Jody Found a Kidney

Meet Jody Lockshin

In 1991, she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus (SLE), a non-contagious, chronic auto-immune disease with no known cause or cure.

This disease commonly causes kidney failure, and for Jody, in 2002, it did. That's when Rod, Jody's sister Kay's husband, donated a kidney to Jody.

Kay and Rod

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Good News! - January 17, 2009

Dear Everyone,

As of today, I now have a living kidney donor! It took 2.5 months of testing to determine that this person is a "match". If not for this, I'd be on dialysis and waiting 7 years for a cadaveric kidney. Surgery will be in a couple of months...a piece of cake in comparison to living on dialysis!

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, emails, cards, suggestions, support, offers to be tested for me, to sit with me during dialysis, to help with errands, food, etc. You are all wonderful friends and family.

Also, thanks for spreading the word about organ donation, and about registering (if you live in TX) at www.donatelifetexas.org (or in your own state on their website), so hopefully, people in need will get help sooner than 3-5 years. It's not on your driver's license, like everyone thinks; you must both register on-line at the above link, and you must tell your family your wishes, in order to donate. Currently, very few people who need lungs, hearts, etc. live long enough to receive the cadaveric organs necessary to keep them alive. Only about 3% of organ donors are eligible to donate because they must die a "brain death".

Check out these statistics:

Even if you think you're too unhealthy to donate, you'd be surprised at what can be used.

If you know anyone else in need of an organ, they're welcome to copy my information for their own web pages.

Sincerely, Jody

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TRANSPLANT! - March 24, 2009

My transplant took place at the North Austin Medical Center, exactly seven years and four days after my first transplant.  Thanks to my gracious and generous friend, and donor, all is well at this time. 

The healing process took a grueling 3 three weeks of exhaustion and lethargy, but I’m now, as of April 16, almost back to normal. 

The kidney is most susceptible to rejection within the first year, so only time will tell if I’ll be fine.

Thanks to my donor, Andy Weinbach, family, friends and transplant team for this opportunity to live normally and healthily!

Jody and Andy

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