The Open Letter

AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT REBECCA WILSON HILLARD (BECKY)

If Becky is your friend or family you already know most of this.This is for those that don’t know…

Five years ago, on June 1, 2010, Becky (a 35 year old single mom of four teenagers) was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. Since then she has been on Peritoneal Dialysis. Becky’s life, and her home have been filled with..Home dialysis machine,Huge stacks of boxes of Dialysis solution, Paper towels,Antibacterial soap, Face masks, 2×2 & 4×4 gauze, @ 10 different medications, Hand sanitizer, Blood pressure cuff,Cassette for machine, Patient extensions,Drain line extensions, Dressings for exit site, Mini caps for catheter,Antibiotics in case of infection….. and more. Even with all the chaos, Becky remains thankful for dialysis.

It keeps her alive.

A little over a year ago, Becky began the search for a kidney donor. Out of the first four people tested, her sister-in-law, Nikki was the closest match. Following many months of examinations and procedures for both of them, the transplant surgery was set for February 10, 2015. Two weeks before the surgery, Becky went through a “desensitization” procedure to lower or eliminate any antibodies she had to Nikki’s blood. Twelve hours before the surgery, it was cancelled due to a sudden and extreme rise in the Becky’s antibodies to Nikki’s blood. There’s still not a clear answer why that happened. We only know that if the surgery had gone forward, the kidney would’ve been rejected and possibly worse. Nikki is no longer a donor candidate.

Becky continued on dialysis….

Becky has a wonderful, large circle of family and friends. Many of them have pursued being a Living Donor by being a Direct Donor or entering the NKR (a National Paired Kidney Exchange) So far, no viable Donor has been found.

Becky continues to be on dialysis and prays for a kidney….

Recently, I was asked by the Christ Hospital Kidney Donor Champion Program to be Becky’s Donor Champion (or Advocate). This means That I will be speaking on Becky’s behalf, Whenever, Wherever, and to Whoever I can to expand the network of people who know about Becky’s situation and perhaps reach someone who would consider the heroic gift of donation.

Although her health is currently stable, Becky will need a transplant in the near future in order to survive. She is in desperate need of a kidney. She is on the Deceased Donor Transplant List, but the wait is 5 + years . The best option is for a Living Direct Donor. Second would be to enter the NKR, Paired Kidney Exchange. Either of these would require a volunteer to be willing to give a kidney to save a life.

Please share this letter with your family, friends, church, work, school, or any other communities you belong to.

Any questions about Live Kidney Donation or to receive a donor packet, contact-

Jessica Enswieler, Donor Transplant Coordinator-   513-585-1427

Thank you,

Sharon Wilson (Becky’s “Kidney Champion” and Mom)

nkygrammy@yahoo.com.