For many people, a kidney transplant is their second chance at life. I have lost count of how many times God already has given me a second chance at life. I owe my life to God.
I was born in Asbe Tefari, Ethiopia, in 1952. All but one of my six brothers and sisters and my parents passed away by the time I was eight. My surviving brother took over my care until he, too, passed away when I was 25.
When I was 12, I contracted tuberculosis of the glands. I had to walk 5 to 10 miles to the hospital every day for treatment or took a taxi when I had the money.
The doctors said it was under control, but I continued to have untreated, undiagnosed symptoms of tuberculosis until I met my husband at age 24. We moved to Kenya, where I gave birth to my first daughter, Cathy.
We moved to Switzerland, and I was diagnosed as still suffering from tuberculosis. I underwent more than 18 months of treatment and was cured.
In 1980, we moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., and had a second daughter, Sophie.
On New Year’s Eve of 1988, I was diagnosed with hepatitis B and liver cancer, and several weeks later in Pittsburgh, Pa., received a liver transplant. It had to be repeated immediately, after my body rejected the first one. I now count myself as a 19-year liver cancer survivor.
Two years later, I returned from a followup treatment to find my husband had moved out and I was left to raise my children on my own. I quickly learned how to drive myself and take care of myself and my family.
I am so grateful to my God for giving me this second chance of life so I could see my children grow up. Without God, I would never have had the strength to start my life over with dignity and become a truly independent woman.
Five years ago, I learned I had developed a cyst on my kidney, likely due to my anti-rejection medicine. In 2003, I started a new anti-rejection medicine. I started having heart problems, and my kidneys began their decline. I was in the hospital four times for a stomach ulcer that each time bled half of the blood in my body. I also underwent treatment and rehabilitation for fluid around my heart.
In late 2006, I learned that one of my kidneys had shut down and the second was functioning at one-fourth capacity. In March of 2007 I began dialysis and felt better than I had felt in years.
I am on the waiting list at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Memorial Hospital to receive a kidney transplant.
I thank God for the chances at life I have received so far. I feel blessed to be alive and I am so grateful to all of my loved ones--my friends and my daughters--for helping me through this time. Every morning, I sit in my living room and take the time to thank God for where I am today and to enjoy the sunshine that comes into this room, the plants that surround me and my house, and all the birds that come sit and drink water outside my window.
I do want to continue living. I would like to see my grandchildren, to go back to school, to continue my life in prayer, help people wherever I can, and to do with the rest of my life whatever God wills for me.
Thank you for offering to help me get on the road to my kidney transplant.
--Lishan Knowles