Posted: Tue 8:55 AM, Mar 24, 2015
March isn’t just about March Madness. It also marks National Kidney Month, a time to raise awareness about chronic kidney disease, the gradual loss of kidney function. More than 26 million American adults have CKD, which is mainly caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. Many patients will go on dialysis, but some need a kidney transplant. That was the case for Leslie Douglas, a second grade teacher at Kellom Elementary.
In 2006, Douglas was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. By 2013, her kidneys were only functioning at 14 percent. Doctors at Nebraska Medicine placed her on the transplant list. After waiting five months, a donor was found. That October, Douglas underwent a successful kidney and pancreas transplant at Nebraska Medicine.
“I’m so thankful for my donors and the entire transplant team,” says Douglas. “It was a wonderful experience. The physicians, nurses and staff were kind, patient with me, trustworthy and provided extraordinary care. We need more people like them.