Fan Friday: Katie Thien

by Katie Thien, OSU Student and Lifeline of Ohio intern

I was on my way to meet the woman who saved my father’s life. Not only did Sue save my father’s life by being his living kidney donor, but she changed the lives of my entire family. I felt extremely anxious to meet her. What would this woman be like who committed such a selfless act for a man she didn’t know? After walking into Panera, I scanned the room for Sue expecting to find an angel or some sort of heroic figure. To my surprise, my eyes landed on a normal, average person, just like you and me. In that moment, I realized that anybody can be a hero and give the “Gift of Life.”

Katie and her dad, Ken, in 2006

My father was in desperate need for a new kidney. He has been a victim of Polycystic Kidney Disease since he was a child. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a genetic disease characterized by multiple cysts on the kidney that eventually leads to kidney failure. Not only did my dad need a new kidney, but in his rare situation, he needed to get both of his own kidneys removed due the intense progression of his PKD. As a result, he had surgery to get both of his kidneys removed, therefore being dependent on dialysis until he received a transplant. As my parents waited anxiously on the national transplant waiting list, a miracle swept into our lives – Sue heard about my father.

My father is an attorney, and his friend told another friend that he was waiting for a kidney. This friend told his wife, Sue, who immediately felt touched by my father’s story. According to Sue, she felt moved by God to donate a kidney to my father and volunteered immediately.  My father received his life-saving transplant in April 2005.

Thanks to Sue, my father is living a normal, healthy life. He is working a regular work week, reading scripture at church on Sundays, and going to all of our family’s athletic and schooling events. Not only is my father feeling healthy, but he says he feels the best he’s felt in more than 30 years. According to him, “After the new kidney began to function, I remembered what it means to feel really good.” Sue’s gift to my father freed him from PKD, dialysis, and restored his health to make him feel good again.

I can’t imagine life without my father, best friend, and role-model! When I think of how Sue has affected my life, I am truly moved. She has blessed me and my family with her heroic act of saving my father’s life. I think of her every day and thank God every night for bringing Sue into our lives.

Sue’s story is inspiration for me to spread awareness of organ and tissue donation. Sharing my story with others is just a small way I can show my appreciation for what Sue has done for me and my family. My father said that Sue is “Truly God’s gift to me and my family. Her love in donating a kidney to a complete stranger is simply overwhelming.” The same goes for all donors, living or deceased. I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a living donor, so that’s why it’s so important to sign up to be an organ and tissue donor after death.

I hope that my story of Sue’s love and kindness will motive other’s to give the “Gift of Life” by being an organ and tissue donor. As Sue has demonstrated, anyone can be a hero!

By admin on 10/29/10, In Uncategorized