Shelly & Amanda

- Shelly is a mother who works at Yarmouth Hospital as a secretary, registering patients in renal unit. She got to know her patients and the transplant team. Shelly knew that she had two kdineys, and she didn't need one to live a healthy life. Shelly talked to her kidney and asked many questions what it would be like to be an altruistic donor. Shelly's father was sick and she wasn't able to help him, so this was her way to help someone else in a tangible way. She went through the process and was found to be a suitable donor. After a successful transplant, she received a letter. After seeing an acquaintance in the hospital post transplant they wondered if they could have been matched to one another. She pulled out the letter and it was the one. She had donated to a fellow nurse and was so happy to know she was doing well.

- Amanda works for Nova Scotia Health Authority. She was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at age 18. She always knew she would need a transplant as she had other relatives who had been through the process. In Amanda's 40s she was referred to a nephrologist when her kidneys began to deteriorate. Amanda ended up on dialysis, which she said felt like just existing. She was living one day at a time when she received a call telling her an anonymous donor had a matching kidney for her. She sent a thank you letter. After seeing an acquantance in the hospital post transplant they wondered if they could have been matched to one another. She pulled out the letter and it was the one. She had received a kidney from a fellow nurse and was so happy to be able to show her the impact on her life.