Chris Jacobsmeyer has seen both sides of organ transplant - as a transplant recipient and a member of an organ donor family. That''s why she''s the ideal person to represent Barnes-Jewish Hospital kidney transplant recipients in pregame ceremonies at Transplant Day at the Ballpark Aug. 8 at Busch Stadium.
About 2,000 transplant recipients, physicians, nurse coordinators and donor family members from Barnes-Jewish will attend the St. Louis Cardinals game to celebrate the success of organ and tissue transplants and to raise awareness of the need for organ donors.
Chris, a 47-year-old mother of two, has Alport syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting the kidneys. Women who carry the Alport gene typically manifest very mild symptoms, if any. Chris, however, developed kidney failure at age 27.
She was added to the kidney transplant waiting list and began dialysis. In 1991, she received a kidney transplant from a cadaver donor. That transplant allowed her to get off of dialysis and live a full life with her family.
Her donor organ had come from a stranger. But Chris said she thought every day about her donor and the generous decision the donor''s family had made in the face of tragedy.
After 10 years, in which Chris was able to watch her children grow into teenagers, the donor kidney failed. Chris went back on dialysis and the kidney transplant waiting list.
Last autumn, heartbreak struck when her brother died suddenly. Chris and her mother were approached to donate his organs - with one of his kidneys possibly to go to Chris. Health problems had prevented him from even being considered as a living donor for Chris''s first transplant.
Now Chris found herself having to make that same decision that her first donor''s family had made years earlier. But she also knew firsthand the good that could come from donating a loved one''s organs and tissue. She and her mother decided to donate.
On Oct. 16, 2003, Chris received her brother''s kidney.
The new kidney will give her the chance to watch her children grow into adulthood and work to educate others about the need for organ and tissue donors.
"I''ve had two miracles," she says. "I figure it''s time I pay back."
Transplant statistics
Currently, there are 86,000 people nationwide waiting for organ transplants.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital performs an average of 100 - 110 kidney transplants each year. There are about 450 patients on the waiting list for kidneys at Barnes-Jewish.
Transplant recipients usually return to active, normal lives after their surgery.
After death, the ultimate decision to donate your organs is made by your next of kin. Don''t just sign the back of your license or an organ donor card. Talk to your family about your wishes.