EP 126: Twice Gifted: Beth Otto’s Journey As a 2 Time Kidney Recipient

2025-09-16

Title: Twice Gifted: Beth Otto’s Journey As a 2 Time Kidney Recipient 🎙️ Episode Summary In today’s episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson interviews Beth Otto. At just 25 years old, Beth Otto received her first life-saving kidney transplant from a deceased donor. Years later, a second transplant — this time from a selfless friend — gave her a renewed lease on life. In this inspiring episode, Beth opens up about her journey as a two-time kidney recipient and how those experiences shaped her purpose. Motivated by the care she received, Beth became a nurse, dedicating her life to helping others...

Title: Twice Gifted: Beth Otto’s Journey As a 2 Time Kidney Recipient

🎙️ Episode Summary

In today’s episode of This Thing Called Life, host Andi Johnson interviews Beth Otto. At just 25 years old, Beth Otto received her first life-saving kidney transplant from a deceased donor. Years later, a second transplant — this time from a selfless friend — gave her a renewed lease on life. In this inspiring episode, Beth opens up about her journey as a two-time kidney recipient and how those experiences shaped her purpose. Motivated by the care she received, Beth became a nurse, dedicating her life to helping others. This episode is a powerful reminder of the impact of organ donation and the resilience of the human spirit.

✨ Episode Highlights

Beth’s Journey as Patient and Nurse: Beth Otto, a two-time kidney transplant recipient, shares her dual perspective as both a nurse and a patient.
35 Years in Healthcare: Beth has worked as a nurse for over three decades, bringing compassion and purpose to every role she has held.
Symptoms Overlooked: Early warning signs such as back pain and fatigue were ignored until Beth discovered her blood pressure was alarmingly high—260 over 180—before teaching an aerobics class.
First Transplant Experience: Beth recalls her first kidney transplant from a deceased donor and the time she spent on peritoneal dialysis beforehand.
Living with Gratitude: She reflects on the gift of life she was given, sharing how she now lives with deep gratitude and purpose, never taking moments for granted.
Choosing Nursing as a Calling: Inspired by the care she received, Beth pursued nursing school and built a career dedicated to patient care.
Diverse Nursing Career: Over the years, Beth worked in physical medicine and rehabilitation, cardiac care, and wellness, blending personal passion with professional expertise.
A Family Friend’s Gift: Beth’s second transplant came from her mother’s longtime friend—who became her perfect living donor match.
The Difference with Living Donation: Beth shares how the experience of having a living donor was unique—allowing her to build an ongoing relationship and celebrate life together.
Community Inspiration: Beth believes her donor’s act of generosity inspired many others in the Fort Thomas community to register as organ donors.
Raising Awareness Through Storytelling: Her journey has helped alleviate fears and spread awareness about the importance of organ donation.
The Power of Living Donation: Beth emphasizes how living kidney donors can make a profound and immediate difference in someone’s life.
Celebrating Milestones: Every September 18th, Beth and her donor celebrate their transplant anniversary together, honoring the bond and the gift of life they share.

📝 Key Takeaways

Every Organ Donation Extends Far Beyond One Life
Beth’s story shows how organ donation not only restores health but also inspires communities to register, talk openly, and advocate for donation.
Living Donors Create Unique Bonds
A living donation carries a special connection between donor and recipient—allowing them to celebrate milestones together and share a lifetime of gratitude.
Purpose Through Gratitude
Beth transformed her personal health journey into a 35-year nursing career, using her experiences to fuel compassion, service, and advocacy for others facing similar challenges.

📢 Tweetable Quotes

“So then went to the hospital. They ended up finding out that I had just had complete renal failure. They tested me, and I had no kidney function whatsoever.”

Beth Otto on her firsthand experience of Kidney Failure

“Thank you from the bottom of my kidney. I don't ever take a moment for granted. I live every day as hard and as fast as I can, and try as hard and as fast as I can to help everybody else have that same joy.”

Beth Otto

“So that's why I went back to nursing school, and that's where I felt like what I gained from being in the hospital, and the care that I received while I was getting my transplant, I was like, Okay, this is I gotta do this.”

Beth Otto on going to nursing school

“And so I really always wanted to become a heart nurse, okay? And so I ended up getting and working in cardiac and the cardiac unit cardiac rehab, and I did that for 19 years, and then I worked alongside wellness and cardiac care.”

Beth Otto on her roles as a heart nurse

“And the perfect match is obviously an identical twin. She was the second-best thing, just a perfect match. She said the only thing that would have been better was if I had had a twin.”

Beth Otto on her 2nd kidney transplant

“I guess they differ because I have the ability now to be with my donor all the time. Yeah, we go out frequently. We, you know, celebrate each other's successes, stories, and lives. We're all family, right? Her husband always says, “they're all here”, and so that's just a really fun way, and it's really true.”

Beth Otto on how the 2 transplants differ

“That's what I hear often from people who have been donors, living kidney donors, as much of a blessing as they have been to that person that they're able to help, they feel they were equally as blessed because they were able to give this gift.”