Be the Match. Give Back. Save a Life.
Monday, February 21, 2022
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Posted by: Anne Mendenhall
Life-Changing Story of Wnet Board Director
Cindy Knowles' Journey with Chronic Kidney DiseaseBy Cindy Knowles, Vice President, Head of Business Administration, FIS My Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) journey began by happenstance. During a routine physical examine ~20 years ago, my blood work detected my kidney functions were abnormal. I exhibited no external signs, and the only potential cause the physicians could suggest was a lifetime of migraines and athletic injuries managed with ibuprofen. At that time, I was informed that I was at Stage 3 renal disease with about 50% functioning but with a healthy lifestyle, they anticipated I should be able to slow the progression. Over the past 6-10 years, I have held steady at Stage 4 with ~25% functioning leading a fairly normal life. Fast forward to December 2020, when I contracted COVID with viral pneumonia and was hospitalized. My doctors saved my life with aggressive antibiotics, oxygen, diuretics and steroids. This resulted in a one-two sucker punch to my CKD. Upon leaving the hospital, the doctors indicated I was now End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD 5) with my kidneys functioning at ~12%. In the weeks that followed, I had the realistic conversation with my medical team and my family about next steps – which included dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. As I said to myself – “it was time to get my ducks in a row.” While remaining hopeful and grateful, the statistics are alarming. In the U.S. alone there are over 100,000 people awaiting a kidney transplant. A kidney match can take 3-5 years with ~16 people dying every day waiting for a transplant. I am lucky as there are options. I have a wonderful family and my colleagues and managers at FIS and the members of Wnet have been extremely supportive during my journey. I am energized and positive as I have many things to accomplish and explore. I want to live to see my growing family and experience all that life has to offer and to give back. So, I am working to educate myself and to share my story with the hope to encourage more people to learn about becoming an organ donor to improve the statistics. Thank you for reading my story. I hope you explore the opportunity to possibly help save a life by becoming an organ donor. You can learn more here, or you can contact me directly so I can help you. Warmest regards,
WHAT CAN YOU DO?For many of our Wnet members around the U.S., giving back is an integral part of who they are personally. In every corner of the globe, out team members and your organizations look for ways to help your communities thrive. Sometimes, opportunities to help are right before us waiting to be discovered, such as registering to be an organ donor. The statistics for those in need of an organ transplant and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are disheartening. During many of the lockdowns, there has been a sharp decrease in overall transplant procedures. This already amplified a dire situation where hundreds of thousands around the globe sit on wait lists for organs and so many never survive to receive the necessary transplant. With more than 4,200 Wnet members, and their organizations' scope across the U.S, the odds are favorable there is a match among us for someone anxiously awaiting that phone call and the corresponding sudden sense of relief that there is finally some hope.
That person could be your colleague, a family member, or even a total stranger. But to be that person, you must register to be a donor in your region. If being a donor is not an option, consider volunteering to be an organ transplant ambassador, helping to share information about organ donation and encouraging those in your community to register. Questions? Here are some very helpful FAQs about organ donation, transplant facts, and more about being a donor.
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