Local liver transplant Survivor Seeks kidney transplant; Living Donor Could End Dialysis
USA: A woman who endured nearly a year of complications after a 2024 liver transplant now needs a kidney transplant to leave dialysis behind, and her case is being spotlighted during National kidney Month as more than 90,000 people wait for kidneys. Doctors say a successful kidney transplantation would allow her to stop dialysis immediately; she and her family are pursuing every path to find a compatible living donor.
Jerry Lynn Bender, 60, spent much of last year hospitalized after a liver transplant that led to serious complications and new kidney problems. Physicians at one point said they had exhausted treatments and her family faced grim prospects, but she staged a remarkable recovery and returned home. Since then she has relearned basic mobility—progressing from wheelchair to cane—and resumed daily routines like driving, exercising and caring for grandchildren, even as she continues dialysis three times a week.
Medical teams report that a kidney from a compatible living donor would end her need for dialysis and dramatically improve her health trajectory. The story notes Emory Hospital as the center tied to her records, and highlights that even potential donors who are not an exact match can still help by enabling paired exchanges that move the organ chain forward for patients with her blood type. Her determination and faith are central to her appeal; she says she will honor any donor by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adherence to medical care.
As communities mark National kidney Month, her case underscores the scale of the organ shortage and the lifesaving role of living donation. Advocates emphasize that living donors must be adults in excellent health and, if approved, can expect a typical recovery period of roughly 4 to 6 weeks while contributing to a system that can match multiple recipients.
Video originally published on 2026-03-11 18:29:26
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