#TimeforTammy Update: Memphis Mom Needs A Kidney Donor

Here’s to a healthy dose of Social Goodness! While we often hear about the negative aspect of social media in the news, the support that Tammy is receiving online is proof that social media can be used to make a positive difference and connect us all.While I’m grateful for the incredible response that my blog post has received and for those sharing Tammy’s struggle, the truth is that she needs a kidney donor match and this latest health setback has caused a big delay in accomplishing this life-saving goal.
Blogger rallies Memphis-area moms to help local woman awaiting transplant
Press release from National Foundation for Transplants
http://www.transplants.org/resources/news/blogger-rallies-memphis-area-moms-help-local-woman-awaiting-transplant/26/02/15
Here is the scoop on what is going on and Tammy’s current condition, including the latest monkey wrench (as if the Johnson family needed anything more to worry about). Due to this recent health setback, and the need to have a defibrillator implanted out of medical necessity, Tammy’s current cardiac condition forces her in a holding pattern. What does that mean? Well, her medical team has deemed her heart to be too weak to make it through kidney transplantation right now. What does THAT mean? It means she had to be taken off the transplant list. This is NOT what anyone wanted, adds layers of complications, and sadly could be a dramatic scene in a movie…wait, wasn’t there a movie with Denzel Washington about an organ transplant and a fight with the hospital?

The reality is that due to hospital policies and protocols, there is a technicality that is currently preventing the transplant coordinator from taking donor registrations for Tammy. You would think, since time is of utmost importance right now that there would be a way around hospital policies. Let’s just say that we hope this situation will be resolved quickly. In the meanwhile, we (friends) are maintaining a list of potential donors in the hopes that we can help find Tammy a donor match. Thank you to those who have already shown tremendous kindness by reaching out by email. If anyone would like to express interest in seeing if they could potentially be a living donor for Tammy, please email: do***********@***il.com. It is completely confidential.

There IS a silver lining here though. So many of us have experienced that powerless feeling of watching a loved one suffer from a terminal illness while knowing there was nothing we could do to change the outcome. The sadness can be felt not only from the lack of control, but the burning desire to make it better. This is NOT that situation. Tammy Johnson is O+ and needs a kidney transplant so she can be given the chance to watch her children grow up. The silver lining exists – her life can be saved if she finds a kidney donor in time.

I always say that moms can be an almighty powerful and influential group (not to mention a lively and fun bunch) when we band together. Our newsfeeds are saturated with stories of people in need and it would be easy to dismiss Tammy’s story. Yet that isn’t happening. People care and it is uplifting to see that many of us want to help Tammy by trying to imagine ourselves in her shoes and realize the right thing to do is rally around her. That is why I’m asking to continue a mom rally and help find a donor match in #TimeforTammy.

Please email: do***********@***il.com if you would consider being a living donor. We are greatly appreciative and will respond to everyone. Many have also asked…
What can I do?
Share Tammy’s story. Like Tammy’s Facebook page, Memphis Mom Needs A Kidney and tweet #TimeforTammy. Please feel free to reach out to your local media in hopes that we can find Tammy a donor match.
Make a donation for Tammy’s care through the National Foundation for Transplants, http://patients.transplants.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=485635&supid=403580543#
Consider becoming a Living Donor for Kidney Transplant  (if wondering what is involved in the screening process, please see the information below gathered from the hospital website where Tammy gets treated):

• Family members or individuals who are unrelated but make a good match may also donate one of their kidneys through a living donor transplant. Donors can live healthy lives with one kidney.
• If the donor and recipient are not compatible, living donation is still an option through the Paired Kidney Exchange Program. Incompatible pairs can join a national pool of other incompatible pairs and “exchange” donors, through an organization called the National Kidney Registry. This registry ensures that the recipient will receive a living donor with possibly a better match. These matches can facilitate a “chain” of transplants and benefit multiple people. The transplant team will discuss the Paired Kidney Exchange Program if this is an option for you.
• Typically the recipient’s insurance will pay for the testing. This will be verified by one of our Financial Case Manager’s per case.
• Who Pays For the Donor Surgery?
  Typically the recipient’s insurance will pay for the operation and follow-up in the post transplant clinic. This will be verified by one of the Financial Case Manager’s per case.
• What Testing Will I Need To Complete My Evaluation?
  We will begin with blood typing and crossmatching blood from donor and recipient.
  Other labs will include chemistries, complete blood count, clotting factors, 24 hour urine to assess kidney function, urinalysis, viral studies, other labs as needed.
  Procedural testing will include chest x-ray, CT scan, GFR (kidney function test), cardiac testing as indicated.
  Outside referrals or additional testing will be made as indicated.