66-year-old Harrisburg, Pa. resident, Veronica Feldmann, is very familiar with organ transplantation. In 2016, she underwent a liver transplant at an academic medical center in Maryland because of a hereditary condition called sclerosing cholangitis. She had lived in Maryland for many years, but recently relocated to Harrisburg/Hershey area to be near her daughter.
Her need for a kidney transplant was because of another hereditary condition, called Alport syndrome. Alport syndrome can present in many forms; including end-stage kidney disease, hearing loss, and it can affect vision. Alport syndrome is caused by an inherited defect in type IV collagen, a structural material that is needed for the normal function of different parts of the body. Type IV collagen is found in the ears, eyes, and kidneys, which explains why it affects unrelated parts of the body.
Because of her poor kidney function numbers, Veronica was approved for a kidney transplant at an academic medical center in Hershey. Everything was all set. She had secured a friend as a living donor, completed all of her testing, and was scheduled for surgery in July of 2022. Her donor, a friend and a schoolteacher, was all set to make the three-hour drive for surgery during her summer break.
Unfortunately, weeks before the surgery was scheduled, the transplant program at the hospital in Hershey was inactivated and her case was transferred to UPMC Harrisburg.
The Journey to UPMC
Even though UPMC Harrisburg was the same distance from her home as hospital in Hershey, the transfer was disruptive.
“This was truly an unsettling and daunting experience for both me and my donor to say the least,” Ronnie said.
She had to get a new date for surgery scheduled and she was up against a deadline. Her transplant testing was approaching the year-mark.
Because of the efforts of the transplant team at UPMC Harrisburg, both Ronnie and Kimberly’s transplants were a success. The team was able to streamline Ronnie’s process to get her surgery done at the quickest date possible.
“From the moment UPMC took me on as a patient, they were awesome,” Ronnie says. “The pre-transplant team was welcoming, and they allayed our fears immediately. Communication was constant, my case was prioritized, and a new date was in place quickly. I can’t thank them enough.”
Ronnie was scheduled for surgery, this time in September.
Her surgery went smoothly, and she is feeling well 18 months later. She is very appreciative of her care team that was supportive and on top of things through the whole process. Because Ronnie had complications after her liver transplant, the kidney transplant care team monitored her recovery closely.
Ronnie’s donor, Kimberly, recovered well. In fact, she said, “If more people knew how easy it was, more people would donate. It was worth it!” Ronnie and Kimberly have known each other for about 30 years. They had met through work.
Ronnie considers the transfer of care to UPMC Harrisburg as a positive experience. “Now that the transplant is almost two years behind me, I truly believe that it was a blessing in disguise that I was transplanted at UPMC. Having been through a previous transplant, I know that the care I received at UPMC was top notch,” said Ronnie.
The Road to Recovery
Looking back at her liver transplant, Ronnie had experienced a drastic improvement in her quality of life. Sclerosing cholangitis had incapacitated her. After her liver transplant, she felt like a new person. Clearly, the preparation and effort going into the liver transplant had paid off for her physically.
Sometimes the road to recovery after transplant isn’t physical. Ronnie suffered from a bout of depression after the kidney transplant. The improvement in her quality of life after the kidney transplant was not as drastic as her previous liver transplant. Although she was in stage 4 kidney failure at her first exam, her only symptoms were fatigue and other minor issues. The physical change was not as noticeable after the kidney transplant. However, she is glad that she underwent the procedure. Some of her family members passed away from these hereditary conditions.
In Ronnie’s spare time, she spends time with her grandkids; two teenage granddaughters and a 9-year-old grandson. Even though she’s a bit of a self-proclaimed homebody, Ronnie enjoys volunteering and traveling all over the United States with friends and family.
“I believe God had a hand in this as well, putting my donor, Kimberly, in my life over 30 years ago. Not only is she one of my best friends, but she is also my hero. Giving so unselfishly a gift you cannot put a price tag on- LIFE. I am eternally grateful to her for giving me time to spend with my grandchildren, my daughter, my family, to travel, and enjoy time with her! I am truly blessed indeed.”
Ronnie and Kimberly's treatment and results may not be representative of other cases.
