As we have stated before on the blog, The Kidney Group are strong proponents of transplant, and the majority of the patients in our wonderful peritoneal dialysis clinic at the Fort Lauderdale Artificial Kidney Center are eventually transplanted.
We therefore see a lot of patients who are successfully transplanted. Once they’re through the initial acute phase, we only need to see them periodically. But some of them—you just don’t forget. One such patient is Cheryl Davis.
Cheryl grew up in Fort Lauderdale and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She had been on peritoneal dialysis and was a favorite patient—always upbeat, optimistic, and compliant. (She also invariably brought homemade baked goods to clinic, so the doctors were always hoping to see her—and her brownies.)
During her time on PD, while waiting for a transplant, Cheryl adopted identical twin newborn infants. We didn’t know how she could manage home dialysis, transplant prep, and twin boys—but she did, and she made it look easy. With the help of a close-knit family—including her husband, Stacey, and her mom—Cheryl never failed to show up to clinic: organized, happy, perfectly groomed… twins and all their gear in tow… not to mention the brownies.
I never once got into my car after seeing her at clinic without thinking what an amazing spirit she has. It’s humbling.
When the twins were a couple of years old—handsome and very active—Cheryl received a kidney from a longtime friend, Michele. What follows is Cheryl’s story in her own words, and I honestly couldn’t have said it more poignantly:
Here is a little background:
My husband, Stacey, and I adopted the boys when they were four weeks old. The boys were born on August 27, 2002. We did not originally expect twins. When we learned of the boys’ birth date, we realized it was our fate to have them in our lives. They were born at 29 weeks and have the same birthday as their father and grandfather.
Our plans were to have two kids. It was a great surprise to have it happen at the same time. We adopted the boys after waiting two years. I was currently on dialysis and waiting for a transplant. I could not have done it without the wonderful support of my husband and family. I have a tremendous support system.
When the boys were two years old, I received a transplant in Tampa from my girlfriend, Michele Bergan. She made the unselfish, brave decision to help me after I had been on dialysis for two years.
My sons always ask why they couldn’t be in my belly. I explain that I have kidney problems and it would not have been healthy for me. I also explain to them that God always intended for me to be their mommy. I didn’t need to hold them in my belly to be their mommy.
Logan told me that he wishes he could have been in my belly to fix my kidneys so I would be healthy. Wyatt wants to understand everything about my kidneys and why they don’t work.
The Kidney Group admires Cheryl Davis.
