dee said her donation process was She also wants to express her great appreciation for all
“picture perfect.” of the Gray Solutions team members for their support,
“We both recovered very well. He was up walking and to Gray Solutions’ CEO, Walker Mattox.
to my hospital room visiting the day after surgery. “I hadn’t been on the job very long and then I
I know he’ll take great care of ‘our’ kidney. Having requested 6 weeks off to donate a kidney! Their support
said that, the recipient feels great after surgery. The was wonderful,” said Dee.
donor does take a bit longer for recovery but let me Dee and Walker have been interviewed by a few
remind everyone that this is just a very short six- different sources; to check out more, please visit https://
week recovery period. That pales in comparison to tinyurl.com/y3m769tv and https://tinyurl.com/fbykxcrt.
what people have to go through when they are on Information about becoming a Living Donor can be
dialysis. Really I felt better sooner than six weeks! found by visiting https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/transplant-
The feeling of being able to help another person is center/programs/living-kidney-donor-program.