Ann Beasley

When Ann Beasley learned her husband, Jerry, needed a kidney transplant, she was eager to donate one of hers. She was disappointed to learn her blood type, A+, didn't match his, O+. Neither of Jerry's grown children were a match. A cousin and in-law who were willing to donate turned out to have health problems.

People who have type O blood can donate kidneys to people who have type A, B and AB blood but can only receive a kidney from another type O blood donor. This naturally limits the potential donor pool for type O's.

Jerry's physicians at Mayo Clinic told the couple that a kidney from a matching blood type was preferable, but the couple had gone to Mayo Clinic, in part, because they knew it performed a procedure called ABO incompatible kidney transplants ... just in case a suitable match couldn't be located in time.

Usually, if a patient received an organ from a donor with an incompatible blood type, naturally occurring antibodies would trigger the immune system to destroy the transplanted kidney. To prevent that reaction, the patient can have plasmapheresis, a dialysis-like procedure that removes the antibodies from the recipient's blood. Then, the patient receives an infusion of plasma serum with the regular antibodies needed for a functioning immune system.

"We had such a good feeling about my health that we decided I would donate," says Ann. "My family was amused because I've had a lifelong aversion to needles and anything medical. My brother still can't believe I voluntarily donated a kidney! But donating to Jerry was the most natural thing. He and I had no fear. We share a strong faith in God and just had a good feeling all along that everything would work out."

Ann spent two nights in the hospital after the transplant and resumed walking for exercise a week later. She describes her surgery as a piece of cake.

From the time of Jerry's pre-transplant treatment to discharge after recovery from surgery, the couple spent 39 days in Rochester.

"I can't tell I'm missing a kidney," says Ann. "I read once that God gives you two kidneys so you can keep one and give one away. Our lives are so normal now that I have to stop and remind myself about the transplant."

Ann and Jerry talk to others in their state about kidney donation and have referred several people to Mayo Clinic for transplants.

"I feel very strongly about spreading the word about incompatible kidney transplants," says Ann. "So many people are dying while waiting for a transplant when a family member or friend could step forward, if they only knew about incompatible transplants. Why isn't there a more concerted effort to encourage this type of kidney donation and transplant? I'd do it all over again in a skinny minute."