Episode 33: We Got The Call, And A Friendship Was Formed with Renee Paige and Sarah Green

November is the month of National Donor Sabbath, where people of all faiths highlight organ donation within their places of worship. During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson talks with Renee Paige and Sarah Green who have a beautiful connection that formed a few years ago, tune in for this inspiring story!

 

Episode Highlights: 

• Renee and Sarah recall the details of meeting each other for the first time when they received kidney transplants from the same donor on the same day.
• They both share their belief in God and how they knew they had a connection.
• Did you know that lupus can cause renal failure? Renee shares her journey with it.
• Sarah shares what brought her to the place of needing a kidney transplant and how she wrestled with the news.
• Diabetes and hypertension are precursors to kidney disease.
• Andi emphasizes that Kidney disease is a silent killer and many want to be in denial.
• Renee recalls her thoughts about transplant donation prior to her journey with it.
• Some have a fear of death and therefore just don’t want to address the topic of organ donation.
• Sarah shares her time of working in the medical field starting as a candy striper and how she learned the purpose of organ donation.
• Renee and Sarah share about how they got to go through the whole process of receiving an organ together. They are each other’s kidney champions of support.
• If you received an organ, what would you say to your donor’s family? Renee and Sarah share their responses.
• After receiving a kidney transplant, new freedom is achieved. Renee and Sarah explain the difference between before and after. 
• When you are vulnerable and share your journey, more people can relate, be encouraged, and be motivated to address their own health issues too.
• There are opportunities to advocate for the organ donation process, support others who are on that journey, and offer hope.
• How does kidney donation impact people of color?
• For those that are waiting for an organ, keep the faith. It can happen for you. Don’t feel as though you have a death sentence. When you open your eyes each day, be thankful and keep moving forward.
• By signing your name as an organ donor, you can save lives. Educate yourself on the importance of organ donation.
• There are more than 90,000 men, women, and children in need of life-saving kidney transplants in our country today.

 

3 Key Points:

1. There are many misconceptions about organ donation that cause resistance to being organ donors. Renee and Sarah share how their viewpoints on the matter changed. 
2. Doctors and medical teams' only duty is to save lives. The donation piece is secondary and it’s not until death has been declared that organ donation becomes a part of the end of life conversation.
3. Renee and Sarah share the limitations of living life on dialysis three days a week and the freedom they have after being given a second chance at life through kidney donation. 

 

Resources Mentioned:

• LifeCenter | website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube|  Twitter
• Andi Johnson  website |LinkedIn 
• Organ Donation Website
• https://www.donatelife.net/nmdam/
• Life Center’s Community Breakfast Virtual Edition will be November 17th 9-10am EST: This is a free event, open to the public, register at lifepassiton.org.