Saving a Life, Times Two 

Kidney Swap Helps Mom and Stranger

By Cindy Ziervogel

The only thing Chris Dyson of Sugar Land, Texas wanted to do was save his mother’s life.  His goal was to shield her from what would most likely be harsh years ahead of kidney dialysis and donor waitlists.  Chris did not hesitate to offer up his kidney to his mother. But give it to someone else?  Well that took a little getting used to.

Sherry Dyson, living just two miles away was fortunate to have such a generous son, one who was willing to help save her life.  And if that is all Chris would do, giving his mother his kidney was in and of itself heroic enough. At the time he initially agreed to help his mother, long before testing and hospitals became a reality, he had no idea what else would be asked of him. But once Sherry’s doctor told her it was time to enter the transplant program, she and Chris registered at Houston Methodist Hospital where all potential donors and recipients are told from day one about their internal kidney swap program.

When a live donor volunteers, there is a strict evaluation process of donors and recipients.  Two tests are made. The first is checking for compatible blood types and the second is compatible tissue type.  After several tests, Chris received the news that he was a match for his mother. Even though that seemed like a slam dunk, giving one of his healthy kidneys to his mother, members of the transplant department asked if he would enter a kidney swap. It seemed a little confusing at first. Even intimidating. Why not just keep things easy and let mom get my kidney, Chris remembered thinking.

“At first I thought it probably doesn’t make sense.  If I’m a match for my mom I should donate directly to her,” said Chris.

But the answer was both simple and complicated because Sherry’s blood type meant she could receive a donated kidney from almost anyone, but Chris had the rare type of kidney that could help save another life.

Sherry’s kidneys were failing, and she needed a new one.  She suffers from Polycystic Kidney disease (PKD), a chronic, inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within the kidneys, causing them to enlarge and lose function over time. Her mother had it and her sisters have it as well. Chris’ brother is plagued with the disease too, a disappointing fact the family recently learned after he was tested.  But luckily Chris’ kidneys were disease-free and healthy.

While Sherry and Chris were going through the testing, there was another man in Houston waiting for a kidney, Daniel Housley.  But in Daniel’s case, time was critical. He was on dialysis and suffering from Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), another type of kidney disease. His step daughter, Cecily Meza, originally from Houston but now residing in Donna, Texas had disease-free and healthy kidneys too but unfortunately was not a match to her stepfather. Daniel needed a specific blood type and no other family member or friend was willing to donate to him.  All they could do was pray.

Cecily had no idea what would lie ahead. All she knew was she and Daniel had faith. Yet it was still daunting. Daniel had already been on the donation list for five years waiting for a kidney from a cadaver even though receiving a kidney from a live donor is the preferred method.

Lucky for Daniel it did not take long for Chris to come around to the kidney swap idea. Knowing that he could help both his mother and someone else put him in the yes column. It was a decision that would make Chris a hero times two.

Regardless of the web of recipients, Chris had to deal with the idea of going under the knife. He kept hearing from friends and strangers that the surgery was harder on the donor than the recipient.

“I wasn’t too worried, even though it was going to be harder on me,” said Chris. “I was more worried about my mom’s surgery than mine.”

Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, Chief of Nephrology and Transplantation at Houston Methodist hospital sees all potential kidney donors to make sure they are an appropriate candidate for donation.  He also sees the recipients of transplanted kidneys.  He knows how difficult the surgery can be.

“The recipient is very sick. They have no energy and they’re struggling with kidney failure.  Overnight you give them 50 percent back in kidney function. With the removal of toxins, they immediately feel better,” said Dr. Ibrahim. “With the donor it’s the opposite. You take someone who is completely healthy, and you put them through surgery they don’t need, and they wake up with pain.”

Dialysis is very hard on the body.  According to Dr. Ibrahim, the number one cause of death on dialysis is cardiovascular disease.  And the second cause of death is infection.

“Those two reasons make it greatly mitigated to get a transplant.  For the average person one is better off with prostate cancer, lung cancer or colon cancer, then being on dialysis in terms of long-term health complications.”

While live kidney donors are in short supply, all potential donors must pass rigorous tests, studies and scans to be in the program. They must have good kidney function, a reassuring fact to the recipients who are considering receiving a stranger’s kidney rather than from a loved one.

“Getting a transplant from a living donor, while not a cure, can last maybe twice as long as from a deceased transplant,” said Gloria Govella, Kidney Donor Coordinator at Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center.

“It’s a great thing when someone wants to give the gift of a kidney to someone they care about, someone they love” said Gloria. “We try to maximize that gift. We believe in trying to help everyone.  Whether you match the person you brought with you or not, under a voluntary program we will enter your genetics into our computer program to see if maybe you could help your loved one and somebody else.”

Chris and Cecily, two willing donors at Houston Methodist and complete strangers at the time agreed to play a game of I’ll trade you mine for yours, or better known as a kidney swap. Obviously, Cecily and Daniel loved the idea right away. As long as Cecily donated her kidney to someone in the program, Daniel would receive one too.

“I was so excited when I first learned of the program,” Cecily said. “In the beginning we didn’t know about Chris, we were just asked if we wanted to sign up for the program.  But I felt like there was hope.”

Kidney swaps come with many challenges. The larger the number of pairs, the larger the headache. Anything can go wrong.  The largest internal swap at Methodist involved six pairs; 12 people.  Gloria played a part in the planning.

“It wasn’t easy to pull off. Twelve people involved and six of those people were ill. Anything can go wrong leading up to it. But it was a miracle. Being a donor coordinator I get to handle all these people who are selfless. They are stepping up to give a gift that’s priceless. My job is a great job,” said Gloria.

When Chris, Sherry, Cecily and Daniel consented to the 2-pair swap, each had no idea who the opposite donor or recipient was.

On October 2, 2018, two kidneys were removed, and two kidneys were successfully transplanted. Chris’ kidney was transplanted to Daniel and Sherry got one from Cecily. Two days post-surgery, Chris and Sherry met Cecily and Daniel in person.  The four of them laughed and hugged while still all tangled up in IV lines.

“I feel like Chris is an angel,” Cecily said. “He has a great heart.  I have so much love and respect for him. He’s a blessing from God. He could have just given his kidney straight to his mother and we would still be waiting.  Daniel and I talk about it all the time.”

Chris and Cecily are glad the surgery is over. Sherry is too. Daniel is finally untethered from dialysis and feeling better every day.

“I believe Chris is a great man,” said Daniel.  “I will never be able to thank him enough.  I know he didn’t have to proceed with the kidney swap.  I’ll remember him forever.  He gave me life again.”

Now they are a foursome. Connected by fate, circumstance and heroic acts. Their parting words were the pact they made to meet up next year on the surgery anniversary and celebrate life.