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Kidney Transplant Program

The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories

    Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of Mayo Clinic transplant patients.

    1. Arizona Family is 'Transplant Strong' for Son's Journey to Kidney Health

      When Kendon Holdaway found out he would need a kidney transplant, his close-knit family rallied around him. With his mother as his living donor, and his father and siblings stepping up to be caregivers, the transplant turned into a bonding experience that drew the family even closer. It's often said that parents will do anything [...]

    2. Kidney Transplant is All in the Family

      Maesy Ramirez, Kelsey Ramirez-Macias, Sophia Remirez and Jose Ramirez. When Jose Ramirez learned his kidneys were failing and he needed a transplant, his sister Kelsey Ramirez-Macias immediately stepped forward to be his donor. With guidance from Mayo Clinic's Hispanic Transplant Program, the Ramirez family navigated the transplant process, and now Jose's health has been restored. [...]

    3. After Kidney and Pancreas Transplant, Allma Says Goodbye to Diabetes

      For decades, Allma Johnson managed her diabetes with insulin and diet. But at 43, her heart and kidneys were failing as a result of the disease, and she needed a kidney and pancreas transplant. Today, thanks to the transplant she received at Mayo Clinic, Allma's diabetes and its devastating complications are gone. When Allma Johnson [...]

    4. The Match of a Lifetime

      When Ed Waters needed a kidney transplant, his wife, Darlene, stepped up to be his donor. The couple was delighted to find that, just as in the rest of their married life, they were perfectly compatible. When Ed and Darlene Waters of Glenwood City, Wisconsin, got married 43 years ago, it seemed they were an [...]

    5. Crafting An Artist's Healthy Future

      Lupus was wreaking havoc on Emily Olson's health. Her Mayo Clinic care team's decision to employ a medication typically not used for this autoimmune disorder, along with a kidney transplant, not only saved Emily's life, it reignited her independence and confidence. Emily Olson has always loved drawing, and she wanted to make a living with [...]

    6. A New Kidney With a Little Help From His Friends

      When Fred Anderson needed a new kidney, he didn't have to look far to find eager donors. His friends Jim Ross and Ted Schreiber both stepped forward. Although Jim ended up being the donor, all three banded together to ensure the transplant journey included plenty of support and camaraderie. Fred Anderson of Great Falls, Montana, [...]

    7. Bidding Farewell to Enormous, Faulty Kidneys

      "Owner of the world's largest kidneys" was never a title Gene Okun wanted to have. Today, thanks to a living donor and a Mayo Clinic surgical team, he no longer does. Gene Okun's kidneys had to go. They were big. They didn't work. And they were ruining his life. "My stomach's so big that it [...]

    8. Kidney Transplant Opens the Door to Lanell Johnson's Next Adventure

      Lanell Johnson's path to a kidney transplant wasn't easy. But now that she's received a new kidney and is enjoying a return to good health, Lanell and her husband are eager to move forward. Lanell Johnson takes pride in what she calls her battle scars ? the result of her long journey to a successful [...]

    9. 'Lobby Days' Offer Life-Changing Information About Kidney Transplants

      After enduring kidney dialysis for years, a conversation Martin Ruiz Zerme?o had at his dialysis center with Mayo Clinic social worker Jeffrey Welch paved the way to a successful kidney transplant. Martin Ruiz Zerme?o's home was melancholy. "When you don't feel well, there's sadness at home," he says. Stealing joy from Martin's life was kidney [...]
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    Feb. 25, 2020

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