Destined decision: Woman offers kidney to former coworker
Chris Beattie/Staff Photo - Rose Marie Murphy, right, is undergoing tests that could allow her to give a kidney to her friend Sandra Daniels, left, who has two non-functioning kidneys. Murphy, who met Daniels two years ago, offered her kidney as soon as she found out Daniels was on a long transplant list.
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@acnpapers.com
Sandra Daniels is almost out of options. Diabetes, dialysis and constant fatigue aren't ingredients for good living.
She needs a new kidney, and on a long transplant list, her needs don't matter until it's her time. But they matter now to Rose Marie Murphy, a former coworker who's become Daniels' best option -- a willing, living donor.
"I was just thinking about it and all the stuff she told me," Murphy said of her friend. "She shouldn't have to wait on an available cadaver donation when there can be an immediate living donation."
There is light -- and life -- at the end of the tunnel for Daniels, who endures weekly dialysis to keep her blood clean. Tubes and needles bombard her upper body for four hours every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Fresenius Medical Care in Plano.
She started the treatment 11 years ago, when her mom went through cancer and her blood pressure skyrocketed, destroying her kidneys. Daniels' body rejected a cadaver kidney transplant in 2003 in Chicago. She came to Texas two years ago, signing on for another transplant list and a better life.
Though she aspires to work in the medical field, her new home and teenage daughter forced her to take what was available -- a cashier job at Wal-Mart. It was a blessing in disguise.
Murphy, a lifelong Dallas-area resident, worked the aisles alongside Daniels. They talked about raising their daughters, but Murphy chose not to pry into Daniels' obvious health issues.
"She had on a patch so I always wondered, but I wasn't going to be rude," Murphy said. "When someone else asked her about it, that's when I slowly started the questions."
They saw each other almost every day until Daniels' hours disappeared. She was taking ATI training courses and going through frequent dialysis. Her schedule wasn't on par with Wal-Mart, so they let her go.
Their work relationship ended, but their friendship -- and Murphy's pledge -- remained. Murphy's cousin died earlier this year from the extremely rare X Linked Lymphoproliferative (XLP) Disorder. A bone marrow transplant could have saved his life, but once Murphy got on the donor register, he was too sick to accept.
"If I'm going to do something good, I'd prefer to do it while I'm alive," said Murphy, eager for a second chance with Daniels.
If Murphy's kidney is a match, Daniels' long wait could soon be over. Tests were stalled in recent weeks, though, as Murphy's own blood pressure peaked.
She went with Daniels to Fresenius and nearly saw more than she could handle. Through fooling around with a blood pressure gauge there, Murphy came as close as she could to a blood-on experience.
"I think she got kind of stressed about being there because there are so many people hooked up to machines," Daniels said of the visit. "It's hard to stomach."
Murphy spent a couple of days getting her blood pressure back to normal, where it's stayed. She will complete the necessary donor tests at Baylor Medical Center at Dallas over the next few weeks.
A person needs only 30 percent of one working kidney to function, said Daniels, who basically has two dormant kidneys. Seemingly brought together by fate, the friends are confident Murphy's kidney is Daniels' way to a better life.
"We both realize there's a chance it won't be a match, but I just really believe it's going to happen," Murphy said.
Until then, Murphy will continue working at Wal-Mart. Daniels delivers pizza for two different Pizza Huts, even on nights after dialysis when she's supposed to rest.
Her treatment cleans out the toxins in her blood, but has left scars all over her arms. She keeps an access on her chest, so the blood can move directly to and from her heart.
It could all stop with a fresh kidney. Murphy is her best shot at rejuvenation -- a life no longer dragged down by diabetes, blood pressure and fatigue.
"They're having trouble finding spots to access the blood, so I don't know what they'd do next," Daniels said. "It's really important that I get a kidney soon, and I think I will."
She started the treatment 11 years ago, when her mom went through cancer and her blood pressure skyrocketed, destroying her kidneys. Daniels' body rejected a cadaver kidney transplant in 2003 in Chicago. She came to Texas two years ago, signing on for another transplant list and a better life.
Though she aspires to work in the medical field, her new home and teenage daughter forced her to take what was available -- a cashier job at Wal-Mart. It was a blessing in disguise.
Murphy, a lifelong Dallas-area resident, worked the aisles alongside Daniels. They talked about raising their daughters, but Murphy chose not to pry into Daniels' obvious health issues.
"She had on a patch so I always wondered, but I wasn't going to be rude," Murphy said. "When someone else asked her about it, that's when I slowly started the questions."
They saw each other almost every day until Daniels' hours disappeared. She was taking ATI training courses and going through frequent dialysis. Her schedule wasn't on par with Wal-Mart, so they let her go.
Their work relationship ended, but their friendship -- and Murphy's pledge -- remained. Murphy's cousin died earlier this year from the extremely rare X Linked Lymphoproliferative (XLP) Disorder. A bone marrow transplant could have saved his life, but once Murphy got on the donor register, he was too sick to accept.
"If I'm going to do something good, I'd prefer to do it while I'm alive," said Murphy, eager for a second chance with Daniels.
If Murphy's kidney is a match, Daniels' long wait could soon be over. Tests were stalled in recent weeks, though, as Murphy's own blood pressure peaked.
She went with Daniels to Fresenius and nearly saw more than she could handle. Through fooling around with a blood pressure gauge there, Murphy came as close as she could to a blood-on experience.
"I think she got kind of stressed about being there because there are so many people hooked up to machines," Daniels said of the visit. "It's hard to stomach."
Murphy spent a couple of days getting her blood pressure back to normal, where it's stayed. She will complete the necessary donor tests at Baylor Medical Center at Dallas over the next few weeks.
A person needs only 30 percent of one working kidney to function, said Daniels, who basically has two dormant kidneys. Seemingly brought together by fate, the friends are confident Murphy's kidney is Daniels' way to a better life.
"We both realize there's a chance it won't be a match, but I just really believe it's going to happen," Murphy said.
Until then, Murphy will continue working at Wal-Mart. Daniels delivers pizza for two different Pizza Huts, even on nights after dialysis when she's supposed to rest.
Her treatment cleans out the toxins in her blood, but has left scars all over her arms. She keeps an access on her chest, so the blood can move directly to and from her heart.
It could all stop with a fresh kidney. Murphy is her best shot at rejuvenation -- a life no longer dragged down by diabetes, blood pressure and fatigue.
"They're having trouble finding spots to access the blood, so I don't know what they'd do next," Daniels said. "It's really important that I get a kidney soon, and I think I will."
You have no idea how blessed I am for my mom to still be alive. I pray that this kidney will be a match because her life is already a daily struggle. So for now on i will speak positve, becasue i know when she gets this kidney, it will be a life changing event. Now she would finally be able to fulfill everything she has regreted in life from dialysis slowing her down.
<3 Kiya
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